Reducing the time it takes to get ready in the morning!

Holly25

I was wondering if anyone had any tips to reduce the amount of time spent getting ready for work in the morning or had any reccomendations for time saving products?!

Thing is Ive been told my office will be relocating later in the year which will put my commute upto around an hour each way. I will probably get the train so was thinking I could have breakfast on the train to save me some time.

What I really want is to spend as much time as possible in bed and as little time as possible getting dressed and ready to go! (dont we all)

My biggest time waster at the moment is straightening my hair everyday which takes 10-15 minutes!

funtime.franki_2

Yes, breakfast on the train! Showering/washing/drying hair in the evening. Also, make-up that's easy to apply on public transport... cream blush, tinted moisturiser etc.

Waht's your hairstyle/hair type like?

You really should try not to straighten your hair everyday - I used to, and then I realised that I like my hair much much more when it's left to dry naturally with a bit of hair spray at the roots for volume.

If you have naturally curly/frizzy hair and balk at that idea then perhaps get yourself a can of mousse and get scrunching on wet hair. You may also be able to speak to your hairdresser about having a really low maintenence hair cut?

Also, really obvious one, but lay out your clothes in the evening. Really REALLY obvious one - if you make your packed lunch in the morning make it at night instead.

Holly25

Make up on the train is a good idea, although I'd be worry about poking my eye out when we went over a bumpy bit lol!

My hair is quite long and naturally curly and I often leave it to dry naturallly at weekends with a bit of mousse in, but I always have to wash it first as after a day the curls are a matted mess! I'd do this more often in the week except my hair would never dry enough by the time i got to work (if i try drying it even with a diffuser it turns to frizz).

useful tip about the clothes - I read that someone on here puts a whole weeks worth of clothes out with all matching jewelery and everything! I'd love to be that organised!

chelleybelley

how about doing semi permanent make up once a month mascara etc would save u doing it in the morning then?

jenniewb

Mix liquid foundation with daily moisturiser- use a serum if you need it to be micro even.

Use mascara whilst waiting on the train platform or at train traffic lights. Dyed lashes (Boots do kits) but be aware that although they do a great job of colouring your lashes, it will not thicken or extend- this is something I really wasn't aware mascaras do to such a degree until I got a lash tint done myself a few years ago.

Prepare everything the night before, just to echo whats already been said by funtime.franki, does make a big difference.

See if you can go to a stylist in a salon and ask them to help you work with your hair- if it has a natural wave, to use products to bring that out and a style which will suit that. You'd be suprized what can be done, what products can do. failing that, kirby clips and bed-head wax for a calmed but natural look. There is a salon treatment you can get to sort of relax any wave or curl in your hair, the Brizilian Keratin Treatment (or something like that) does cost alot though, £200 is the going rate, look hard enough and you may find some trails for £100 but be aware it does grow out and you may feel the urge for another one a few months after- its not a cheap option thats for sure! Theres also perminant straightening which is slightly different but also within the same price area. Its alot more harmful for your hair though and if your straightening daily I'd imagine your hair may want- or need- a rest!

elisebutt65

My hair takes way too long in the morning to sort out so now I wash it at night, towel dry it and then put it into a big plait. In the morning I either leave it as a mass of curls or just replait it for the day - keeps it out of my face as well:D

Make-up - I use Bare escentuals mineral make up and my makeup time has been seriously reduced - just a bit of swooshing brush around, slap on mascara and and lippie and I'm good to go

belfastgirl23

If you do the same journey day in day out you soon figure out where you can put mascara on and where you can't

londoner1998

How about getting to the office a bit earlier and putting your make up there? I really struggled with this last year and in the end I made sure I had a box of porridge (or whatever you like to eat in the morning) at work, and got there ten minutes earlier to go to the ladies and sort myself out. Then at home it was only shower, coffee, brushing teeth and on to the shuttle bus to work. If I needed to do my hair, i did the night before and got that out of the way.
And yes, packed lunch ready in the evening whenever you can... but can I ask what is wrong with getting up half an hour earlier and going to work more relaxed? My OH does this and he is always chirpy and collected, with the day planned by the time he gets there...

lostkelly

Hi, i like to straighten my hair daily but have found some dry shampoo, http://www.superdrug.com/Batiste/Batiste-Dry-Shampoo-Tropical-150ML/invt/332208&bklist , that will keep your hair looking fresh for more than one day and saves me about 30 mins a day when not washing and drying and straightening. I tend to get away without washing for 3 days using this and there are a few other types out there, i am brunette and found they do one for brunettes which is really good but they all smell quite nice IMO.
HTH

Holly25

Def, some good ideas here, thanks everyone!

missm29

If getting up is such a struggle, you may need more sleep, trying going to bed a bit earlier. Can you not tie your hair back or clip it up? Invest in a decent haircut that works with your hair so it just falls into place. I got a more expensive haircut than usual and can now wash it in the evening let it dry naturally and just straighten the fringe in the morning if it needs it.