Hey everybody!
I’ve recently started a new job, which has led to some changes in my daily makeup/beauty routine. I don’t really have the luxury of spending too much time getting ready each morning, so I’ve definitely worked toward simplifying things to get myself up and out the door in a pinch.
I should say that when it comes to my hair, I’ve always tried to keep it simple. This is the complete opposite of my approach to makeup/skincare, I could devote hours experimenting with products and trying new techniques. For my hair, not so much.
I’m pretty impatient with it and I’d be happy to clip it up or wear a cute ponytail any day of the week. With that being said, I also don’t like spending too much money on my haircare. I typically keep all my hair products affordable and I almost exclusively purchase them at Walgreens, Target, Amazon, etc..
To be as clear and concise as possible, I’ll first outline the steps of my routine:
- Shampoo about 2-3 per week (I typically do not use conditioner)
- I use a dry shampoo in between washes
- Spray in a detangler/leave in conditioner while still wet
- Brush out with a Wet Brush
- Use my Revlon 1-Step to Dry/Style
- Use favorite hair accessories to complete the look
For reference: My hair is straight (sometimes frizzy) and more on the dry, fine side. I have it cut to about my collar bone.
***All products are linked in the paragraphs below!
Here’s my haircare product picks to keep things quick & simple:
Shampoo:
As I mentioned above, my hair is overall dry and I have a sensitive scalp. I wash my hair about 2-3 times per week— I find it easier to style and build body this way. I opt to skip conditioner most washes, because I don’t like my hair feeling weighed down or product building up. I reach for shampoos that feel more lightweight and cleanse without over drying. Over the last 6-12 months, I often end up switching between this Head and Shoulders one (I LOVE) and this one by The Honest Company.
Yes, The Honest Company one is technically baby shampoo! I was having issues with skin allergies and this is the only shampoo I could find that didn’t break me out or cause any irritation. I use the lavender one and it is gentle and very lightly scented.
***This is super random, but this shampoo is also AH-MAZING at cleaning my beauty sponges. It makes the process ultra quick and effective!
Try this one out if you’re a sensitive skin type of guy/gal!
Dry Shampoo:
Oh dry shampoo, how I love thee.
Is there a national dry shampoo appreciation day?
…….No?
There should be!
I love this stuff. I keep it with me always. Literally, I keep some in my car! You never know, right?? I honestly haven’t been perfectly loyal to one dry shampoo over the years, I do like to try different ones every now and then.
My most important dry shampoo criteria are:
- It can’t have a weird smell
- It can’t turn my hair gray/white
- It can’t have a powdery finish (I want it to feel like a volumizing spray — I don’t need that much oil absorption)
Because I do tend to go through dry shampoos pretty quickly, I really try to purchase ones that are affordable (less than $10). The only exception to this is one by the brand amika. Their Perk Up Dry Shampoo is worth the extra splurge, and gives my hair an unbelievable amount of body and texture. It smells fresh and clean and doesn’t leave a white cast in my dark hair—-this one is just crazy good! (TIP: I’ve also seen amika products at clearance retailers, such as TJ Maxx or Marshall’s).
My current AFFORDABLE dry shampoo favs:
- Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Cucumber & Green Tea Dry Shampoo: NEW FAV
- This one is my favorite as far as the scent goes! It smells SO fresh and clean. I really feel like this one gives my hair a freshly cleansed look and feel. It isn’t the most volumizing formula for me, but its great to lightly re-vitalize my hair day-to-day without a heavy, weighed down feel. This line also contains aloe as an ingredient, which helps to calm my scalp without any irritation. Really love this product!!
- Pantene Pro-V Dry Shampoo OLD FAV
- This product has a lot of negative reviews, mostly having to do with the nozzle getting clogged up. I’ve never had this problem, and I have consistently re-purchased this dry shampoo the most often. It works the longest throughout the day for me, and doesn’t take much product to make my hair feel super fresh. It’s kind of my go-to dry shampoo when I want something I can rely on to “wake my hair” up and get on with the day. It has sort of a nostalgic hair spray-ish scent to it, which fades quickly and doesn’t smell bad to me. I don’t have issues with this dry shampoo caking up or discoloring my hair either. It just feels like a familiar favorite that never lets me down and I’ll always keep on hand.
Detanglers/Leave in Conditioner:
Most of the time, I skip conditioner in the shower and use a de-tangler or leave in conditioner instead. For me, this method keeps my hair feeling light and enables me to retain and build some body. It’s also way easier to style when it hasn’t been weighed down by a heavy, cream-based conditioner. Typically, I’ll spray my hair down immediately after showering and leave my hair untouched until I’ve finished my makeup for the day. My go-to affordable product that I’ve used for as long as I can remember is the Aussie Leave-In Conditioner. This doesn’t take much product to soften and smooth my hair right away, and I love the sweet scent!
Although it is a little bit more pricy, I ADORE the UNITE 7 Seconds Detangler Leave-In Conditioner. This one was a recommendation from my hair stylist. It is more expensive on the front end, but a single bottle will last me forever. A little definitely goes a long way!
The Wet Brush
Once the conditioner has “marinated” for a little bit, I reach for my beloved Wet Brush to comb everything out. I don’t know what kind of magic is in the bristles, but it works wonders at removing tangles while your hair is still wet. I’m in the process of recovering from significant hair loss from one of my prescription meds I used to take, so this brush is a savior at helping me maintain my hair strength and preventing breakage. It’s also just a great brush for day-to-day use on dry hair and makes smoothing your hair completely effortless. It is comfortable to use, it doesn’t poke or feel sharp and stab-y to your scalp. If you are tender-headed, have extensions, or just have hair that is harder to manage, this is a MUST HAVE in your hair care routine. Plus, it comes in so many pretty designs and colors. LOVE!!!
Drying My Hair:
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
I should first say that this is not the most affordable product on my list. HOWEVER, it was worth every single dime I paid and has made my life SO much easier. I purchased this about a year ago and rave about it any chance that I can. It’s simply a HERO beauty product.
There are so many potential uses for this dryer and it makes my life so easy! First of all, I no longer need to flat-iron my hair. For as long as I can remember, I would blow dry my hair AND straighten it with my flat-iron to help tame the frizz. This obviously took up more time and caused SO much heat damage. My hair got really prone to breakage, loss, and just lacked overall shine.
What I love about this thing is that it dries my hair and makes it look smooth/sleek, yet gives that “va-va-voom” factor if I need to add some body to it. If I’m in a hurry, I just brush and dry with no real regard to my layers. If I’m feeling more fancy and want a more blown-out look, I’ll layer my hair in small sections to dry it. Either way, it dries my hair fast I’m super happy with the final result. It just simplifies my routine like none other! I use these clips to section my hair off to dry it and clip it out of face for makeup application.
LIFE. CHANGING.
[Side Note: My hair is not very thick, so if you have to flat-iron after using this— that is perfectly fine! I just don’t have the need/want for any additional steps.)
It comes with 2 heat settings and a cool air setting. In between washes, I will use dry shampoo to create a little bit more style to my hair using one of the lower settings. Its also great for just freshening up and removing sweat and oil if you can’t shower after working out
Trust me y’all—-you need this in your life! Check it out HERE
Accessorize!
There’s no way I can talk about my hair without a shout-out to my favorite ponytail holders. I got these as a Christmas stocking-stuffer one year, and my life was forever changed.
At first glance, they look like an old-school telephone cord and I always get questions about what’s going on in my hair. Not only are these a real-conversation starter, they will truly give you the best ponytails of your life!
Behold: the Kitsch Spiral Hair Tie
I do have pretty thin hair, so finding a ponytail that doesn’t slide out of place and actually HOLDS my hair is rare to find. These things can create a perky pony that doesn’t fall out of place all day! They’re also great because it doesn’t take out some of your hair with it each time you remove it or cause the dreaded crease if you want to wear your hair down later. I love these for little top knots or just wearing in a tight or loose bun style. They are super versatile for styling without damage and I end up wearing these at some point every single day.
I promise your hair will thank you!!
All of these different product combos + techniques keep my hair routine pretty minimal and simplistic. I don’t like to stress about my hair, and it leaves time for me to have a little bit more fun with my makeup. The less fussy, the better!
Since I started washing my hair less often and reducing its amount of heat exposure, I’ve noticed how much more healthy my hair looks and feels. More specifically, my hair is less prone to damage and getting a lot of split ends.
I really hope y’all enjoyed this wordy post and got a little insight on how to simplify your own routine. Please share your own thoughts, approaches, and favorite products below!
Also, I am super curious: are you a hair minimalist or a “more-is-more” kind of person??
Thanks for stopping by,
xo
Jena
FTC: This post is not sponsored and all products were purchased by myself. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. Some links are affiliate.
Jena J Beauty 