Early morning routine help

SandGirl · ‎03-09-2010

Ladies,

I need soome help / advise / suggestions.

I am going through the "change" and struggling with sleep, I need to continue to prioritize sleep. I got to bed early (by 8pm) becasue I have to be up at 3:30 to get ready for work (and commute to work)

My questions is, I am over 50 so of course I can't just up and go, I care about my looks and I work in a somewhat professional environment. My hair is past shoulders and I add curls and "style" it each day. it takes me an hour 45min to get ready and it's killing my sleep! This is shower, blow dry, curl, style, wash face, skincare routine, makeup (less than 10min) and getting dressed. I keep trying to find ways to cut this routine so I can get more sleep. When I shower at night it helps some but I don't have time to shower every single night so sometimes I end up having to do that in the morning and it's killing my sleep.

I don't know where I can cut back, my hair takes an easy 20min to blow dry (YES I have a very good/expensive blow dryer) its just my hair is on the thicker side and to curl I need it fully dry.

Do I just start wearing it in a pony? I hate this look on me and in my 24 years of work I've never worn a pony tail to work!! I'm really struggling with now to shave time off getting ready. Do you have suggestions? I would love to hear them. Thank you!!

SamBrown · ‎03-10-2010

@SandGirl I can't imagine spending 1 hour and 45 minutes getting ready in the morning. I mean, how bad can someone look? And if someone looks that bad I don't think any amout of time in the mirror is going to help.

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

Yipes! Agree with previous poster--1 hr and 45 minutes!! I would cut my hair as short as I felt comfortable with and spend no more than 10 or 15 minutes styling it. I'd rather sleep an extra half hour!! Good luck!

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@SandGirl Get a haircut.

I wore my hair long most of my adult life. There was a short period of time when I'd try the neck length flippy style but I'd always grow it back out. Last year, I got it cut short and have had a few different styles but it's still short. These days, it's short on the neck, tapered in back and ears cut out, but longish on top - think pixie, Kris Jenner-ish but not covering my eyes. I love my short style and it's super easy to style with a blow dryer and round brush in just a matter of minutes. I was afraid to cut it but now I wish I had done it years ago.

When I do a full shower to out-the-door, including skincare, full makeup, hair, getting dressed, I'm usually done in about 45-50 mins., unless I'm adding additional jewelry or changing out earrings. Then it's closer to an hour. If full makeup doesn't matter, I'd keep it to foundation, blush, eyeliner, and mascara and shave off some time.

SandGirl · ‎03-09-2010

My shower is like 20min, I have LONG hair, blow drying take almost 30min so 50min of that is just shower and blow dry, doesn't even get me to the actual getting ready part (Curl, style, makeup) My hair is very FINE, no texture in it at all so it doesn't style easy!

SandGirl · ‎03-09-2010

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@SandGirl Get a haircut.

I wore my hair long most of my adult life. There was a short period of time when I'd try the neck length flippy style but I'd always grow it back out. Last year, I got it cut short and have had a few different styles but it's still short. These days, it's short on the neck, tapered in back and ears cut out, but longish on top - think pixie, Kris Jenner-ish but not covering my eyes. I love my short style and it's super easy to style with a blow dryer and round brush in just a matter of minutes. I was afraid to cut it but now I wish I had done it years ago.

@JeanLouiseFinch I have thought about this but I have low self esteem and it's gotten worse with my age. My longer hair makes me feel better about myself, I know it sounds silly but it's how I feel. If everything else looks bad, at least I have good hair? For now at least lol My husband also likes it long so I struggle with that as well. I've actually thought about getting wigs just so I can cut out doing my hair in the morning. I know I won't do that but I've thought about it in a laughing way!

SandGirl · ‎03-09-2010

@SamBrown wrote:
@SandGirl I can't imagine spending 1 hour and 45 minutes getting ready in the morning. I mean, how bad can someone look? And if someone looks that bad I don't think any amout of time in the mirror is going to help.

I am in my 50s, I come from the era where we did our hair just "so" and didn't leave the house until we were "put together". Its really hard to undo that habit after over 30 years of doing so. It may sound simple to some but for me, it's what I've always done. My mother was / is the same way. I wish I could rewire myself. I'm trying

Iwantcoffee · ‎03-11-2010

Would it work to shower, shampoo, and blow dry your hair the night before and curl you hair and apply makeup in the morning?

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@SandGirl wrote:
@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
@SandGirl Get a haircut.

I wore my hair long most of my adult life. There was a short period of time when I'd try the neck length flippy style but I'd always grow it back out. Last year, I got it cut short and have had a few different styles but it's still short. These days, it's short on the neck, tapered in back and ears cut out, but longish on top - think pixie, Kris Jenner-ish but not covering my eyes. I love my short style and it's super easy to style with a blow dryer and round brush in just a matter of minutes. I was afraid to cut it but now I wish I had done it years ago.
@JeanLouiseFinch I have thought about this but I have low self esteem and it's gotten worse with my age. My longer hair makes me feel better about myself, I know it sounds silly but it's how I feel. If everything else looks bad, at least I have good hair? For now at least lol My husband also likes it long so I struggle with that as well. I've actually thought about getting wigs just so I can cut out doing my hair in the morning. I know I won't do that but I've thought about it in a laughing way!

@SandGirl - I get it. I was exactly the same way. I was a major fatty and kind of hid in my Lori Goldstein layers and long hair, but never felt pretty. My husband also prefers long hair. But guess what? He likes my short hair now. I also lost a bunch of weight and now I do feel pretty and stylish. Share your concerns with him. Since he loves you, I think he would/should be supportive.

And remember, if you're not willing to make changes, everything will remain exactly the same. And then it becomes fretting and hand wringing without any resolution. 🤷‍♀️

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

@SandGirl,

I think I can picture your routine because one of my daughters does the same for her hair. Sometimes she will do mine when I feel I can sit that long-usually an hour just as if you were in a salon! It takes a long time but sure looks great afterwards!

Maybe if you don't like ponytails

you could put it in a half ponytail-like just take the sides and clip them up in back?

Also I know you probably will never cut this part out and I understand especially how some feel working outside want to take a shower every single day but how bout a sponge bath type thing? You could still feel just as fresh.

And make sure to put out all your clothes and jewelry the night before. Good luck!

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"