The struggle is real.
Early mornings are so not the time to attempt a jazzy hairstyle. Forget a smooth ‘do, even composing your hair in the morning can be a mad rush – especially after snoozing your alarm a shameful number of times, then realising you have to be out of the door ASAP.
Whether you’re looking for a way to rock a cute hairstyle without compromising on sleep or you lead a busy lifestyle with no time for excessive primping, these lazy morning hair hacks are sure to help speed things up. Minimal time, minimal effort…if that’s your vibe, we’ve got your back.
1. Shampoo minus the shower
When you wake up to lank or greasy hair in the morning but have no time for a full hair wash, just spray some dry shampoo at your roots. Wait one full minute, then finger tousle to get instant volume. Dry shampoo not only cuts grease, but a good one can give you extra volume and make your hair look lustrous and luxurious.
This is an often-seen tip because it works!
Not sure which dry shampoo to get? Read our dry shampoo guide complete with product recommendations of 17 best dry shampoos that work, especially in Singapore’s impossibly hot and humid weather!
2. Sleep strategically
Tired of waking up with frizzy hair no matter how much you conditioned it the night before? Sleeping on luxury silk pillowcases will help keep that bed head under control so you don’t have to struggle with it right before work.
The natural properties of silk, including its smooth surface, can help reduce friction on your hair – which causes damage such as spilt ends and those unruly tangles we all hate!
You can find silk pillowcases in Singapore at a variety of prices. Try the more affordable Mulberry pillowcases at SGD26 from Lazada – it’s naturally hypoallergenic and can prevent dry and frizzled hair. For a truly bougie night of sleep, try the ultra-smooth pillow case with anti-ageing properties from Slip from Sephora at SGD92.
3. Quick curls
This hack is great for those days when you absolutely need to look your best, even in a time crunch. Glamorous cascading curls might sound a little impossible but we have the perfect hack to do them efficiently, and effectively.
Simply put your hair up in a high ponytail, divide and concur! Splitting your hair into three to four small sections in a ponytail and curling them is much faster then curling each section with your hair let loose – but it leaves you with the same results.
4. Perky Ponytail
There’s a reason why ponytails are the most versatile hairstyles for any situation – it keeps the hair out of your face, can be done easily in the morning, and is suitable for both formal occasions such as an office conference, and informal ones like a romantic dinner date.
Unfortunately, it’s also easy for a ponytail to go from wonderful to wilted, especially if your hair is slippery or if you move a lot throughout the day. This simple trick which takes less than 20 seconds can give your pony an instant boost – all with just two little bobby pins.
All you need to do is to prop up your ponytail by sticking two bobby pins under it through the hair tie. This lifts your ponytail up and makes it look fuller instantly!
5. Accessorise
Here’s a secret weapon to make it look like you spent a ton of time and effort on your hair in the morning – accessories!
Having a supply of cute accessories at your disposal is great to jazz up your hair within seconds. Grab a headband, hair clip or a ’90s reminiscent scrunchie, and you’re golden. By making your hair accessory the focus of your hairstyle, the rest of your look can be laid back and simple.
Not sure of just how exactly to accessorise? We’ve got you covered! Here are our tips to working the popular Korean hair clip trend, rocking the stylish scrunchie, or making your hairstyle pop by including fabric in your hair! You can thank us later.
6. Get effortless beachy waves
There’s nothing better than waking up with perfect hair to make you feel like you’re more than ready to take on the day. Trust us when we say taking a few extra minutes at night to style your hair before you go to bed will make all the difference in the morning and it’s so easy!
On wet hair, apply a texturising mousse and create two to four braids (can be any type of braid) The more braids you create, the tighter your curls will be and the more volume you’ll get. Sleep with the braids and remove the hair ties in the morning before leaving home. You’ll be greeted with bombshell beachy waves, perfect for long layers, a midi, or even a bob.
Try the Redken Full Effect Nourishing Mousse, a light-weight mousse, designed to deliver nourishing volume without crunch or stickiness. It’s available at Shopee and retails at SGD32. For a long-wearing mousse that creates tousled hair that can last for up to 48 hours and works on damp or dry hair, consider the Instant Texture Mist by Living Proof that retails at SGD36 at Sephora.
7. Have a designated default up-do
A side braid, deep side part, a ballerina bun – you’ll need at least one fail-safe style to pull out of your arsenal on days when you oversleep and wake to major bedhead. Our favourite is the messy bun. It’s deceptively easy to do and is perfect for greasy hair and for when you just don’t have time to wash out your hair.
The best part about this up-do? The messier, the better!
8. The occasional blow-out
If you’ve got medium to long hair then chances are you spend a lot of time (and arm-strength) on blow-drying your hair after washing it.
If you’ve gone for one before, you might notice that a professional blow-out at a salon lasts days longer than one you do on your own. Indulge in a blowout session with your stylist every now and then, to allow a quick re-fluff in the morning before you race out of the door with hair that screams va-va-voom.
Here are our picks on anti-frizz and blowout treatments, complete with special vouchers for you to make the most out of it!