The last thing you want to do when you're feeling sick is get out of bed and get dressed like a normal person — never mind figuring out how to do your hair and makeup. Whether you're dealing with a cold, allergies, or something even less fun, the only thing you want to do when you're feeling ill is stay in your pajamas all day, cozy in your bed, not even thinking about eyeliner or curling irons.
Unfortunately, as adults, you can't always get away with this. There comes a time in your life when you have to learn how to deal with being responsible even when you're not feeling one hundred percent. This means there will be days when you have to go to class or work or do some other boring adult task even when you can't stop coughing, sneezing, aching or just feeling generally terrible. It's one of the worst things about getting older, quite honestly.
But how are you supposed to look presentable when you don't feel presentable at all? Is it possible to keep yourself from looking sick even when you feel like you want to crawl under your bed and hide? Luckily, yes. There are some beauty tricks out there that can make it look like you put a lot of effort into your hair even if you really didn't at all. Instead of saying "eff it" and throwing your hair in a ponytail, or putting all of your energy into showering and doing an at-home blow-out, try these 10 hair hacks instead. They will hopefully keep people from asking you why you look so tired, and they should get you through the day until you can collapse into bed. You're welcome!
1. Make dry shampoo your best friend.
If you're starting to feel ill the night before you have something to do, spray your hair with dry shampoo to let it absorb overnight. You'll wake up with hair that looks like it's been washed even if it hasn't. Dry shampoo will give you volume, stop the grease, and just make your hair look great. Use it wisely!
2. Tease your hair slightly before pulling it into a ponytail.
If you just want your hair out of your face, tease it just a little bit by backcombing it at the roots. This will give your ponytail some volume, making it look slightly more glam.
3. Wrap your hair around your ponytail holder.
To make it look like you put effort into your ponytail, wrap a small amount of hair around the elastic band to hide it. This makes your ponytail instantly more interesting with minimal effort required.
4. Wear a floppy hat.
Hats are trendy right now, and they also conveniently hide your face and hair. Put one on and wear it for as long as you can.
5. Use a toilet seat cover to get rid of excess oil.
If your hair looks gross because you've been laying in bed like a zombie, absorb some of the excess grease and oil by patting it with a toilet seat cover before spraying with dry shampoo. Voila! No shower needed.
6. Wrap your hair around a headband for a quick updo.
Pull hair around an elastic headband like so for an updo that looks much more complicated than it actually is. It's a worry-free style that also looks cute.
7. Braid your bangs back to keep them out of your face.
When you're sick, the last thing you want to think about is styling your bangs. Instead, do a small French braid to keep them away from your face. This looks cute and takes barely five minutes.
8. Tie a scarf or turban around your head.
This looks boho and cool, but it's also a stress-free style that hides dirty hair. Try this tutorial if you're lost.
9. Pull hair into a braid. Any braid!
Use dirty hair to your advantage. Braids hold better with dirtier hair, so pull your strands into any kind of braid you like and then leave it. These never fail to look good, and it will hold if you haven't washed your hair in a while.
10. Say eff-it and do a messy topknot.
Messy buns are always trendy when done right, so just forget about your hair for the day and pull it up.
Images: Kara McGrath; Giphy.com
