Get Ready in 10 Minutes or Less
When I started to write the blog entry I thought it sounded a bit like discovering the secrets of the pyramids. I knew in my heart of hearts that real woman do this every day. Everyone is scheduled to the max and time is the most precious commodity. I decided to interview clients, my co-workers, and women from all walks of life to discover the secrets of the quick beauty fixes. Let’s face it, for all of us in the real world, ten minutes is about all the time we have to get ready.I knew these beauty shortcuts existed, and I became determined to uncover each time-saving remedy. After endless conversations I received many tips. Some seemed so totally absurd that at first I dismissed them. Some of the “genius” suggestions included brushing your teeth while taking a shower or laying out your clothes for the next day the night before. After hearing these remarks, I was ready to throw my Blackberry across the room! Then it struck me: Any routine that saves you time is legitimate. There are no rules. All is fair in beauty and the rush to get out the door looking good. I immediately made an attitude adjustment and opened my mind. My mission was to discover the quick fixes that work to keep you looking great every day.
The most universal solution to the problem of looking good in minutes is a great haircut. When your hair is cut right, it will fall into place easily. I am not suggesting that every haircut will be a wash-and-wear style. In fact, there is a noticeable trend this season towards a soft A-line blunt cut without layers. Hair will be worn straighter but with body, bend, and movement. This means that hair will require a bit more grooming. More grooming requires more time to get ready. The solution to this problem is to wash and dry your hair the night before. In the morning, apply a root lift spray product and wrap hair in your largest set of Velcro rollers. Apply your makeup or blast your hair with a hot dryer for a minute or less. Gently remove rollers and softly brush hair. You can do all this before you finish your morning cup of coffee.
My new favorite “get ready quick” product is an old one that has been
brought back to the market in the last couple of years: Dry shampoo.
The new dry shampoos are a must-have, especially for people with fine
hair. Fine hair has a tendency to become oily quickly, making it look
even thinner. Most hair always looks its worst on the days that there
is absolutely no time to shampoo and style your hair. Most likely you
were out the night before and just jumped into bed without preparing
for the next day or were simply too tired from a stressful day at work
to be bothered with your hair. The new generation of dry shampoos
works. These products refresh and deodorize your hair. The added bonus
is that they instantly add body and fullness. And guys, are you
listening? This is a quick fix to create the illusion of more hair. It
works and it’s easy to use. If your girlfriend or wife has it already,
try it today. If she doesn’t have it in her beauty arsenal, it is
definitely worth a drugstore run.
Speaking of keeping hair clean, there is another trick I learned from my clients with a “to-do list” much longer than their free time allows. Shampoo your bangs or the front section of your hair and then give yourself a quick blow dry. This is much simpler than it seems. Just section the back of your hair and clip it. Shampoo the front section and blow it dry. This immediately gives the illusion of freshly styled hair. You just saved yourself at least 15 to 20 minutes, so you can get to work on time knowing you look good.
Perhaps the most frustrating beauty moment is realizing your hair color retouch is next week and you have a few grey hairs popping out right on your hairline for the whole world to see. It really doesn’t matter how beautiful your blow dry is because all you notice is those few strands of grey. This is almost as bad as having a huge pimple on your chin. You just can’t escape it. There are now coloring products made especially for this issue and take ten minutes or less to use. They offer just enough color to apply in key areas or around the hairline and part. The shade selection is simplified to avoid bands of color. This will not get you out the door in ten minutes or less without a wet head, but it will greatly reduce your coloring time. This is a must-have product if you color your hair. It is especially convenient if your job requires frequent travel.
These are just a few quick fixes that will get you out the door in a matter of minutes. They should not be part of your usual beauty routine, but they are great for those days when you are moving slowly. Smile at your boss when you walk into work. After all, you’re on time and you look great!
More from Louis Licari
Speaking of keeping hair clean, there is another trick I learned from my clients with a “to-do list” much longer than their free time allows. Shampoo your bangs or the front section of your hair and then give yourself a quick blow dry. This is much simpler than it seems. Just section the back of your hair and clip it. Shampoo the front section and blow it dry. This immediately gives the illusion of freshly styled hair. You just saved yourself at least 15 to 20 minutes, so you can get to work on time knowing you look good.
Perhaps the most frustrating beauty moment is realizing your hair color retouch is next week and you have a few grey hairs popping out right on your hairline for the whole world to see. It really doesn’t matter how beautiful your blow dry is because all you notice is those few strands of grey. This is almost as bad as having a huge pimple on your chin. You just can’t escape it. There are now coloring products made especially for this issue and take ten minutes or less to use. They offer just enough color to apply in key areas or around the hairline and part. The shade selection is simplified to avoid bands of color. This will not get you out the door in ten minutes or less without a wet head, but it will greatly reduce your coloring time. This is a must-have product if you color your hair. It is especially convenient if your job requires frequent travel.
These are just a few quick fixes that will get you out the door in a matter of minutes. They should not be part of your usual beauty routine, but they are great for those days when you are moving slowly. Smile at your boss when you walk into work. After all, you’re on time and you look great!
More from Louis Licari
- Try on new hairstyles from Louis Licari with Makeover-o-Matic
- Get more info from the Today show on iVillage
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