For some of us, getting ready in the mornings is a swift and simple process. For others, it’s a sacred ritual—a lengthy undertaking consisting of multiple steps. Then, there are the people who fall somewhere in between.

Perhaps you’re the type of person that loves a full face of makeup for everyday, but aren’t on board with giving yourself a blowout at 7 o’clock in the morning. Whatever the case, whether you feel best going the au-naturel route or prefer the full glam look, it’s all about nailing down the best hair and beauty routine for your lifestyle and personality.

For most of us, mornings are hectic and we don’t exactly have a ton of time on our hands to sit in front of the mirror fussing with our hair or makeup. Still, it’s important to feel confident and put-together before you start your day so you can feel like your best self.

To start, it’s helpful to figure out whether a low, medium, or high maintenance hair routine is best for you. We believe that regardless of if you prefer to simply toss your hair up into a ponytail or feel best when you’re rocking bouncy curls, it’s all about creating a hair routine that suits your personal taste and lifestyle so that getting ready feels like a fun activity rather than a dreaded chore.

So how do you know where on the spectrum you fall? Here’s your guide to curating the right hair routine for you so you can make the most out of your mornings, and your hair!

A balancing act: a lesson from the French   

How do you avoid looking too glam if it’s a more polished hair look you’re after? Or, on the other hand, how do you avoid looking frumpy if you favour the messy, bedhead look? As always, Parisian women seem to have the answer; with their coveted je ne sais quois style and their ability to look seemingly effortless and chic at the same time, they are the epitome of cool.

So what’s the secret? The answer is simple: like most things in life, it’s all about balance! If you prefer a more coiffed hair look, like sleek straight hair or perfect, curling-iron waves, opt for a minimal makeup look to avoid looking like you tried too hard. On the flip side, if a crisp winged liner is your signature or if you prefer to sport a bold lip color on the day-to-day, balance things out by leaving your hair looking a little undone. This doesn’t mean running out the door with your hair in a disheveled mess, but rather just touching up some pieces of hair rather than heat styling your entire head, or pulling some face framing strands out of your ponytail to soften up your look.

In short, if you’re unsure whether your everyday hair look is too much for everyday, just remember that it’s all about balance. Too little primping and you risk looking messy and unkempt, too much and you may end up looking like you spent hours in front of the mirror and are off to the bar. Of course, above all, it’s whatever makes you feel best that’s most important. Our fool-proof suggestion is to pick your thing: hair or makeup, to ensure you look sophisticated while saving some time in the mornings.

A hair diagnosis: where do you fall on the spectrum?

Maybe you’re able to self-diagnose instantly. You’ve sported the same signature hair routine for years; a little leave-in conditioner, some mousse, and you’re ready to let your hair air-dry or perhaps you’ve mastered the art of the round brush blowout. If you’re less sure where on the hair maintenance spectrum you fall, this should help clear things up.

Low Maintenance

If you’re the sort of girl who doesn’t like to spend too much time getting ready in the morning, or if your beauty routine consists of a quick swipe of lip balm and some dry shampoo, you’re probably the low maintenance type. Sound familiar?

While air-drying is best for the low maintenance gal, we recommend touching up some strands of hair around your face to polish things up so you don’t look like you just rolled out of bed. Balance out the look with a little bit of makeup; you don’t need to go crazy but a touch of concealer and some mascara can work wonders. A fresh faced makeup look paired with natural hair will ensure you don’t look too messy and like you put some effort into your look. 

Medium Maintenance

Most of us fall somewhere in between. We don’t feel quite right leaving the house totally bare faced with wet hair, but we’re not willing to spend an hour on our hair and makeup every single morning. If this sounds like you, then you just want to make sure that on days where you’re tossing your hair up into a ponytail or messy bun, you’re putting a little extra effort into your makeup or outfit.

For the medium maintenance among us, some tinted moisturizer, a dab of blush, and some mascara is the perfect everyday look to make you look awake and refreshed. When it comes to your hair, you can minimize the time spent in front of the mirror by keeping your hair as healthy as possible. After all, the less frizz and damage, the less time you can spend heat styling. To help hydrate and fortify your strands, we recommend using a nourishing hair mask once a week. Everyone has 15 minutes to spare on a Sunday night-in and trust us, you’ll be saving time fussing in front of the mirror in the long term. 

High Maintenance

If your beauty routine takes an hour or several, that’s totally cool—here at Luxy Hair we think taking the time to look your best is something to be celebrated! Still, if you want to cut down your primping time a little bit, there’s a way to do so while still looking fabulous.

We’d suggest picking one or the other; if you’re going for a full face of makeup that day, stick to a more relaxed hairstyle. If you’re heat styling your hair on the regular, chances are you’re perpetuating a cycle of damage and dryness, so it’s important to use a hair oil on your lengths and ends to lock in moisture, smooth out frizz and flyaways, and keep your hair healthy. We also suggest trying to extend the time between hair washes by slicking your hair back into a low ponytail when it’s starting to get greasy. You can even use a couple wefts of your Luxy Hair extensions to hide the hair elastic for a more elevated look. This ‘do is totally chic and requires minimal time in front of the mirror.

So where do you fit in? Are you low, medium, or high maintenance? Tell us on Instagram using the hashtag #myluxyhair. Whether you decide to streamline your morning routine or prefer to embrace your inner diva, we’d love to see how you get ready for the day!