In today's post, I'm sharing a few of my favorite tips and tricks that help me get ready quickly without sacrificing style. These tips include things I do with my hair, clothing and makeup, and I've relied on them for years to get me out the door looking great when I'm either running late or can't be bothered to put a lot of time into how I look.
HAIR
First up, let's talk hair. One of my favorite tips for ensuring my hair looks great with very little effort in the morning is to do my hair the night before. So, whatever your preferred style is, I recommend knocking it out before you go to bed and then protecting it with a loose bun, satin cap or braid so that when you wake up in the morning all you have to do is let it out, tousle and go.
Which brings me to my second hair tip. If you're like me and you try not to wash your hair everyday then I'm sure you love dry shampoo but I've found that using dry shampoo the night before is a million times better than using it in the morning. Doing this helps the dry shampoo to really set in and fully and help prevent oil before it starts. Plus, it also helps eliminate the white cast if you have dark hair like me.
Then I just brush it out in the morning and I'm good to go. If you don't like traditional dry shampoo or just want to save a little money, you can also use a little baby powder, corn starch or even your favorite setting powder for the exact same effect!
ADD A DISTRACTION
Now let's say you wake up and despite your best efforts, your hair is just not cooperating. When this happens to me I love to save time and rather than redo my hair which can take forever, I just pull it back in a pony or low bun, and throw on some statement earrings or even a great scarf. This simple combination instantly elevates my look and makes me look and feel put together without having to spend forever fussing over my hair. Plus, a few of my favorite scarf ties only take a few seconds to complete which makes things super simple. If scarves aren't your thing or you need longer than a few seconds to get them right, a statement blazer will be your new best friend. I have a few that I love to throw on top of monochromatic outfits in a pinch. It instantly transforms simple separates in no time.
KEEP IT UNIFORM
Which brings me to my next tip - when all else fails, throw on your "uniform." I've touched on this in the past and I have a few more videos all about this coming up, but honing in a few "uniforms" or easy outfit combinations that always make you feel like a million bucks will help ensure you always have an outfit to wear when you're pressed for time. A few of my personal uniforms are a white shirt and jeans or pants, a simple sweater and tailored bottom or a monochromatic look with a great scarf or blazer thrown on top.
FIGHT WRINKLES BEFORE THEY START
My last tip in the fashion department is to invest in wrinkle-free pieces and then wear those when you're running late!
I have a few wrinkle resistant shirts (this is my fave!) and bottoms that I not only love for traveling but also for when I'm running late and don't have time to iron or steam my clothes, because they always look freshly pressed with no effort.
If you don't have any wrinkle resistant items then you can hang your shirt or pants in the bathroom with you while you shower to release any creases and/or you can run over your collar or any other wrinkly bits with your hair straightener for a quick fix.
STREAMLINE YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE
Next up, let's talk makeup. If you wear makeup then you'll know the frustration of using products that just don't work. To help avoid this all-together and especially when I'm running late, I rely on a capsule makeup collection of my favorite products that always work and make me feel fantastic. Once I have these products, I use them to customize a signature makeup look that I can complete in 5-10 minutes. If you don't quite have this down yet, I recommend practicing on the weekends or in the evenings when you have free time until you have a routine that always works for you.
ADD A POP OF COLOR
When all else fails, throw on blush or a bright lip. Eye makeup is too complicated and can really set you back when you're running late but a bright lip takes no time to apply and instantly makes you look like you spent a lot longer getting ready than you actually did. Now, if you're not a lip person like me then opt for a bright, youthful blush instead. This will wake up your face and make you look more bright eyed and polished.
