When I went back to work after Lincoln was born, I was trying to find ways to speed up my morning “getting ready” routine. It happened by accident, but I ended up changing my hair routine and it has saved me so much time so I wanted to share it with you all! The best part is that my hair looks the same as before, it just takes a lot less time to achieve the same result.
I used to wash my hair in the morning every Monday and Thursday before work. That included washing, blow drying and setting it in Velcro rollers. It took about 25 minutes to dry and style it after the 10-15 minutes I spent in the shower.
Right before I went back to work, I got a trim and left the salon with my hair still wet, letting it air dry for several hours because I was too lazy to blow dry it. I noticed my hair had actually started to dry quite decently. Several hours later, when it was almost dry, I blow dried the rest of the moisture out and set it in some Velcro rollers. The blow-out turned out great and saved me a lot of time since most of the moisture was already out of my hair.
I realized that when I went back to work, it would be easier to wash my hair at night and blow it out in the morning. It only takes me about 10 minutes to blow dry it and set it into some Velcro rollers when it’s almost dry in the morning. The time saved from not washing/drying it in the morning is 100% worth it and I’m so glad I made the switch. I’m also causing less damage to my hair since I’m not blow drying it from completely wet to dry.
Further down in this post, I’ll also share more about my new T3 featherweight Luxe 2i hair dryer. It’s definitely an investment, but I’ve always used higher-end hair dryers and this one is the best one yet. Talk about cutting down on drying time and leaving you with smooth tresses.
Though I’ve had quite a bit of postpartum hair loss (like, you could make a new head of hair from the hair I’ve lost), I still feel like my hair is healthier because I no longer blow dry it when it’s out-of-the-shower wet. The improvement is especially noticeable on my ends. Though it’s healthier, my hair texture has changed a lot since having my second baby. It doesn’t hold a curl well anymore and I have numerous areas where I have hairs that have a rough/wiry texture. And blad spots. It is so bizarre. Will this change when I stop nursing? Please Lord, say yes! I plan to use the hair version of the neuLASH eyelash serum as soon as I’m done nursing to help get some of my hair back. Have any of you used it?
T3 featherweight Luxe 2i hair dryer | living proof night cap overnight protector | Aveda Smooth Infusion | living proof dry shampoo | L’Oreal blow dry it thermal smoother cream | Redken GUTS 10 | Living Proof perfect hair day fresh cut split end mender
Below is my step-by-step routine, including the products I use:
WASH & CONDITION
I rotate shampoos. Right now I have in my shower Living Proof Perfect Hair Day shampoo, Nioxin Shampoo for noticeably thinning hair (chemically treated) and Aveda Color Conserve shampoo.
I almost always use the Macadamia Nourishing Masque from the nape of my neck down to the ends of my hair. I also have in my shower Aveda Color Conserve Conditioner and StriVectin’s hair mask/treatment which I’ll use sometimes.
POST-WASH STYLING PRODUCTS
Once I take my hair out of the towel that it’s wrapped in (turban style), I brush it out with a Wet Brush (if you don’t have one, you need one. I have the original Wet Brush and the Shine one). This brush makes brushing wet hair a breeze and doesn’t snag or tangle. It’s must-have and inexpensive.
After brushing, I do my best to use my towel to get out some additional moisture by (gently) pressing it into sections of my hair.
Next, I add styling products. At first I was concerned that adding the products and not heat styling after would mean weirdly crunchy or clumpy hair, but that has not been the case at all.
First, I spray Redken’s GUTS 10 spray foam mousse onto just the roots of my hair. I brush that out with a wet brush.
Then, I add L Living Proof’s perfect hair day fresh cut split end mender, focusing on the ends of my hair but I will also bring it up a bit. I brush it out again with the Wet Brush.
Next, I add Living Proof’s night cap overnight protector
Finally, I add either L’Oreal blow dry it thermal smoother cream or Aveda Smooth Infusion from the nape of my neck to the ends of my hair and brush it once last time.
Then, I sleep with my hair down so that it can dry as much as possible as I sleep.
MORNING STYLING
In the morning, my hair is about 75 percent dry. My roots do feel firm and crunchy from the mousse, but the moment I start to brush and blow-dry it, they soften right up and are voluminous.
I use T3 featherweight Luxe 2i hair dryer on medium/high heat to rough dry the rest of my hair out and then when it’s about 90 percent dry, I blow dry it in sections on high heat with the hair dryer attachment and a round brush. As I’m doing the sections, I set them in these velcro rollers— don’t forget to buy these clips to hold your rollers in place!
A note about the T3 featherweight Luxe 2i hair dryer– I started using it over a month ago and it has cut my drying time down even more! I was skeptical because I was already using a good/pricier hair dryer, so it’s not like I was going from a $30 drugstore hairdryer to a high-end one…but ladies, I’m not kidding you when I say that the T3 dries hair even faster. This is not a sponsored or paid post— I was sent the hair dryer to try, but I wouldn’t share it with you all unless I felt it was truly a step above the one I was using before.
That’s a wrap on my new hair styling routine!
Simple and saves time and energy. On the days between washing (I still wash twice a week), I use my Hot Tools curling iron to create loose curls and touch them up in the morning. I also use dry shampoo in between washes and that helps me stretch my blowouts! Another tip is to keep your hair in a topknot when you sleep at night. Make sure your roots are loose so that they’re not tight against your scalp all night. This will keep them volumized longer. Lastly, use dry shampoo before bed time to let it absorb oil overnight and wake up with hair that feels freshly washed.
I hope you’ll try out this method and cut down your drying/styling time!
FTC disclaimer: I was sent the T3 hair dryer for consideration. I’m sharing it by choice as this is not a sponsored or paid post. As always, I only share things I genuinely love.
Your hair looks great, and I can’t believe that it’s mostly air dried. I usually let mine air dry too but only in summer because it’s too hot for blow drying! I use some of these products and I’m going to see if I get similar results. Obviously we have very different hair but it’s worth a shot! The older I get, the less I want to fuss with my hair! You look great, V!
Thanks girl! To be fair, my hair is curled in these pictures too so the ends have a little more bend than my first day hair but I’ve been shocked at how smooth it stays considering it’s mostly air dried!
I completely agree with you about how letting your hair dry cuts down on blow drying time and damage. I have curly hair so it’s a hot mess if I sleep on it wet overnight, but I make it a point now to let it air dry for a few hours before I start blow drying it. If you’ve never tried it, I’m a huge fan of the Redken Satin blow dry lotion. I love the way it makes my hair feel. Thanks for sharing your updated routine!
Hi Sam! You know I actually used to use that redken lotion- I guess I need to buy it again because I recall liking it! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Love it! The only question I have (just to clarify)- you set the rollers and unroll as you blow dry sections? Is that enough time to give your hair time to be “rolled”? Or, would you recommend doing your makeup as you let your hair set in the rollers?
I ask because I’ve never used rollers so, this would be a totally new endeavor for me!!
I’m sorry I didn’t delve into that- yes I leave them in as I do my makeup! I’ll edit the post tomorrow to reflect that 🙂 thank you!
Yay!! Thanks!! I’ll be hunting those rollers at Ulta today. Gotta love those $3.50 coupons to justify every trip ?
Thank you for the updated hair routine!! I’m a mom of 3 month old twins who is going back to work next month…my hair texture is very similar to yours and after reading your hair washing routine 2 years ago I adopted it as well. It’s worked so brilliantly but I was already dreading getting up extra early on Monday and Thursday’s to blow dry my hair and get myself ready. Thank goodness the hubby does daycare drop off ?
Thanks always for sharing your life!
Hi Kate! I’m so thrilled my routine from a couple of years ago worked so well for you. I’m crossing my fingers that you’ll find this one to be even easier! 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
Your hair is gorgeous!
thank you so much Erin 🙂
Hi! I had the same problem with my first baby (hair loss like crazy!) but not so much with my second yet (she’s 5mo). What helped for me using the Phytocyane Densifying shampoo (got at Sephora). It really seemed to help! It doesn’t have much lather so I would use my regular shampoo after.
thank you so much for the recommendation!:)
Does your hair have layers in it or all one length? It’s gorgeous! 🙂
Erin- it has long layers! Thanks for asking 🙂
Instead of using a regular towel to dry your hair, you should really consider an Aquis hair towel. I’ve had one for more than a decade now (eek!) and it’s still one of the best gifts I ever received. I pride myself on traveling super light, but I ALWAYS pack it – it’s that good and makes that much of a difference in my dry time! (And it’s only like, $20ish and they have the at Bed Bath & Beyond.)
I have never heard of these- thank you! I will look for them at my next trip to BB&B!
I second this! I have been using Aquis hair towels for over 15 years when they were sold at Brookstone. My mom got it for me in high school because anything to help dry my thick hair (so much thicker back then). I still have the original one and I finally splurged on a new one two years ago. You can often find them at Homegoods/TjMaxx/Marshalls.
I definitely need one!
Hi! Would you mind sharing what dry shampoo you use? I also try to only wash my hair 2 or 3 times a week and so I’m always on the lookout for ways to stretch good hair between washes. Thanks!
Hi! I use so many, but I would say the one I love most is by living proof! Here is the link: https://rstyle.me/n/bwbijigj6w
Hi! I have thin hair and my stylist has recommended a hairdryer that has a heat control. Does the T3 have this feature?
Yes, it does! 🙂 it has both heat and speed settings.
Thanks for sharing your routine! I am not a daily hair-washer, either. My thick hair takes so long to dry, I’m thankful to stretch those blowouts! 🙂
Thank you! I’ve been washing my hair at night for years now and just generally giving it a quick dry if it was still damp and using a curling iron on the ends but I hadn’t thought to still use mousse (I used to use guts 10 all the time) I bought it again after reading this and used Velcro rollers and my hair looks fantastic! Day 2 and I have so much volume still but I still got to be lazy.
Yay! I’m so thrilled this styling routine is working for you. I swear it makes all the difference to use the rollers and the mousse. What I find is that the mousse helps lift your hair from your scalp and so it doesn’t get as oily as quickly.
Thanks for the hair dryer review! I will definitely consider getting one to replace mine that just broke. About the Aveda shampoo, I was using that one for a while and felt like it made my hair fall out even more than it already was…maybe all of the lavender in it? I’m all for natural ingredients but I will no longer be using Aveda products because I am scared of losing more hair.