Hairstyling Hacks: Get Great Hair in a Hurry

We all have those days: Forgot to set the alarm (or slept through it!)…there鈥檚 an early-morning item on the agenda鈥�and now there are only a few precious minutes to get ready for your entire day!

If you鈥檙e like most of us, styling your hair is probably the biggest time-eater of all beautifying tasks. Whether you鈥檙e struggling to pull together a polished look for an early meeting or rushing to look your best for a last-minute date, a few hairstyling tricks in your arsenal can make all the difference鈥攁nd perhaps allow you a few extra minutes to apply lipstick, repair a chip on your nails, or try on a different pair of shoes.

Knowing a few methods of beating the clock can also come in handy for stylists, who often are tasked with clients who need to be ready for an event in a time-crunched situation.

Here are a few of our favorite super-simple 鈥渉airstyle hacks鈥� that will help you get gorgeous in a hurry.

Wash Only Your Bangs

Nothing spoils an otherwise pristine look quite as completely as dirty, greasy hair鈥攁nd it鈥檚 a common dilemma to have. Maybe you were too tired to shower last night; or perhaps your crossfit class ran late in the morning and you didn鈥檛 have time for a shampoo afterwards. At any rate, washing and blow-drying your entire head of hair is a major commitment you just can鈥檛 afford when you are tight on time.

Luckily, there鈥檚 an easy solution: Wash your bangs only. Your bangs (or the front part of your hair) are the section that gets the dirtiest, since they are in contact with the oils from your face. Simply pull back your hair with an elastic and headband, pull out your bangs, and wash them over the sink. Blowing them dry should only take you a few minutes and you鈥檒l have a fresh overall look. Leave the rest of your hair pulled back in a pony, braid, or bun; or let it down if it isn鈥檛 too dirty.

Put Your Braids to Work

 

Want to create pretty waves in a hurry? Try plaiting your hair into a number of braids. You can either do this with damp hair the night before鈥攂raid after blotting with a towel and then go to bed; simply undo the braids for instant waves. Or, if you鈥檙e working with dry hair, run a flatiron over the braids鈥攜ou can also try simply twisting instead of braiding. Enjoy the results!

The Double-Pony Trick

 

Need to make your hair look longer and fuller in a flash? The double-pony trick is one of the quickest on record and creates a dainty, feminine look in no time flat. There are various tutorials on how to create a double pony; the basic instructions are to pull both the top and bottom parts of your hair into separate ponytails, then allow the top to fall over the bottom. You鈥檒l marvel at the illusion of fullness鈥攁nd it was so easy!

Dry Shampoo

You鈥檙e probably already familiar with the convenience of dry shampoo, which absorbs sweat and oil from your hair and refreshes it when you don鈥檛 have time for a shower. Make sure to have some on hand for days in which you are rushing to beat the clock.

A tip: Dry Shampoos can have an odor that, while not unpleasant, doesn鈥檛 exactly resemble that of freshly washed hair. If you want to 鈥渉ack鈥� that showery smell, rub a few drops of essential oil into the ends of your hair鈥攜ou can try citrus or eucalyptus to mimic the scent of your favorite 鈥渞eal鈥� shampoo.

Bonus tip: If you have fine, slippery hair, give your bobby pins a spray of dry shampoo (or hairspray) before using them. The coating will make the pins tacky, giving them lasting 鈥渟tay鈥� power.

In a Huge Hurry? Scrunch It!

 

Here鈥檚 the easiest hack of all: If you鈥檙e in a tremendous rush and literally only have a minute, apply some beach spray or texturizing gel, scrunch your hair up in your hands, and give it a blast with your hairdryer, using a diffuser. You鈥檒l end up with volume and waves without a grain of fuss.

Oops–look at the time! Are you running late? Better try one of these tips now!