7 Fast Hairstyling Tips for Busy Mornings That Save Time

1. Volume

I've found out that I can create a bit more volume by putting my damp hair up into a loose bun before going to bed. I start by spritzing my hair with a quality volumizing spray and then pull it all up into a loose ponytail on the top of my head. Finally, I twist my hair into a loose bun and secure it with a few bobby pins. By prepping my hairstyle like this, all that's left for me to do in the morning is take my hair down and comb through with my fingers for instant lift and effortless heatless waves.

2. Waves

I like to wear my hair in waves when going on a date or a night out with my girls. And there's one awesome yet fast hairstyling tip for waves I've learned from a friend. She suggested I should apply a little styling mousse in my hair from roots to ends, divide my hair into several sections, then braid each section and secure it with an elastic band. In the morning when I unbraid each section, I have a head full of perfect waves. The more sections you create, the more waves you will get. I don’t always sleep in the braids, though—if my date is on a weekend, I'll wear my braids throughout the day around the house and take them down after my hair is dry. If you want to refresh your style later without washing, you can also transition to second-day curls.

3. Unwashed Straight Hair

We’ve all had those moments when our hair isn't perfectly clean and we have a surprise visitor coming over, or have to be somewhere in 30 minutes and don’t have any time to get ready. This is horrible if your unwashed hair is starting to look oily on top. No worries. For a fast hairstyling fix, grab a section of hair at the front of your crown. Tease it a little to get some lift and then pull the section to the side, securing it with a bobby pin.

4. Unwashed Curly Hair

Don’t worry, curly-headed girls; I got you covered with a fast hairstyling tip too! To give your curls a second day of life without a complete wash, start by spraying hair with a lightweight leave-in conditioner. Apply gel to your damp hair and finally dry it with a diffuser or allow it to air dry. This is a great shortcut whenever you want to practice embracing your natural texture.

5. Go Natural

The best hair advice that will save anyone's time and effort is not to fight nature. Wavy and curly hair is beautiful. Instead of spending all that time damaging your hair with a flat iron, you could be ready in less than five minutes. Towel-dry hair until it is damp. Add a mixture of gel and leave-in conditioner through hair. Start at the ends and scrunch up towards the roots. Let your hair air dry. Yup, it's as simple as that!

6. Side Pony

Here is a fast hairstyle that looks good on just about any hair type. The thing I love about the side pony is that it is an updated, stylish version of my good friend, the classic ponytail. You see, there are days when I just want to give it all up and show up for work with a ragged ponytail, although I know this "do" just isn't good enough for the occasion. That’s when I fall back on the side pony. I'll start by slightly teasing my hair up around the crown for more volume and I'll then sweep it all to the side and secure it with an elastic band.

7. Hats

Hats are stylish yet very fast hairstyling tricks you simply have to remember to apply sometimes! Furthermore, if you can manage to wear a hat all day as part of your look, you really only need to worry about one part of your hair. Simply add a little texture to your length by applying a mixture of gel and leave-in conditioner and scrunching it until you get the desired volume and texture. Top it off with your favorite baseball cap, cowboy hat, or winter beanie and you're all done!

I can honestly tell you that I have used just about all of these fast hairstyling tips when I’ve been seriously running late. In fact, some of these styles look so amazing that I have incorporated them into my regular routine, thus allowing myself one more tap on the snooze button. Do you have any of your special, most favorite fast hairstyling tips to share? Do let me know!