Spring has sprung, and that means it’s prime road tripping season. There’s no better freedom than a joy ride across the countryside, with good friends, merry tunes, and maybe even your family dog. With happy company, striking scenery, and all-round good cheer, there’s not much more you can ask for.
But while it’s romantic from afar, the adventure of a road trip can easily be derailed by the ever-more-fearsome odour of your companions. Is it possible to stay hygienic on the road? It won’t be easy, but we’re sure you can do it if you try. Now you just have to convince your friends that they can too.
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that your pits are taken care of: find a reliable deodorant, and make sure to apply regularly throughout the day. Even though you’re just driving, the opportunity for showers may be scant, and if you’re crammed between friends and an excitable dog, things may start to heat up.
Check out Tabac Original Deodorant Stick. It’s a more complex smell than your drugstore equivalent, leaving you one step ahead.
In the same line of reasoning, you’ll want to bring along a talc powder. This will help absorb sweat all over your body, and it’ll leave you with a fresh scent in intimate quarters–bettering yours and your friends’ car ride experience.
We recommend Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Luxury Talcum Power. It’s a brand you already know and trust, and the size is great for throwing in your backpack.
So that you don’t look like a menacing Sasquatch in public, you’ll want to either keep clean-shaven or have your beard freshly trimmed. Be sure to make regular stops at roadside bathrooms, using a durable travel safety razor or beard trimmers to keep a maintained look.
We recommend Solingen’s Nickel Plated Barber Scissors and Parker’s A1R Travel Double-Edged Safety Razor. Scissors give you the flexibility to trim without looking like you aren’t even road tripping at all, which clearly you don’t want. And we love Parker’s A1R travel kit because it’s so small, compact,and affordable. There’s even space for a few blades in the little leather case!
Yes, the hair on your head matters too: find a trusty travel-sized shampoo, and a comb that won’t snap in half in your backpack. It’s a guarantee that, with all the wind sweeping through your locks, and with all the awkward positions in which you’ll doze off, your hair will at some point transform into an unruly mop. Give it a quick shampooing, rinse, and swift comb, and you won’t have a greasy, knotted mess to deal with later.
We recommend Billy Jealousy’s Fuzzy Logic Strengthening Shampoo and Chicago Comb Company’s Model No. 1 Titanium Medium-Fine Tooth Comb.
And that’s all there is to it! Keep these grooming basics in mind along the way, and have a smooth-going trip, no matter how bumpy the ride.
What are your road trip grooming secrets?
