Should I bring my own shampoo to a hotel?

Most hotels provide complimentary shampoo and conditioner in the rooms for guests to use during their stay. Generally, you don't need to ask for them as they are already provided.



In 2026, whether you should bring your own shampoo depends on your hair type and the "class" of the hotel. Most mid-range and luxury hotels now provide high-quality, branded toiletries (like Le Labo or Malin+Goetz). However, the major industry shift in 2026 is the move away from small plastic bottles toward large-format, wall-mounted dispensers to reduce plastic waste. If you are someone who is sensitive to "communal" products or if you have specific hair needs (such as color-treated or curly hair), you should definitely bring your own. Hotel shampoos are often "all-purpose" and can be quite stripping for certain hair textures. Additionally, at budget or "limited service" hotels, the provided shampoo is often a "2-in-1" formula that lacks proper conditioning agents. If you decide to bring your own, ensure they are in travel-sized containers (<3.4 oz) if you are flying with a carry-on, or simply pack your full-sized favorites if you are driving, as it guarantees you won't have a "bad hair day" while away from home.

People Also Ask

Much like the mini soaps stocked in the bathroom, the travel-size shampoo and conditioner are also fine to take from your hotel room. Hotels sometimes brand these items too, Conteh says. So taking their shampoos and sporting the hotel brand name can help spread the word about a hotel. This goes for motels too.

MORE DETAILS

Glassware, linen and the TV remote Typically, they don't get cleaned between guests and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Use the pillows from the closet; they're more likely to be freshly washed than the ones on the bed.

MORE DETAILS

1. Towels are the most popular at 77.5% of hotels surveyed, have you ever stolen a towel? 2. Bathrobes are the second most item that thieving guests can't resist, 65.1% of hotels report.

MORE DETAILS

Some accommodation providers have tried to prevent possible mischief by removing 420 as a room number entirely. Over the years other hotel guests have noticed other attempts by hotels to circumvent the enthusiasm of stoners for the number 420.

MORE DETAILS

because they sewed a microchip in it. We've all been there. We've all been frantically trying to re-pack and check out of the hotel on time when — just before we zip our suitcases — our eyes focus on the embroidered logo on the fluffy hand towels.

MORE DETAILS

After an in-depth investigation, a reporter for Slate found that hotels don't include mini toothpaste bottles mostly because most guests don't ask for them. Another report from Forbes says that toothpaste is too costly to provide in each and every room.

MORE DETAILS

You should behave in the same manner as if you were [a] guest in someone's house, she explained. Be delicate. Flush your toilet, clean up after yourself and don't leave broken glass all over the floor. But showing basic courtesy doesn't necessarily mean that you should remake your bed and scrub the bathroom floor.

MORE DETAILS

Hotels typically keep records of guests for a period of time that is determined by the individual hotel's policies. Generally, hotels will keep records for at least one year after a guest has checked out.

MORE DETAILS

Ever wonder why you've never stayed in a hotel room on the 13th floor? The answer is simple: The floor doesn't exist. It all comes down to triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13.

MORE DETAILS

As travelling salesmen, the founders of The Gideons International knew a thing or two about life on the road. They understood that people, far from home, might seek comfort or solace in the familiar words of the Bible. By 1908, they began placing Bibles in hotel rooms.

MORE DETAILS

We know it's tempting, but stealing a hotel robe is considered theft of property. While most hotels won't do more than charge your credit card for the missing item, it's best practice to ask the concierge if you can purchase the robe first. In some cases, they may even have a brand-new robe you can take home.

MORE DETAILS

Rarely. You might be surprised, if you've never worked in a hotel, just how so. Even the dumbest room attendant knows that whatever the temptation, if it happens, the guest will say something right away as soon as he or she notices the item missing, and there's always a record of who cleaned which room.

MORE DETAILS

Asking for more towels or toiletries at a hotel is a common request and is typically welcomed by hotel staff.

MORE DETAILS