Let’s be honest, being a professional woman in the world today is incredibly difficult; we all just make it look easy. From getting up at ungodly hours in the morning, to spending countless hours and energy and money on facial treatments, hair care products, etc.; women spend their lives presenting the image that will help them get ahead with their career, their personal life, or just to help themselves feel their best for themselves.
But sometimes this can cause a strain on our ability to focus. Whether waking up late or just having a rough morning, doing your hair can seem like a harrowing task. But it doesn’t have to be. As long as I have been working and hustling to get by, I have discovered some easy, quick fixes that make it look like you got a full night’s sleep and as if you just stepped out of the classiest salon.
Now, I have ridiculously curly hair; this will be important later. The first job required me to be more than the college chic I had become accustomed to and drastically change my sleep schedule. Though for the most part, I transitioned reasonably quickly, some days were more difficult than others. My mind flashes to one day in particular when I was given the opportunity to give a presentation. I spent the entire night before practicing and redoing my slides over and over again… until I finally fell asleep due to pure exhaustion and I missed my alarms.
With little time to get ready, I was petrified that I had blown my chance. Looking into the mirror as I furiously brushed my hair and did my makeup, I saw the pile of curls on top of my head, and I couldn’t figure out how to alter this mess. However, with some quick thinking, I was able to make myself presentable and able to ace the presentation, and gain several compliments about my look. To learn my trick, read on down below.
If you straighten…
And I mean as pin straightens, it can be challenging to do that quickly, especially if you wake up with bed head. One thing I have discovered with my sister – whose hair texture is the absolute opposite of mine, is if she uses a silk pillowcase, dries her hair with a microfiber towel, and if she sleeps in a silk or satin bonnet, her hair is much tamer in the morning; and what usually takes almost an hour takes at most 10 minutes.
I would also suggest that you invest in seeking treatments for your hair. Even something as simple as taking a few drops of keratin or argan oil and working that through dry or damp hair can do wonders in terms of the ease of your morning routine.
If you curl…
Here is where it gets a bit more difficult. You can always sleep in rollers, but let’s be honest, no one has ever created a comfortable set of overnight rollers. Sometimes you don’t always have the time to sit down for an hour to curl your hair, but there are other ways to add a bit of volume to your hair and shave off some time.
My favorite has to be using a curling wand (one without the clip) to create beautiful beachy waves. The technique is fairly simple.
- Twist your hair around the barrel – do not pull it taught and flat against the barrel.
- Work in larger sections than you would if you were going for ringlets.
- And finally, don’t keep the heat on for as long.
And that’s really all there is to it. This will add a soft texture to your hair while keeping it voluminous and professional. I suggest that you follow up this style by using a bit of coconut oil to add back a bit of shine and nutrients that may have been lost in the heating process.
Now, this is something I am frequently asked, which is if I have a favorite make of curling iron. Between my sister and I we have probably tried every brand on the market, but there is one that is cost efficient, easy to use, long-lasting, and that has sped up both of our morning routines. The brand Brilliance New York has a line of clipless curling irons that come in a variety of barrel sizes and colors that you can choose to fit your hair type best, and it has become our saving grace. Click here to find clipless curling irons that may become your next favorite hair tool.
If you’re hair curls for you…
Alright ladies, this is where it gets difficult. Curly hair has such a full spectrum that every single person has a different hair type, curl shape, and overall texture. This makes it very difficult when trolling through the internet to find ways to make your mornings a bit less hectic.
The best ways to do this that I have found is by getting your hair care routine solidified. By creating your own personalized regime for what your hair needs – whether that’s extra moisture, fewer oils, or overall strengthening – and once your hair is healthy, a window of opportunities become available.
Something I have found is that if I do wash my hair in the morning, I use a moisture locking gel to tame and define my curl shape; if it isn’t a wash day, I simply get my hair damp and use a fraction of that same gel to give it a little pick me up. This is what I did the day of my big meeting. It took me less than five minutes, and even though I let it air dry, I had little to no frizz issues. Lines I would suggest you try as Hask, DevaCurl, and Redken’s curly hair collection. Trust me, once you find the balance for your hair’s health it with thank you in droves.
Let’s face it; hair care is not easy. But it can be simpler if we just take a few breaths and pick up a few tricks here and there. Though none of these solutions are full proof, I believe that through the trial and error process everyone can find their perfect quick fix and can gain back time in the mornings.