I know that sometimes, being a mom of 2 and a half, your week can start to feel like bad hair day after bad hair day, especially with little ones! But with a little time and practice I have found a good rotation of easy and quick hairstyles that can make a bad hair day suddenly look and feel much better. I like to experiment with my hair length and color on occasion so sometimes I rock extensions and sometimes I live for the short shoulder length cut, but no matter what length your hair is, you can adapt these hairstyles to you and your comfort level.
One thing I’m sure we can all agree on is that we don’t have all day to perfectly style our hair. But one thing I won’t budge on is that doing something (even just running a brush through or adding a cute elastic) helps me feel more put together and a little bit more confident throughout my day. Do you agree? These five simple styles save me time on our busy week mornings and I hope they’ll help you, too!
Easy Mom Hairstyles
Beach Waves
I love to plan my looks by what day I’m on post-hair-wash. Does anyone else do this? Beach waves are my go-to on freshly cleaned hair! The very best thing about beachy waves is that they are supposed to look imperfect. Missed a piece because your toddler spilled chocolate milk on the sofa? Nobody will be the wiser! When I have freshly cleaned hair, I like to curl my hair away from my face (leaving the ends out) by sectioning off my hair so that I remember what I’ve already done and what I haven’t.
When I have long hair this takes me a bit longer, but all in all I can get it done in 10-15 minutes with time and practice. I love to create this look on first day hair and then let it work itself out over the next few days until my next hair wash. Spending 10-15 minutes for 3 days worth of beach waves is just about as good as it gets around here! This is the curling iron I use!
Half-Up Bun
This one is a goodie and super simple! With first or second day hair, I like to part it down the center (or wherever your usual part falls) and pull the top 1/3 – 1/4 of hair up around my crown. I pull out a few strands around my face and bangs to make it look less “done” and I will even lightly tug at the hair to give the bun a little more volume. Wrap a cute scarf or scrunchie around your bun for an added fun touch!
Simple Classic Braid
Especially when my hair is long, I love a good braid. With time and practice, I have taught myself how to create a pretty braid in less than 5 minutes. So simple! A go-to braid for me is just with my hair parted in the center (as usual), with a classic braid going to the ends with about 3-4 inches remaining. I tie it with a clear elastic or a cute hair tie and then lightly pull out strands near my face to give it a lived-in look. I also love to take my finished braid and lightly tug at each section to make it nice and fluffy. Careful not to tug too hard or you will tug the hair out of the braid and have to start over.
High Pony or Messy Bun
Dirty hair? High pony/bun it is! I love to take my third or fourth day beachy waves and tie them up in a pony right at the crown of my head. I’ll usually flip my hair over so that it’s upside down, gather all of the pieces in one hand and place it where I want it and flip it back up to tie it with a hair bobble or clear elastic (you’ll need something with grip). Repeat the process of “de-perfecting” it by pulling a few strands out near your ears or hairline and tuggling at the roots to give some volume. I also will spray a bit of dry texture spray in the pony tail so that it’s fluffy and big.
If a pony is out of the question (sometimes you just can’t tame it), I will wrap it around for a bun or scrunch it in a bun and tie another hair tie around. Fasten any loose areas with a bobby pin! The bigger the hair the closer to heaven, right?
Add A Hat
This qualifies as a hairstyle in my book! When your hair is ready for a wash, or was ready for a wash a few days ago, find yourself a good hat! For a day of errands or the gym, I love a good baseball cap and if we’re going out to dinner or to an event, I love to find a hat that’s on trend and fun (newsboy caps, berets, fedoras, you name it!). This look is super simple because you can have your hair waved, straightened, or left natural and still feel cute and put together.
It’s all about starting with a good base (whatever that is for your hair, for me it’s a beachy wave) and working with what you got! Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with your hair accessories. You deserve it, mama!