9 Time-Saving Hair Hacks for Effortless Mornings

We get it: Some mornings, there’s barely time to brush your teeth—let alone spend 45 minutes on your hair. These time-saving hacks are here to help you get out the door faster, with hair that looks effortlessly put-together—even if you slept through your alarm.

1. Style while you sleep. 

Overnight styling is the lazy genius of hair hacks. You prep, sleep on it and wake up with texture, volume or sleekness already in place—meaning less heat, less product and way less fuss in the morning.

Start with damp hair and smooth a little Leave-in Conditioner or Air Dry Styler through to hydrate and soften overnight. Then, pick your prep:

For loose waves: braids

• Create one or two loose braids for soft waves, or smaller braids for tighter texture.

• Secure with a gentle scrunchie to avoid creases.

In the morning, undo, shake and scrunch. Add a touch of Hair Oil to polish and smooth strands.

For defined curls: “pineapple” or twist-out

• Gently gather curls into a high, loose ponytail (aka “pineapple”) using a satin scrunchie. For tighter definition, try two-strand twists or bantu knots.

• In the morning, fluff at the roots and go. For added control, apply a bit of Hair Oil and Cream Pomade to your ends to prevent frizz and dryness throughout the day.

For volume + movement: loose bun

• Twist your hair into a loose topknot or low bun, depending on where you want the most body.

• Use a soft scrunchie to protect from dents or breakage.

• In the morning, let it down and flip your head upside down to boost volume. Finger-comb as needed.

For sleek + straight styles: scarf or bonnet

• Brush your hair thoroughly and apply a lightweight, frizz-smoothing oil to the mid-lengths and ends.

• Wrap your hair around your head or secure it in a low ponytail. Cover with a silky scarf or bonnet to reduce friction.

• Wake up with smooth, shiny strands that need minimal heat (or none at all).

2. Pre-section for speed. 

If you’re heat styling in the morning, part and section your dry hair before bed. Use clips to create neat zones, so you can skip the 7 a.m. detangling drama and get straight to styling.

3. Brush between product layers.

If you're layering stylers (say, a curl cream followed by a gel), brush after applying the first product. It helps evenly distribute and prevents buildup, so you’ll need less product overall and fewer touch-ups later.

4. Air-dry faster.

Air-drying is a time-saver—if you do it right (we’ve got a full guide here, FYI). Apply a product like Air Dry Styler to soaking-wet hair to help shape, smooth and enhance definition as it dries. Then, hands off until fully dry. Once dry, emulsify a few drops of Hair Oil in your palms to break up the cast, reduce frizz and add shine.

5. Apply dry shampoo before bed. 

Instead of the morning-of rescue mission, flip the script and use Dry Shampoo at night. It works while you sleep, absorbing oil so you wake up with fluffier roots.

6. Keep a touch-up kit on hand. 

Stash a mini brush, bobby pins and your favorite travel-size stylers (we love our Hair Oil Mini for smoothing midday flyaways) in your bag, desk drawer or car console for quick, easy touch-ups. 

7. Plan your styles in a sequence.

Map out your looks to save styling time and get more mileage between washes. For example: Start sleek on day one, switch to textured waves or a pony on day two, then finish with a bun or braid on day three.

8. Let accessories do the work.

No time to style? Toss on a wide headband, fancy claw clip or stylish scarf for an instant “I did something” look.

9. Simplify your shower shelf.

Too many products can slow you down and weigh your hair down. Focus on multitaskers that do double duty, like:

• Scalp + Body Scrub: exfoliates and cleanses both scalp and skin 

• Volumizing Foam: adds lift and hold while doubling as heat protectant

• Leave-in Detangling Tonic: hydrates, detangles, boosts shine, and shields hair from heat and environmental damage

Need help narrowing it down? Take our hair quiz.