Because there should be more than 24 hours in every day. Because feeling confident in your appearance makes a world of difference in your mood. Because hitting the snooze button doesn’t have to trump looking pulled-together and stylish … here are 5 more Scott J staff-tested, stylist-approved beauty hacks.
The Fancy Pony
With a little technique and some go-to products, the humble ponytail can transform into a red-carpet look in a matter of minutes. Three of our favorite quickie ways to dress up a plain pony are:
The Topsy Tail, a regular ponytail that becomes a half-up half-down chignon in less than a minute.
The criss-cross ponytail, a Pinterest favorite that looks far more complicated than it is.
The hair-wrapped ponytail has been a Duchess of Cambridge go-to style for official events. Nuff said. (We use a few spritzes of Air Control to keep everything smooth and secure.)
Source: Glamour.com
The Line’n’Curl
Line your eyes and curl your lashes in one step! (This one might involve a bit of practice before you have less than a minute to pull it off.) First, warm your eyelash curler with a hot stream from your hair dryer for just a few seconds. Then, using an Aveda Eye Definer Eye Liner, draw a solid line across the edge of your eyelash curler, where it touches your lid just above the lash line. Now curl your lashes as usual, transferring liner onto lids.
Source: Issue247.com
The Instant Depuffer
When you wake up with puffy eyes, deflate them in moments with Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Energizing Eye Crème. For extra oomph, apply the crème, then gently tap under the eyes with one finger in a half-moon motion for 30 seconds per eye.
Source: Aveda
The Magnificent Messy Bun
The quintessential morning-rush hairstyle is not as easy as it sounds to achieve … remember you’re going for “casual chic,” not “verge of a nervous breakdown.” Start by puffing Shampure Dry Shampoo at the roots to absorb oil and add thickness at the crown. Backcomb the hair of the crown and all around your face for added volume. Take your Aveda Paddle Brush and lightly glide over the surface of the hair to smooth out the backcombed sections. Spritz lightly with Air Control for grip.
Now comes the bun part: gather your hair in a secure ponytail. Twist it around the elastic base and secure it with a second elastic so it’s in a tight bun. Now, gently pull apart the bun (both out and up) on all sides to loosen it. Secure the bun with a few bobby pins so it stays put. Pull a few wisps out if you like, and spritz all over with Air Control.
Source: Aveda
Five-Minute Beach Waves
Here’s a dry hair style that uses your curling iron or wand. Prep your crown for volume with Shampure Dry Shampoo, Pure Abundance Potion or Phomollient. Run a styling crème through the rest of your hair, concentrating on the ends (Smooth Infusion Naturally Straight or Brilliant Styling Crème are two faves.) Gather your hair into a high ponytail on top of your head and then separate it into two sections (three or four for very thick hair). Clip one section and then curl the other. Do the same for the remaining sections. Spritz with Air Control, pull out your ponytail, shake it out and voila — a day at the beach.
Source: Aveda
And, because we’re all about going above and beyond, here’s a bonus mini-hack with one of our favorite time-saving products, Aveda Shampure Dry Shampoo … Apply it BEFORE you go to bed, instead of in the morning. Sleeping on it will work the powder thoroughly into the scalp and hair, and you’ll wake up with even more volume.
Source: Aveda
A few minutes here and there does add up! Shave a little time off your beauty or grooming routine and earn a little more time for the important stuff.