Sorry to any male readers out there- this post is written primarily for the ladies!
A reader asked me for tips for getting ready before work as quickly as possible after you work out.
I feel like I am always crunched for time in the AM, so I have tried to decrease my “primping” time for the morning. It seems as though the less time I have, the quicker I can manage to get ready!
These tips can also work if you’re meeting up with friends after a workout, and you don’t have a lot of time to transition.
Can you go without a shower?
I personally am a sweaty runner, so for me, a shower is a must. But you can take a super fast shower like in 2-3 minutes (a “military shower”, as my friend Monica calls it!)
“No-Shower Wipes:” I know plenty of AM fitness fanatics skip a shower completely, and opt for shower wipes like these…Honestly, I just can’t pull that off…but if you’re not a heavy sweater like me, you might be able to use them in lieu of a shower.
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| Is that sweat, or did I wet my pants? |
No time for shaving your legs in the AM- save that for another time!
Prep The Night Before:
-Prep your gym bag the night before, and be sure to double-check that you didn’t forget anything!
-If you’re going for a morning run, lay out your running clothes the night before.
-Pick out your work outfit as well- no need to waste time picking out something to wear with such limited time in the morning!
-Be conscious about what you choose to wear- pick clothes that allow for a quick change. Forget about tights or leggings, as they take too much time to get on.
-And now that summer is almost here, DRESSES all the way. Fast and simple.
Hair:
-Skip washing your hair– wash it the night before. Dry shampoo to the rescue!
-Most of the time, I say forget the blow-dryer. My biggest time saver is a ponytail/headband. I know this isn’t the most glamorous look, but BIC bands and Sweaty Bands have saved me in many time crunches.
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| My signature “get ready quick” look- BIC band and side braid. |
When I don’t have time, I usually go with a side braid/BIC band or a sock bun. For information on the sock bun, check out this post! This obviously only works if you have longer hair. Although a huge benefit of short hairstyle is that it is quicker to style and dry!
Makeup
-Purchase duplicates of all your makeup.
This is a good tip if you travel a lot too. If you have duplicates of everything you don’t have to pack and unpack your gym bag every day. You’ll always have those goods in your bag, ready to go. This includes all your hair accoutrement as well- flat iron, blow-dryer, etc.
-Liquid! Forget all the brushes and applicators. Try to simplify by using a BB cream, a no-fuss foundation, and liquid blush.
-Save the fancy for later. Every lady wants to look her best at the office, but there’s no need for the smoky eye or extended lashes during a regular work day. Less is more and looks more professional.
The Two-Part Process:
Sometimes, I do the bare minimum (mascara, some powder) and then zip to work. Then, once I’ve made my appearance, said hello to everyone, and logged into my computer, I take 15 minutes to go to the bathroom (on a different floor than my office) and fix myself up a bit more….my coworkers are none the wiser! (unless they read the blog…I think two of them might read occasionally, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t care). Seriously, doing the two-part process saves me a lot of time, without letting me be “late” for work.
Eyelash Tint
This is more of an investment, but if you have blond hair like me, an eyelash tint can go a long way to make it look like you’re wearing mascara and save you time. A tint is also a great idea when you’re heading to a beach vacation. I have had one done at Extrados Salon in Linden Hills. The procedure costs about $35, and it lasts up to six weeks. Check out some before/after pictures HERE. This saves a lot of time, and I think it’s worth the relatively low cost.
Those are the tips that I have, but please share if you have any others!
What are your secrets for getting ready in a jiffy?
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Definitely goimg to check out the eyelash tint! Great tips!!
Yes, Lindsey, you have light eyelashes like me, I think you’d really like the look of the eyelash tint!
[…] wrote a post quite a while ago with tips to get ready quickly- read it HERE. I plan to revisit that post with more shortcuts for getting ready […]