We’ve all been there. You’ve somehow managed to sleep through your alarm, you have to be out the door in five minutes, and today was supposed to be your shampoo day. Now you’re looking at your lank locks in the mirror in horror and wondering how you can salvage them. While it’s tempting to want to be late so you can get your scalp suds on and rinse off whatever grime has built up there, the fact is, sometimes important meetings and plans simply can’t wait for us to lather up our locks.
Fortunately, having greasy roots doesn’t mean that you have to show up looking vaguely like something that the cat just dragged in. In fact, some hairstyles look even better with three-day-old roots, meaning that your look will not only be cute as can be, but also intentional! If you’re in a rush and you don’t have time to give your hair a good scrubbing, why not check out these five simple, fast, and totally adorable hairstyles — that also happen to work great on less-than-squeaky-clean tresses?
The Classic Ballerina Top Knot
When you think of ballerina style (or, today’s modern iteration of it, the “off-duty model”), what comes to mind? Before you think this isn’t for you, know that yes, you can capture that look with your oil-slick roots. While you may not want to be frolicking around town in a tulle tutu à la Carrie Bradshaw, you can own your greasy roots by simply twisting them up above your head and securing them in place with a hair elastic. Your hair’s natural oils will work in your favor, holding your sleek mane in place throughout the day.
The Flirty Teased Ponytail
Now, for this look, you’re going to need to add a little bit of waterless shampoo to the mix to get some oomph in your roots. A quick spritz of dry shampoo, though, can add back some much-needed texture when your hair feels heavy and greasy. Simply pull your hair back into a ponytail and secure it with an elastic, then aim the dry shampoo at your roots. You’ll want to back-comb it a bit to tease it up and add some volume to it, then pull a few select tendrils out of the pony to give yourself some face-framing accents. Chef kiss.
The “Do I Have Enough Barrettes?” Side Part
If you feel like your hair accessory drawer can use some loving, then now is the time to put it to work. Having oily roots will actually work in your favor here, as it’ll help keep your rogue flyaways in place and help lock your barrettes into place. For this look, you’ll want to part your hair on the side, combing it down so it lays flat on your head. To avoid making it look too heavy, though, grab your favorite barrettes (or, if you want a more understated look, bobby pins) and slide them into place. Pro tip? This look is uh-mazing for a date night look, especially paired with a cute slip dress or a black satin blouse.
The Ever-Adorable Space Buns
Hey, the 90s just called, and they wanted to let you know that the vintage Gwen Stefani space buns look is in. Now, you don’t have to pair your buns with a vinyl crop top or a ditzy-floral sundress, but this is a fantastic and completely effortless way to upgrade your style in a jiffy. Just part your hair down the middle, twist it into two matching, messy buns on the top of your head, and secure it with a hair tie. Just a little FYI, though here — you don’t want it to look too neat, and a little bit messier is all the better.
The “Okay, I Give Up” Silk Scarf
All right, fine. We’ll admit it. This one is sorta kinda cheating, but we’re owning it. There’s just going to be some days that you don’t want to spend the extra three minutes trying to tame your tresses, and that’s when you’ll want to whip grandma’s vintage silk scarf out of the closet. Not only is this look completely effortless, but it looks so fancy, everyone will be copying your style before you know it. Just wrap the scarf beneath your hair, then tie it in a loose knot on the top. Now get out the door, because that coffee date is calling your name!
While having long hair can come with its own pros and cons, you don’t have to suffer a bad hair day just because you decided to choose a little extra shut-eye in the morning. Whether you shun regular washes because you’re trying to grow it out, or you just don’t have time to fuss with your hair every morning, there’s no shame in skipping wash day. And by slipping these five effortless, gorgeous hairdos into your rotation, you can feel confident that you’re putting your best face forward, no matter how long it’s been since you’ve reached for the ‘poo.
