Women vacationing in a foreign country today are increasingly more likely to pick up a new shampoo or conditioner than a souvenir T-shirt and for good reason. Women native to those lands probably know a thing or two about beauty and natural hair care that we do not. If we are honest, we will admit it - women notice other women, and that includes checking out their hair. When in Paris, who can fail to admire their edgy, fashion-forward haircuts? In Sweden, blonde-haired people reign supreme and, while I have to believe that at least some of that blonde comes from a bottle, whatever else they are doing for hair care certainly does not make it look like it. Heck, even on adventure in the outback you can look for indigenous animals and instead spy Aussie women with thick, shiny, crazy-beautiful hair. No matter how covert our glance, when it comes to other women we measure, assess, and when traveling abroad, often find our own hair care routine wanting. Compared to our global contemporaries, our hair can look over-processed, damaged, and just plain dull and that is after using the $60 repair masks from your local Sephora. Many western women today have bought into the idea that they have to use chemical-based mass produced products from known beauty conglomerates to have beautiful hair. Billions of dollars are spent each year to convince women that science has improved upon Mother Nature and when it comes to beauty, hair care and even natural skincare; we just need to look at a few examples from around the world to prove them wrong.

In the Caribbean coast lowlands of Central America, you’ll find native women of the Mosquito Indians with long, glorious shiny hair that’s thicker than any celebrity weave who I guarantee have never seen the inside of a high-priced salon. The Miskito met Columbus on his exploration in the Americas in 1502 and five centuries later, they are called Tawira, or “the people of beautiful hair.” ™ Most of us are happy to have a few “good hair” days a week and these folks have had gorgeous hair for five centuries! I thought being from New York City would have put me in proximity to the most cutting-edge hair care and best skincare products but I would have been better off growing up in the Mosquitia region’s rainforest near the tropical Ojon® tree. It turns out; nuts from this tree contain exotic oil that can be harvested, extracted and perform miracles on your hair and skin.

Many people travel to Germany for their renowned beer festivals. I admit, I am guilty of thinking such events consist of burly men, red-faced and singing loudly while they hoist their beer mugs and wear lederhosen (well ok, some of that is true). What I did not realize is the women at those festivals are not just drinking their lager in companionship but also actually pouring it on their hair – seriously. It turns out that the protein in beer is fantastic natural hair care and helps repair damaged cuticles, which makes hair smoother, and shiner. It is a great remedy for dull, dry hair. I do not know about you, but I am going to have a pint.

Egypt is called the land of mysteries. One of the greatest mysteries is how, along with her kohl-lined eyes, Cleopatra is immortalized for the ages for having such glorious raven hair? Royal records have revealed the famous queen’s hair care ritual of rinsing her hair in rainwater and rubbing sweet-smelling almond oil into her tresses. Is it any wonder she held such power over the Romans? Egyptian women today preserve this natural hair care ritual of incorporating oil, cold pressed from almonds, to improve the quality of their hair and promote its natural beauty. Castor oil is also a natural emollient to hair that penetrates deeply and softens hair strands. It is pressed from castor beans indigenous to tropical Africa and castor oil has been discovered in the Egyptian tombs dating as far back as 4000 BC. In ancient times, it was used for facial skincare and hair care oil and lit their wick lamps; talk about a multi-purpose product! Those ladies sure knew what was important to take with them to the afterlife.

If you have ever vacationed in the Mediterranean you will fall in love with their way of life and be sure to change your thinking about hair care. A recent article in Women’s Health Magazine revealed that 53% of Italian women feel they look younger than they are. One reason for this healthy attitude is their appreciation for olive oil and not just on a good Bruschetta. Olive oil is a timeless beauty aid that has been used in natural skincare and hair care treatment for more than 4,000 years – far longer than mainstream companies have been plugging their wares. Olive oil’s cosmetic use is documented throughout ancient literature, appearing in Mesopotamian, Hittite, Mycenaean, Hebrew, Greek, and Roman writings. Today’s Mediterranean women continue to follow the hair care and natural skincare tradition of their ancestors and use olive oil because of its incredible ability to beautify.

The Swedes are known for their meatballs and producing cheap furniture but should be famous for their reliance on algae and sea proteins to protect and restore their stunning blonde locks. Algae extract is a key ingredient in many of the hair care repair products that hail from Sweden. Algae are thought to be an excellent food, heralded for thousands of years for its mild taste and assimilated nutrients. While I confess to not having tasted it, it is an important ingredient in hair care and natural skincare products for its protein content, which helps to revitalize and condition dull, lifeless, and damaged hair and revitalize skin. Many high-priced product lines are coming out with marine-based products because they have caught onto this secret.

Conjure up an image of an “Amazon” and you think of strong, proud, beautiful female warrior or….a supermodel. Undoubtedly, males everywhere are thankful that the country of Brazil keeps populating the Victoria’s Secret Catalog. Aside from their long limbs and other enviable parts, Brazilian women have long, shiny, healthy hair. Women in Brazil for years have lived naturally but with a very real awareness of beauty. One way they achieve that gorgeous hair is with Brazil nut oil as part of their natural hair care routine. The oils quickly penetrate even the driest hair to give moisture, improve hair texture, and scalp condition. The Brazil nut oil is also used for in natural skincare remedies, which ensures those beautiful Brazilians, will look young and inspire envy for years to come.

With today’s current awareness of natural products, accessibility of the internet, and push toward “green” living, we are more open minded than ever to adopt the beauty secrets of our world’s sisters. When it comes to beauty rituals, even the most natural, seemingly untouched women at the far-reaches of the world since the dawning of time, have them. The next time you’re on vacation and try to blame hotel water for the state of your hair, look at the woman around you, ask about their hair and skincare, and make room in your routine for a fabulous international idea.