On 4 August 2025 two TikTok creators, hairdresser Mattloveshair and dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, posted videos that quickly shaped holiday beauty checklists. Both stressed a single rule: preparation.

In his tutorial the stylist split damp hair into sections and used a brisk blow-dry to lift strands from the scalp. "You must apply pressure on your roots with the brush and dry them backward, then forward, and then from side to side," he said, according to Femme Actuelle. He added advice heard in his first salon: "It's what I was told in the very first salon I worked in." The result, he showed, was "incredible volume at the roots," a finish welcomed by travelers whose fine hair collapses in humid air.

Volume, he argued, began before the dryer powered up. A heat protectant, a hairdryer and a round brush were the only tools he deemed essential. "You must surprise your roots if you want volume in your hair," he said, explaining that rapid shifts "disturb the roots' natural position" long enough for them to cool upright. The pared-down kit fit easily beside travel-size styling spray.

Hours later Turegano addressed a follower worried about brown patches above her upper lip, marks she identified as melasma. "Melasma is very common, and it is caused by hormones. That's why we often see it during pregnancy, postpartum, when taking the contraceptive pill, or even sometimes when stopping it, or with thyroid problems," she said, according to Femme Actuelle. The pigmentation favored the cheeks, forehead, nose and what she called "the melasma mustache."

Turegano offered four rules to deter discoloration. "The most important thing is sun protection," she said. High-SPF sunscreen came first, followed by wide-brimmed hats, shade and reapplication every two hours. "It can be stubborn, and it's not always easy to determine the exact hormonal cause," she warned, yet steady defense prevented new spots and kept existing ones from deepening.

The MSD Manual defined melasma as hyperpigmentation marked by dark spots on the central face, noting that skin shifts with hormones, time and environment. With UV levels peaking in July and August, even brief seaside strolls could trigger flare-ups, placing broad-spectrum sunscreen alongside passports in priority.

Stylists added that cut mattered as much as technique; the softly layered cloud bob lent fine hair the look of density without heavy upkeep. For carry-on travelers the adaptable cut could mean the difference between buoyant photographs and a week of flat roots.

The guidance distilled into a packing list. For hair: travel dryer, medium round brush, thermal protectant spray and texturizing powder. For skin: high-SPF sunscreen, brimmed hat, sunglasses and gentle cleanser. Makeup could remain minimal: tinted mineral SPF, cream blush that doubled as lip color and waterproof mascara able to withstand a pool dip.