With the hustle and bustle of summer approaching, we’d rather fill our schedules with brunch dates and patio drinks than spend hours inside trying to tame our unruly locks.
Being a busy gal means finding ways to cut corners. If you’re into saving time (and possibly even money), look no further! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular hairstyling hacks for all hair types. Some hacks will work best for curly, while some are especially handy for straight hair, but try them all out to find what works for you!
1. Apply dry shampoo the night before
Investing in a good dry shampoo will extend the amount of time between washes, and add more volume to liven up your ‘do. If you find yourself constantly hitting the snooze button in the mornings, apply some dry shampoo the night before. It’ll soak up all the excess oil in your hair overnight, and you’ll wake up with fresh, clean-looking hair!
2. Spray a toothbrush with hairspray
Attempting a sleek updo but got those pesky baby hairs or flyaways working against you? Spray some hairspray on a (clean) toothbrush and brush it against those tiny hairs. The dense bristles will catch and coat all your baby hairs and flyaways to smooth out your look, and keep it looking sleek all day.
3. Dust some eyeshadow on your roots
To create the illusion of thicker, fuller hair, put some eyeshadow (the same color as your roots) along your part. The eyeshadow will shade your scalp slightly and make your hairline look denser. Similarly, you can spray white dry shampoo to mask dark roots until your next salon appointment.
4. Maintain a blowout by doing the twist
So you just paid $40 for a blowout at a blow dry bar— it’s expensive and really only lasts a day. How can you get the most out of your money? Simply gather and twist your hair into a loose bun, secure with a fabric hair tie (to prevent unnatural kinks), and then shake it out the next morning for another day of bouncy curls.
5. Spray to save your bobby pins
One of the greatest mysteries of every generation—the elusive bobby pin. Sometimes they can just fall right out—especially if you have pin-straight hair. While we don’t or can’t know where they go, we can take some measures to (hopefully) prevent another loss. Try spraying your bobby pins with hairspray to get them sticky, and then pin them into your hair, ridged-side down to maximize grip.
6. Stack your ponytails
Want to elongate and thicken up your ponytail? Separate off the top half of your hair, put it into a ponytail and tease it. Then, grab the rest of your hair, and throw it into a lower ponytail underneath. Stacking one ponytail under the other will just make it look like one long ponytail. Remember to not section off and tie them too far apart to hide the fact that there are two instead of one.
7. Dry hair using a T-shirt
The secret to every curly-haired girl’s killer hair regimen? Wrapping your head in a T-shirt instead of a towel. The friction of a heavy towel can be rough on hair, especially when it’s right out of the shower and extremely fragile and stretchy. For a gentler option that will reduce frizz and breakage, slip a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel over your hair and wear it turban-style to soak up the excess water.
8. Blast your hair with hot and cold air
When styling your hair, alternate between hot and cold air from your dryer. Your hair will be very flexible while it’s hot, so if you don’t want gravity to pull out your curls before you even walk out the door, blow some cool air to set your flirty waves. Don’t forget to spray with some hairspray to give your hair some extra hold.
9. Take a shot of vodka to your hair
Some of the most popular shampoos have ingredients that mess with the pH in your hair, creating dryness and frizziness. Vodka has emerged as the unlikely hero we didn’t know we needed. Its acidic properties seal the hair cuticle to boost shine and remove buildup. Add a shot to your shampoo, conditioner, or mix it with water to do a final rinse. Alcohol can dry your hair out, so use sparingly and on occasion. If you don’t have vodka on hand, go to the kitchen and pick up a bottle of apple cider vinegar—works like a charm!
10. Super fast curls
Quick curls for the on-the-go girl have never been easier. Depending on how much hair you have, create two or more ponytails before curling your hair. Instead of working through your whole head, just curl each ponytail. This method drastically decreases the amount of time you spend doing your curls, so you’ll be out the door in no time!
11. Natural remedies for temporary hair colors
If you have light blonde hair, spritz your hair with a mixture of lemon and water before heading out to the sun to get sun-kissed locks with natural-looking highlights.
If you have darker hair, do a rinse in the shower (after shampoo or conditioner) with black tea or coffee to give your scalp a wakeup call! A black tea rinse is said to prevent breakage and promote growth, while coffee is supposed to help with shine and act as a conditioner.
