We battle many things in the morning on a daily basis—traffic, coffee lines, our alarm clocks. One thing I personally don’t want to spend time battling along with them is my hair. Hair styling should be stress-free, fun, and fit for an on the go lifestyle. Snaps if you agree. Instead of (quite literally) pulling my hair out over it, though, I decided to do a little research. I knew there had to be cute and cool styles out there that look put together but don’t take hours to do in the morning.
I have to say I’ve found the ones. With a little help from celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, I’ve compiled a list of winners that require extremely minimal effort. For all the best hairstyles for busy mornings, keep reading below.
Pigtails are a total classic for a reason. It’s so easy to part your hair in two and braid each side right up in a flash. It’s just incredibly versatile and pairs well with a casual look, chicer night outfit, or work outfit. You truly can’t go wrong with them. Plus, they look good on both short and longer strands.
Brager loves a quick heat styling tool. Sure, most are a bit pricey, but they’re worth it for the time you save doing your hair. “My favorite hairstyle for a busy morning is a quick blow out,” says Brager. “I love smoothing the hair with a slightly tucked under bend. It’s a no fuss style but is still super clean and chic. My go to tool is the T3 Airebrush Duo. This brush with two heads is a game changer and perfect for a quick morning glam session.”
If you have curtain bangs and need a quick, elegant style for work, this one’s for you. Throw your hair into a wispy, loose high bun and let those curtain bangs hang out. Even if you don’t have curtain bangs, you can still take a few longer strands out in the front and it will look equally stunning.
Brager (like the rest of us) also lives for a lazy hair day. “I love throwing a cute hat on with second day hair—talk about fast. Simply text shape yesterday’s hairstyle with a flat iron or curling iron and keep it undone. My go-to bucket hats are from Urban Outfitters or I love a fancy hat from Anthropologie. It protects your color, hide your roots, and you can skip a wash day. With a trendy hat, lengths out!”
I love the way a slicked back ponytail frames the face. Whether you choose to go with a middle part or no part, it always looks stylish no matter what and takes zero time to do. All you need is a bit of styling cream (or gel) and a comb, and you’re in business.
Now, slicking it back with a side part is just a a little bit more unique, yet takes no extra time. It’s the easy hairstyle for a busy morning and you’ll look effortlessly put together. For this look, a little pomade will be your trusty sidekick.
Feeling a little more adventurous? Try space buns—no, they’re not just for festivals. Zoe Kravitz is the proof. Even if you’d only like to rock two, they’re still cute and take even less than three minutes in the morning.
For those with curls, try wearing them natural. Now as someone who also has curls, I know this isn’t always easy, but hear me out. With the right styling cream, the world is your oyster. Look for one that defines curls and help them hold your shape, that way they’ll stay hydrated and frizz-free all day.
Another classic that always looks gorgeous with minimal effort. Pin back the top of your hair quickly and call it a day. If you’re feeling dramatic, add a little hairspray for extra volume.
There’s never really going to be a time when I say no to a headband. It jazzes up any outfit and takes less than a second to throw on.
Not sure what it is about scarves, but doesn’t adding one to an updo just make it look extra sharp? You can put one on over a high bun, low bun, ponytail—it really works for all of the above.
You can’t go wrong with a long single braid. It’s another style where you can pull a few strands out in the front for a little something extra. Styles like pigtails really don’t take much time, but a single braid is even more of a time saver if you only have a minute or so.
A plain ponytail is made noticeably majestic by a few extra embellishments. Add a swift set of hair cuffs or clips to your pony and it’ll be anything but basic.
It’s not a bun, it’s not a ponytail, it’s a half twist. Hold it in place with a small claw clip or butterfly accessories as pictured and you’ll have an easy yet exclusive style that won’t take you hours in the morning.
“There is nothing better, or cleaner than a middle part. Just your hair scraped back with a good leave-in conditioner. [Or you can wear it] with a little bun, placed right at the nape of the neck. I love JVN’s Complete Instant Recovery Heat protectant Leave-In Serum for this. Virtue also makes a gorgeous six-in-one styling cream.” — Brager
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