Read Time: 4 min 11 sec

Up with the sun or even earlier, early birds get a jump start on their day! Even if they're jumping up and heading straight into work or taking some necessary alone time, an early bird routine needs a few special touches to get the day started on the right foot. Whether you're an early bird by choice, by trade we have a few tricks to make getting from your bed to your day a little easier.

Daily routines are not one size fits all. We all lead different lives, with their own intricacies, BUT having some tools* to bring more simplicity and consistency to your day is the start to finding your perfect hair care routine.

Side note: Having a tool that can curl hair at night and still look amazing when you wake up and brush it and go can be a total game changer

To get started, take an inventory of your week in your notes app. What happens consistently, and when do you typically do those things?

Specifically, pay mind to your hair.

• What time of day and how often do you wash your hair?
• Do you use heat on your hair every day?
• What are the little things you do to care for your hair? 
• Does your hair need to be "ready" at a specific daily time?

 Here are our four early bird tips for longer-lasting, better-looking hair! 

#1 Elevate Your Wash Routine

We're always surprised to hear peoples' stories on how changing their wash routine changed their entire routine. Your wash routine plays such an essential role in how long your styles last, but the key to changing your cycle may boil down to when you do it. If you need to rush out the door in the morning, washing your hair at night will change your entire relationship with your hair. An evening wash routine will give you more time to perfect your drying method. In contrast, someone with plenty of time in the morning can do it all when they wake up. 

Learn this washing method and your scalp will thank you! With a sopping wet head, lather in a quarter size of shampoo. Really work it in, rinse and then do it again. That's right, by using a quarter size and shampooing twice, you're giving your hair a cleanse that lasts and truly breaks loose any previously used products. After washing, wring out your hair well, apply your conditioner from the middle section to the ends, and bring any excess up to the roots. Let this sit for five minutes or so, then rinse.

This piece of a wash day gets overlooked but, truthfully, is the star of the show. Whether you let your natural curls or waves steal the show for the next couple of days or aim for a straighter look, the drying process is your gateway for your next few days of styles.

We kick off every dry and style with Limitless Universal Spray, even if we're just air drying. Limitless is our all-in-one styling aid that performs as a thermal protectant, texturizer, mousse, and so much more. It will set your style in on the first day so you can set it and forget it!

Reach for your diffuser, concentrator, or even the BlowBrush, and get started!

#2 Simplify Your Routine

With your average week in mind, it is important to find three specific things:
1. Your wash + dry days
2. Your style days
3. Your up-do days

Like a recipe for meal prepping, finding your hairstyle formula will make getting ready for the day more manageable. PLUS, mastering your basic routine staples gives you even more room to explore new styles without the pressure of impacting your look throughout the week.

#3 Hair Performance is KEY! 

As we said, blowdrying is a HUGE part of hair care. Whether you air dry, diffuse, or go for an all-out blowout, there is one core note to remember when it comes to drying:

How you blow dry your hair influences what styles will perform best for you until your next wash day.

Diffusing

Your curls are going to look their best! Are you still able to straighten or curl? Totally! But, if a straight look is your goal, giving yourself a blowout will be your easiest step to achieving that straight look. And you should let your curls have their moment for a few days if you're going to put in the work to diffuse them!

Blowdrying with a concentrator + brush

This is the best combo for getting a great blow out look to last for days and really be able to control the detail in your blowout! This method will give you sleeker, straighter hair, ideal for straightening or curling. Natural curls will have difficulty coming through until you rewash them.

BlowBrush

A great all-in-one tool! If you are looking for a refined blow dry style or achieving a fast power dry, it’s all possible with the BlowBrush. It’s also a perfect tool if you struggle with the brush and dryer combo!

Air Drying

Air drying is an easy solution! Make sure you're still prepping your hair with a product that will help support future styling. If you plan to sleep on wet hair, a good thing to keep in mind is "where hair dries is where it stays." Sleeping on your hair, may cause more chaos to tackle in the morning.

#4 Upgrade your Sleep Routine

Getting your hairstyles to last more than one day is always the goal. Give your curls or straight hair its best shot at making it to day two by working to find your hair's ideal sleep position.

There are a couple of tried and true methods to make your hairstyles last through a hard night's sleep:
- get a silk pillowcase
- prevent your hair from getting squished under your head, neck, or body.

How you protect your hair overnight can be unique to you, though. Naturally, curly-haired people might reach for a bonnet, while people with naturally straight hair might throw it up in a loose top knot. A great way to start finding this position is to sleep with your hair fanned out above your head!

Our recommended early bird style routine looks something like this:

Day 1 - Wash Day + Fresh, Clean Hair

Day 2 - Styled Hair

Day 3 - Day two styled hair + an accessory or half up

Day 4 - Pony or Bun 

Day 5 - Repeat the process!

Pro Tips from CEO Jacynda Smith:

“Stimulate your scalp before bed! Your scalp can carry a lot of tension, and when a scalp is tight, it can hinder hair growth. Slowly pressing your fingertips from your hairline to your crown, spending more time in areas where you feel more tension. It can promote hair growth and release tight muscles that tend to cause wrinkles and sagging skin! You can use your fingers or grab a paddle brush that is clean and dry and gently massage your scalp all over! AND If you’re looking for a repairing overnight mask routine that doesn’t need to be washed out in the morning, look no further. Meet TYMELESS.”

For more tips and hair tutorials, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.