By Kristin Hull

In our first post about ways to save time doing your hair we covered washing and drying. This week we’ll focus on styling.

Knowing my inability to get up in the morning, my husband has taught me many valuable time-saving tricks over the years that have helped get me out the door quickly without sacrificing style. Try them out and let us know what you think!

Wake Up With Soft Waves

Remember how we said in our first “Time-Saving Tips From My Hairdresser Husband” post to wash hair at night and let it dry? Well, if you want to wake up with pretty, soft waves there’s one more step involved. Well, several steps, but they’re easy. If your hair is long enough (and you may just have to find out by trial and error), flip your head over and comb hair out with a wide-toothed comb while you are still in the shower. Wrap hair in a towel and let it soak up the extra water for about 15 minutes. Then rub about a quarter’s worth of styling gel between your palms. (The hubs says to never just put product on your fingers, it must be rubbed between hands for a few seconds in order to activate it and evenly distribute it). Flip head over again and apply it to your locks starting at the ends. You really don’t need much at all at the roots. Then just let hair air dry for an hour or so. (The timing on this may take some trial and error – if I don’t let it air dry for a while my hair will still be wet when I take it down in the morning and that just adds more time to my routine because I have to blow it dry).While hair is still damp, flip head over yet again and split hair into two sections, one on the left and one on the right and twist each section over and over until you’ve created a little Princess Lea-type bun. Put a hair elastic around each bun to hold them in place through the night. Sleep on it and when you wake up you’ll have soft, sexy waves. (Note: I like to put my buns as far up near the top of my head as possible so I don’t feel them when I lay down to sleep. Also, you can make as many little buns as you’d like – the more you make the curlier your hair will be.)

Embrace Ponytails, Braids and Buns

When time is a factor, ponytails, braids and buns can be your best friends. Whether high or low, in the center or to the side, ponytails can be fun, sophisticated or sexy. If time permits, pull a small section of hair from underneath the ponytail and wrap it around the rubber band. Then secure it with a bobby pin or clear hair tie to camouflage it. Braid a ponytail and you’ve got yet another look or, braid the piece you wrap around to conceal the rubber band.

One of my favorite quick styles is a sock bun. With a touch of Mad Men and a dash of Audrey Hepburn, it can’t not look good. See my video on how to do it here. Have trouble getting your hair smooth when pulling it back into a ponytail? Me too. Well, here is a trick to get rid of those annoying “bumps.” Stick the pointy end of a tail comb (they are easy to find and very inexpensive) under the hair where the bump is until the point comes out on the other side. Then, slide it all the way to back to the ponytail holder. You may have to do it a few times but for the most part it will make the bump go away.)

Accessorize

Hair accessories are an inexpensive and easy way to do something different with your hair. I personally love the half up, half down style. Be sure to fasten hair in back with a simple barrette, tiny clip or bobby pins (no scrunchies or giant banana clips!). Integrate braids into it for a modern touch. To amp up a regular ponytail add a hair band or headband. Or, try one of those without a ponytail and just let hair hang free.

Part Ways

Change up your part once in a while, even when putting your hair up in a ponytail or headband. Move it further to the side or try it down the middle. It can make a big difference.

Check Your Rear

This may not be a time-saving tip per se but it is the most important tip of all. If you don’t do it, you could end up spoiling the work you put into getting ready: Do not ever leave the house without checking the back of your head (and really, the back of your whole body). How many times have you seen someone who looks like polished perfection from the front but when they turn around there is some embarrassing faux pas for the all world to see (a flat spot at the crown, a tag hanging out, panty lines)? Don’t let that be you.

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