“Traveling frequently can be rough…but it doesn’t matter, it’s so worth it!" says Blake Reed Evans, Sam Villa Ambassador and owner of Shear Art Salon (Tampa, FL) @blakereedevans.   

"I’m driven by a dream that every stylist can love the place they work, the people they work with, the hair they’re doing, and the people they’re working on," he continues. "Every cancelled flight, change of plans, airport marathon, gas station dinner (yes, that’s a thing) is worth it to see this industry grow.” (Get a glimpse of a couple of Evans' trips here and here.

Evans travels constantly (at least three times a month) and has tried and true hacks to help make traveling as smooth as a silk press for any road warrior.

Travel Hacks

Rewards: Sign up for a loyalty program with an airline and hotel chain. You are working hard traveling for work, that means you need to earn points for an awesome vacation. The higher status you have, the faster you earn points.   Equally important, if there is ever an issue (weather delays, a dirty room), your loyalty will be rewarded with quick action. I love American Airlines and Hilton Hotels.

Pack intelligently! I use Sam Villa Professional Beauty Cases for everything, and I keep the tags attached to keep organized. I have one for brushes, one for pins/clips/combs, another for product, one for irons, and another one for digital accessories like cords and things like that.

Have Fun: Look for something fun to do in the city you are visiting! I look on Ticketmaster for a concert or check TIkTok for a cool restaurant!

Scheduling: When booking guests in the salon, only book out 3 months at a time. When you travel like we do, opportunities pop up last minute, so don't stress by booking the entire year out!

Timing: When you're trying to time how long it will take to get somewhere, use the Waze App. You can plug in an arrival time, and it provides a recommended departure time based on traffic patterns for that specific day and time.

More from Evans can be seen on TikTok.  Learn valuable information from Sam Villa and team here.  Including “Mannequin Mondays,” “Transformation Tuesdays,” and “Wellness Wednesdays” on Facebook @SamVillaPros and YouTube @SamVillaHair. 

About Sam Villa Company (Allvus, LLC): The Sam Villa Company is a leading education and styling tool company for the professional hair industry. The Sam Villa brand brings free digital education to everyone including hot tips and techniques, as well as access to livestreamed educational events. The company also offers professional tools for consumers so they can achieve salon-quality results at home with minimum effort. 

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