You’ve purchased a Park Hopper pass and your MagicBand is charging. You’ve been dreaming of grabbing a cold, delicious Dole Whip and taking a dip in the Tiana Bayou. But first, you have to pack. If you’re thinking about what your hair needs to get through the humidity and crazy rides in Florida, these products got our hair through four days at Disney World.
When it comes to how to take care of your hair, the short answer is up. Orlando is hot most of the year and you’ll want your hair hanging down your neck. Personally, when I’m trying all the food and drinks at Epcot Food and Wine Festival, I also like to keep my hair away from my face so it doesn’t get between me and my snacks. If you’re wondering how to pull it off and look cute, there are tons of Inspo videos and entire forum threads on TikTok featuring people’s favorite hairstyles for going to the park. So once you’ve chosen your style, what’s really important is having the right products to keep it in place.
Some Certified Sweat Betty After walking nearly 30 miles, riding countless rides, and weathering an afternoon shower or two in the September heat, these products kept our hair in tip-top shape.
01A hair oil stick that tames baby hair
As a Floridian and mom of a toddler, trust me, I’ve tried everything to prevent my little postpartum hair from getting frizzy in the humidity. This product is my favorite way to do that. It comes in a stick shape so you can easily slide it over your hairline to hold your baby’s hair in place, or toss it in your bag if you want to touch up later. It never leaves weird marks on my hair and is completely invisible to the naked eye, but it lasts all day long. At Disney, it kept my hair in place through crazy high humidity and multiple roller coaster rides. —Katie McPherson, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
02Refreshing mini dry shampoo before dinner
When you’ve been at the park all day and want to go to a sit-down restaurant for dinner, it’s a good idea to pack a few things in advance to freshen up. I carry travel-sized samples of my deodorant and perfume with me, as well as a small jar of this dry shampoo. It doesn’t clump or leave a strong cast of white on my dark hair, and it makes my dirty, sweaty hair look less unpleasant at the dinner table. —Katie McPherson, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
03A pair of cute new ears
I hadn’t been to Disney since I was a kid, but I quickly found myself obsessed with checking out all the different ears in each store. Dole Whip! Flower ones! Halloween special! I wore a pair of ears to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for a few hours, which is pretty impressive considering any hat or headband usually gives me a headache within minutes. They’re so comfortable and everyone on our trip looked cute wearing them – not a bad hair day in sight. —Katie McPherson, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
04Claw clamp for everything
I would love to be one of those cute Disney girls who can let their hair down in the parks, but I’m not. Florida has a special way of turning my hair into a frizzy mess in record time, so I always wear it up. This claw clip gives me at least a “little” style and I got a lot of compliments on it during our trip. Plus, it’s metal, so it feels very sturdy. —Julie Sprankles, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
05Hairspray that suppresses flyaway hair
This hairspray is one of the best hairsprays I’ve ever used – it adds volume to my roots, doesn’t make it brittle one way or another, and it’s only $7.99 a jar. Four days at Disney really put it to the test, but looking back at the photos, I really didn’t find a hair out of place in my bun, and this spray deserves a ton of praise. — Katie McPherson, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
06some pretty hair ties
For those of us who are pretty unaccustomed to the Florida humidity but still want to look like we’re trying, the sleek bun and cute scrunchie combo is the perfect solution. If you have a kid who loves princesses and absolutely must keep the theme going, this scrunchie might also actually convince them to wear their hair up instead of letting Rapunzel’s hair flow. —Megan LaCreta, associate editor, Social
07Super cute Mickey baseball cap
While at Disney, I had high hopes for embracing the humidity and letting my curls go crazy. The thought lasted about five seconds until I left the hotel’s air conditioning and entered the dank Florida swamps. My hair was immediately tied into a ponytail and I put on a baseball cap. Cute and comfortable. — Katy Elliott, Senior Editor, Personal Stories
08Smooth, sweet-smelling hair oil
Yes, this oil is more expensive, but it’s worth its weight in gold—and a little goes a long way. It’s definitely my favorite hair product: it smells great, doesn’t make your hair greasy, and is as smooth as any other product. I wouldn’t waste anything because I know I’ll be sweating while walking around the parks, but for less strenuous Disney days or when you know you’ll be taking advantage of these memory makers, this is a must photo. —Julie Sprankles, associate editor, Lifestyle & Entertainment
09Apparently a headband
As someone with long, thick, dark hair, I’m always in need of some headbands. Because I don’t care how cute your Disney costume looks with your hair down: You’re going to have your hair tied up at some point during the day, and you’re going to need fresh, non-stretchy hair ties to tie it up. —Jamie Kenney, deputy news and entertainment editor
Admittedly, Disney isn’t the place for elaborate hairstyles, but with the help of the right products, you can definitely take control.