Summer has come and gone, but your hair has stayed the same. Nothing is better for dreary bed weather than the slept-in look, and thankfully for those who aren’t particularly morning people (or hygienic, for that matter), it is now socially acceptable to seem like you haven’t taken a shower.
The trend has been around for longer than you think. Brigitte Bardot in the 1960s defined her image with her sexy, unkempt blonde locks, differentiating it from the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, who all sported neatly styled ’dos.
After the glam rock period, ’90s grunge brought the look back. The early 2000s’ boho chic trend reinforced the trend, with Mary Kate Olsen and Nicole Richie showing off their messy hair for the paparazzi.
So many girls spend too much time perfecting the bed head, but really, the secret to it is not caring at all. The more you style it, the more it seems forced and deliberate.
Here are easy ways to achieve the look effortlessly.
Go au naturel
Take a shower right before you go to bed, sans conditioner, and untangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb. The key to messy hair is clumped locks. Blow dry lightly, with the nozzle facing upward for volume.
You can also bend over and blow-dry your hair while it’s dangling in front of you. Sleep in with slightly damp hair, with a towel spread on your pillow to make it more comfortable.
For those with naturally straight hair, style it into a low, loose braid so it’ll last until the next day. You can apply a light hair product or very little gel (no heavy hair creams, as these will make the hair look flat) to tame the baby hair sticking out on top. This might not work with women with oily skin and scalp, because their hair will come out greasy late in the day.
Use sea-salt spray
Sea salt causes the fibers of your hair to naturally separate and clump. Beauty boutiques never say this, but you don’t actually need to buy sea salt spray. You can make it at home, and even customize the recipe according to your hair type (oily, dry, etc.), for less than half the price of store-bought spray.
Buy an empty 12-oz spray bottle in the drug store, fill it with warm distilled water, and mix in these ingredients:
- 1 tsp of sea salt
- 2 tbsp of epsom salt (or more for extra texture and hold)
- 1 tsp of aloe vera gel
- A few drops of coconut, almond or jojoba oil (for moisture)
- A few drops of essential oils or a spritz of your favorite scent (optional)
Shake it vigorously before spraying on shampooed hair. Scrunch up your hair as it dries. The spray can dry out your locks, so wash it off in the evening and apply conditioner to avoid hair damage.
Braid, then bun
Some people do braids and some people do buns to get messy hair, but you can actually do both. After you bathe in the morning, lightly blow-dry your hair and apply styling product or sea-salt spray from the middle to the end of your locks. Style it into a braid, and tie the braid up in a bun.
Pick your outfit and put on makeup while waiting for your hair to set. You can untie it right before you go out of the house or get out of the car. You can even keep it that way until you go out at night after school or work. Apply hair spray for additional hold.
Triple it!
If your hair is thick, you may need more braids and buns. Separate hair into three parts: two on the sides and one at the back. You can part it into more sections if you have the time. Apply product on damp hair, braid each hair part, and tie it into a relaxed bun with a thin elastic. This looks ridiculous though, and cannot be worn in public while you wait for the hair to set. Do not forget to untie it before you go out. People will raise their eyebrows.