The Recent Change that I Made That Helps Me Feel Put Together | + 2 Hairstyle How-To’s

About a month or so ago, I was standing in front of the mirror getting ready one day, when I came to a big realization. I had completely and totally given up on putting any effort into my hair anymore. I’m talking about going to bed with it wet, and then waking up and just throwing it into a messy topknot, day in and day out. You see, once upon a time, I was a professional hair stylist, and I wouldn’t have even dreamed about leaving the house the way I was now doing so on a daily basis. Granted, I had a lot more time on my hands back then, since I was single and had no kids to worry about while I got ready, but I used to pride myself on having perfectly coiffed locks every single day, and now, well it was a mess. Above and beyond make up and/or clothing, styling my hair has always been the one thing that made me feel put together. It might sound silly, but everyone has their thing.

So, on that day, I made a commitment to myself, and decided that moving forward, I would make the effort to style my hair at least a couple of times a week. Beyond that I would find a way to keep it looking good in between! So I kissed the topknot goodbye and I can’t even tell you what a huge difference this little change has made for me self-confidence wise. It’s actually kind of amazing how doing something so small has made me feel so much more composed. Regardless of the fact that most days I still rock yoga pants or leggings… I actually feel somewhat human again.

I wanted to share with you guys the two different ways that I wear my hair, how I achieve the styles, and how I manage it in between wash days!

Step 1: Hair Washing Day

I learned a long time ago, that I wasn’t doing myself any favors by washing my hair every day. For starters it strips your hair and scalp of its natural oils, and it dries your hair out. Secondly… I definitely don’t have time to wash and blow dry my hair every single day. So now I only wash my hair about 2 times per week, and I survive on dry shampoo in between. On the days that I do wash, I make sure that I will have the time to dedicate to blow drying it and styling it properly. I recently started using this tool, and it has been a total game changer for me. It cuts way back on my drying time, and allows me to give my hair some pretty amazing volume, while also smoothing it out and leaving it super shiny. I have naturally curly hair, that’s pretty thick and can be frizzy, so smoothing it out on day one is an absolute must for me. I don’t like to flat iron it on the first day either, or else it ends up really flat and hard to do anything else with for days after. I always blow dry my hair in sections, and usually curl the bottom section under, making sure that each section is 100% dry before moving on to the next. Then, with each subsequent section, I pull up from the root to create body and volume. When I’m done styling, I always spray my hair with TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray (Smooth Hold Level 2) to lock in the style. I love this product, because it keeps my hair smooth, even in humid weather, by fighting frizz for 24 hours, but it’s never stiff and still allows my hair to move!

Step 2: Sleep with your hair piled on top of your head in between washes

Since my hair is naturally curly, if I don’t pull it up at night, I will ultimately wake up to it being super curly underneath. I like to use a clip to twist my hair and hold it up on the top of my head, to help extend the body that I created when I blow-dried it, and to prevent any curls/frizziness.

Step 3: On day 2-3 after washing, use the New TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray, and curl your hair for a change of style

Usually on day 2 or 3 after washing, I like to curl my hair for a change in style, and since clean hair doesn’t hold curl as well, this presents the perfect opportunity. I always curl my hair using a large barrel curling iron (1.25 or 1.5 inches) I don’t use a fancy curling wand, just an old-school curling iron with a clamp. I divide my hair into three sections, starting with the bottom, and I spray each with an even coat of TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray (Texture Level 1) for added grit and hold. Then taking 1-2 inch wide sections of hair, I curl my hair away from my face, ALWAYS leaving the ends out, to achieve a more beachy/wavy look.

Once I’m done curling all of the sections, I spray my hair all over one last time, using TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray (Boost Level 3) and then I scrunch it a bit with my hands. After a couple of minutes, I comb through the curls with my fingers to break up some of the bigger waves, for a more tousled look.

I have really been loving this new line of hairsprays from TRESemmé, because above and beyond the fact that they are budget-friendly, they all work really well. Thanks to its Micro-Mist technology it doesn’t leave a build-up on your hair like some other hairsprays, which is essential if you aren’t washing your hair daily. Above and beyond that, each of the formulas provide a great lasting hold that never feels crunchy or stiff, which is one of my biggest pet peeves about hairsprays. This one allows my hair to move, and that’s a huge plus for me!

Step 4: Savor in the fact that thanks to this new routine, your hair looks great without a lot of effort

I’m not sure why it took me so long to realize that it only takes a few minutes of effort each day to feel so much better about myself, but I sure am glad that I did. Thanks to the right tools and products, and the fact that I have trained my hair properly, it only requires a bit more time on the 2 days a week that I actually wash my hair. On the days in between, my hair takes under ten minutes to freshen up/style, which is why I know now that it’s worth the time on those wash days to lay the foundation for good hair for the rest of the week. I don’t need to throw my hair in a topknot anymore, unless I’m heading to the gym!