Celebrity hairstylist and Virtue Labs Creative Director Adir Abergel radiates the kind of joyous energy that’s so thoroughly infectious, it gets you the minute you’re near him. It might explain his starry roster of A-list clients like Jennifer Garner, Kristen Stewart, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron who have become lifelong friends. It also makes Adir the perfect person to ask about keeping various travel annoyances in check while he’s traveling, whether it’s for photoshoots (he’s worked with publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar) or press tours (he recently wrapped up a press tour with Charlize Theron for Long Shot). Adir Abergel gives the lowdown on how he travels stress-free.
How often do you travel in a year?
That’s a very hard question but I can tell you I’ve had my American Airlines mileage card over the last 10 years and I already have 2.5 million flown miles on it.
How much of it is for work and how much of it is pleasure?
I would probably say that work is probably 90 per cent, and pleasure is 10 per cent, or maybe 80 and 20.
What are your beauty-related travel essentials and why?
I don’t travel without my Virtue Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner. When you travel and you’re in hotels, if you don’t have the shampoo and conditioner that you love, you’re in trouble. I’ve been traveling with this new tool that my friend, Jillian Dempsey has come out with called the Gold Sculpting Bar. It becomes multi-purpose when you’re on a plane because you can massage your neck with it and your hands. I use it on my face as well just so it feels like I’m doing something amazing for myself.
And then I use Nasya Oil by Banyan Botanicals. I do not ever travel without it. If it’s not in kit, I freak out because it’s the only thing that helps me not get sick on flights. It keeps my nose moist. The reason we get sick on flights is because our [nasal] membrane gets dry and start to crack and bacteria gets in there. As long as you keep it moisturized, you won’t get sick. I use it before I board and during the flight as well. There’s another oil that’s similar to it that astronauts use called Ponaris Nasal Emollient and it was included in NASA’s medical space kit.
Then I have an essential oil by a company in London called Women Balance by Neal’s Yard. It just balances you immediately. It has patchouli, rose, geranium and frankincense. I rub it in with a little bit of hand cream and use it all over my hands, behind my ears and do a few breathing techniques.
The last thing I do is use the Slip Eye Mask because I’m super sensitive to light on the plane from people reading their books or having their computers on. And I use the Chantecaille Energizing Eye Mask before I get off the plane.
What are some non-beauty travel essentials you can’t leave home without?
It’s called Cold & Flu Herbal “Shot” by Dr Schulze’s. It has echinacea, garlic, habanero, onion, ginger, horseradish, elderberry, desert sage, liquorice, coffee—it’s insane. If you even think you’re getting sick, you take it. I also take a plant-based protein drink with me before getting on a flight by a company called OWYN. And I carry a cashmere blanket by James Bird, which is the best investment I’ve ever made. I know it’s expensive but the truth is, when you travel that much, you want to be as comfortable as possible so I always travel with my own blanket. That way, even if I’m at a hotel that’s not as comfortable, it immediately makes me feel better. Another thing in my carry-on is my caftan and I end up putting it on when I get on the flight. It’s vintage from the seventies. I always travel with a resistance band and I exercise on the flight a lot with it. I do it either on my seat or by the bathrooms. And I carry a small travel-size candle with me from my friend Bee Shapiro’s line called Ellis Brooklyn. That way, when I get to the hotel, I burn it and it immediately makes me feel at home. My favourite one is Raven.
Do you prefer checking in your luggage or a carry-on?
I need both.
What’s your go-to luggage brand?
For my work, I use a Burton bag. They’re made for skiers and it’s my favourite because it literally can go through 5 million miles and it’s never torn or broken. The only bummer about it is that it doesn’t have 4-wheels, but at least I know all my things are going to be safe. For my carry-on, I use T. Anthony—it’s the black 21-inch carry-on trolley. It’s beautiful, chic and makes you feel like you’re put-together. I do travel with a Rimowa for my clothes.
What kind of packer are you?
Everything that’s dry-cleaned or hanging in my closet goes on a hanger—I don’t remove the hangers. Everything goes into the big Rimowa bag. When I get to the hotel, it immediately gets taken out and gets hung. And I do the same thing when I move hotels into a different city.
How do you stay zen when you’re traveling?
I’m a control freak normally. When I’m traveling, I let go of all my control. I never, ever mind if there’s a delay or not because I don’t own the company. I’m very much a realist in that if I can control a situation, I will. If I can’t, I completely let it go. Because of that, I have very rarely had a delay in my years of travel. I also try to work out when I get to a place like going for a walk and create some sort of movement in my body.
Do you have any in-flight skincare rituals?
On the flight, I use the Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream. I always have the Chantecaille Pure Rosewater spray. Then I’ll use the Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar. I just want to stay hydrated and drink a lot of water so I always travel with my water bottle. It’s called Life Straw by Bestergaard. It’s amazing because you don’t even need to buy water bottles anymore. It comes with the most amazing filtration system. You bring the empty bottle with you and fill it up. And if you’re on the flight, a flight attendant will fill it up for you. My name and number are on the bottle in case it gets lost and it’s been returned to me three times. Everyone who works with me has one in a different colour.
What’s the tip for making sure your hair doesn’t look gross and super-flat when you de-plane from a long-haul or overnight flight?
Throw your hair into a ponytail but don’t use an elastic that’s going to leave a dent. If you can, bring yourself a silk cover for a pillow because it’ll help with all the friction. Before you get off, use something like Virtue Labs 6-in-1 to help with the frizz and de-hydration of your hair.
What’s your remedy for combating jet-lag?
I immediately go and steam. Moisture and drinking water is incredibly important on the flight. I know it’s annoying drinking water because you have to get up and pee a lot more.
Favourite hotel to check into and why?
Banyan Tree Hotel in Seoul. The Crosby Hotel or The Bowery in New York. In L.A., it would probably be Chateau Marmont. In Berlin, I would say Soho House. If it’s Tokyo, the Hilton. In Paris, I stay in a little hotel that has five rooms in it called Hôtel du Petit Moulin, which was designed by Christian Lacroix.
What are some beauty-related discoveries you’ve made while traveling?
When I was in London, I came across Augustinus Bader. When I was in New York a thousand years ago at the Gramercy Park Hotel, that was the first place where Le Labo ever placed their candle. That’s when I started wearing Santal 33 based on the scent that they had there. I’ve been wearing it for 13 or 14 years. Any of the K-beauty masks in Korea.
Do you have any travel-related tips or hacks you’ve picked up from all your flying experience?
Get on the time zone that you’re going to. Use the Nasaya Oil in your nose to keep it moist so you don’t get sick. Almost every hotel you go will have some kind of a steam room. If they don’t, turn on your shower and steam. Put on your shoes and immediately go for a walk rather than sitting down and getting tired. You want to keep moving.
Do your travels ever inspire your work?
When I’m in any city, the first thing I try to do is to sit down in a cafe and just people watch. Street style is incredibly inspiring for me. Experiencing new foods in cities and trying street food. I always try and go and find some kind of a traditional spa in whatever city I’m in. We were just in Paris and I took my agent and my assistant to one of my favourite hammams called Les Bains du Marais. It’s in the middle of Le Marais in Paris. The last time I was in Paris, I ended up taking Kristen Stewart and our whole crew to a Korean bath.
