5 Quick Hair Hacks for Time-Poor Mums (That Don't Involve a Mum Bun)
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
My name is Yads and I’m a mum who doesn't wear her hair in a mum bun.
*Cue: shock horror.* I know. I often can’t believe myself either.
If you're not familiar with the concept of a mum bun, it's essentially a greasy top knot commonly seen on mums who are too busy getting sh*t done and taking care of everyone else. (Broad generalisation, but we've all been there, yeah?)
Nothing against the mum bun, but I like to wear my hair down. It makes me feel like 'me'. Plus, my kids like it, too. In fact, anytime I throw my hair back into a mum bun (predominantly when I’m cleaning), my kids like to tell me I have “angry mum hair”.
Which is true, because cleaning is the worst, so I’m generally angry when I’m doing it. Moving on.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because if you're a time-poor mum or a generally busy human who is sick of rocking a greasy up-do, I have good news for you.
Below, you'll find the five hair hacks I use to A) save time on my hair washing and styling routine and B) keep my blow dry looking fresh for days.
Easy Fast Hair Styling Hacks.
The following steps are basically how I achieve the stunning before and after result in the photo above.
But more importantly, using these products and tips makes my blow dry last longer, giving me more days between washes.
1. Use a Hair Towel or Hair Turban.
Hair towels or hair turbans sound a little gimmicky, but they’re not. These microfibre towels absorb water from the hair, reducing frizz and shaving a good couple of minutes off your blow drying time.
I never style my hair without one. I actually leave mine on for an hour while I get the kids ready for school in the morning... which isn’t really by choice, but more due to lack of time.
But when the kids are finally ready and I actually find the time to blow dry my hair, it's so much quicker. Try the Iles Formula Hair Mask 180g - you won’t go back.
2. How To Make Your Blow Dry Last Longer.
Sadly, we have to be a little high maintenance to be low maintenance. The more time I take blow drying my hair, the more days I get before I have to do it again. This is the reason in-salon blow dries tend to last longer, because they work in sections rather than just tipping your head over.
My tip? Take a bit longer thoroughly blow drying your hair once a week with a quality hair dryer - Parlux 3800 Ceramic And Ionic Hairdryer - Black will give you years of frizz-free styling. And there are two products I don't blow dry my hair without.
- evo head mistress cuticle sealer 150ml- This lightweight cream leaves hair extremely hydrated for days following a blow dry. A tiny bit goes a long way too so if you don’t blow dry your hair often this tube should last you a good six months.
- evo smooth lockdown treatment - I use a teeny bit of this post-blow dry to tame flyaways, but use this in place of Head Mistress Cuticle Sealer if you have very thick, coarse or frizzy hair (or it's hot and humid). This pre-blow dry treatment is very good at smoothing hair and avoiding frizz. The scent might be overpowering for some but I personally love it.
3. Replace Conditioner With a Hair Mask or Treatment.
If I only have time to wash my hair once or twice a week, I’ll often use a hair treatment in place of conditioner to give my perpetually dry hair the care it deserves.
The ELEVEN Australia 3 Minute Repair Rinse Out Treatment 200ml is one of my favourite hair treatments because it only takes THREE minutes to work, so it’s insanely efficient for mums with no time. It's also a great excuse to use those three minutes for some alone time. Worst case, listening to screaming kids is slightly more bearable with hot water streaming down your back.
Want more haircare recommendations? Watch Millie take us through 6 budget-friendly professional haircare ranges in this YouTube video...
4. Invest in the Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair Type.
I used to be a supermarket shampoo type of gal. There's no shame in not knowing what you don't know. But after chemically-damaging my hair a few years ago, I switched to professional haircare products and I can't go back.
For me, the products that changed my hair are:
Honestly, I’m too scared to use anything else now. If you have dyed or damaged hair, these salon-quality products are excellent bang for buck and get the job done.
5. The Best Dry Shampoo I've Tried.
Finally, is mum hair ever complete without a dry shampoo? Rhetorical question.
Dry shampoo and coffee are now on par with the air I breathe. Sounds dramatic, but if you don’t have kids, you'll understand once you do.
I have brunette hair and the Kerastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo 150g is bougie, but sometimes bougie is what mum needs.
It's the bomb when you're running out the door like a wild banshee, kids screaming, balls dropping everywhere etc. because it doesn't leave white residue on dark hair! (Something I tend to find cheaper alternatives can do.) It also means you can spray quickly and do school pick-ups/drop-offs hastily without worrying your hair looks grey.
My final product pick for quick hair that lasts is evo haze styling powder pump 50ml - it's what you'd get if dry shampoo and texture spray had a bebe.
I love it for day two or three of my blow dry because it creates a “I just woke up like this” textured look for your hair. You only need a tiny bit though, don’t go overboard or your hair will look too messy and unruly. It also adds volume and brings dull hair back to life.
And good hair brings mum back to life.
Want more epic beauty tips from Yads? Check out these articles below:
