Tweak Your Morning Routine
The alarm clock goes off and already you are faced with a dozen decisions that need to be made before you walk out the door. What am I going to wear today? Is there time to pack a lunch? Or do I need to eat out again? Do I have time to shower? And if I shower, do I have time to blow dry my hair? Add kids to this equation, and your morning just went from busy to hectic.
Here is the good news: We’ve come up with a list of time-saving tips for you to follow to make your morning routine less crazy and make yourself look more prepared.
Prepare the night before
- Pick out and lay out what you are going to wear the night before. This will eliminate multiple minutes spent pulling shirts off of their hangers, trying them on and then throwing them on the bed because you didn’t like them.
- If a shirt is wrinkled or stained, take care of it the night before when you’re better prepared, instead of panicking in the morning. Quick tip: Purchase a mini-steamer. They are quicker and easier to use than ironing.
- Pack your purse and lunch the night before and have it ready, so you can grab it on your way out the front door. Also, your keys, wallet and all essentials should live in your purse – there’s no time for running around in the morning looking for misplaced subway passes.
- If you are heading to the gym after work, have that bag ready, too.
- Shampoo your hair the night before to allow you to quickly dampen and blow-dry in the morning. If you don’t shampoo every night, roll or wrap your hair to preserve your current hairstyle.
- Take care of your skin by performing any deep cleansing, exfoliating, anti-aging, or acne treatments the night before. This will help to limit your morning routine to a light cleanse and simple make-up application.
Face products
- For a quick make-up routine, apply foundation, blush, and lipstick. These are the bare necessities and will help you start your day feeling confident no matter how quickly you rushed from the house.
- If you just don’t have any time for makeup, splash some cold water on your face. It tightens pores and instantly perks up your complexion.
- For quick eye makeup, skip the shadow and apply a light-colored eyeliner in a thick line across your lash line, then smudge the liner upwards until it blends.
- Cut time spent on curling your eyelashes. Instead of using curlers, try pressing your eyelashes up with your index finger instead and hold for five seconds. The heat from your finger will help the lashes to stay put.
Quick hair tips
- Focus on your bangs. You can always pull your hair back in a ponytail or a headband and let it dry naturally and spend your time styling your bangs.
- If you like to straighten your hair, try to do it the night before.
- If you are using a curling iron, you may be using up more time that you need. Try rollers instead. Put in a few rollers and take your shower, but don’t get your hair wet, and let the steam set it for you.
- Dry shampoo is a quick fixer-upper when you don’t have time to wash your hair. Get rid of excess oil at the roots by spraying on dry shampoo.
- Another idea is to use a large powder brush to dab and blend sheer powder directly to your roots.
With a little planning the night before to maximize your chances of looking beautiful the next day, your mornings don’t have to be doomed from the moment your alarm goes off. Simply start putting a consistent process in place to simplify your morning beautification routine. Follow these quick-fix tips and make your mornings something you enjoy, not dread.
About Ms. Lenora Cruz-Price: Ms. Cruz-Price has been the Department Chair of the Cleveland Remington College Cosmetology diploma program since 2010. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management, a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and has experience both in the public school system and as a salon owner. As a Cleveland resident for over 30 years, Ms. Cruz-Price’s favorite aspect of teaching Cosmetology in the Maple Heights-area is to empower others.
