11 Hair Hacks For When You Have No Time

Hair is perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of the morning routine — especially if you want to keep things low maintenance. There's just no getting around the fact that something usually has to be done with it. It's why time-saving hair hacks (that actually work) are so sought after by most people.

And trust me when I say I've tried a lot of methods to try to get around the whole to-do of doing my hair in the morning — usually involving strange overnight braiding situations or trying to sleep with a tight, headache-inducing bun in my hair — none of which have ever actually worked in practice.

This has led me on a search of practical, effective ways to do my hair that require minimal effort. And I also don't necessarily want to always look "boho chic," which is often what happens when you try to get away with this. I'm on the hunt for methods that are not only fast, but genuinely make me look put together.

If you can relate to my hair-do woes, then you've come to the right place. Here are 11 hair hacks to help you out when you want to put almost no effort into your styling.

1. Sleep On A Silk Pillowcase

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Pillow Case, $20, Amazon

Waking up with hair that's ready to go often starts with what you did the night before, and according to Marie Claire, sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase as opposed to a cotton one goes a long way in ensuring that you minimize morning frizz.

2. The Side Twist

This is just about my absolute favorite style because it looks like it took so much more effort than it actually did (in fact, I often get the most compliments when I wear my hair like this, which is kind of ironic, since I only do it to hide a bad hair day).

3. Grab The Dry Shampoo And Call It A Day

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, $10, A mazon

If you don't own dry shampoo, stop everything and go get some now! Seriously, I think dry shampoo is the number one most life-changing product I've found in the last five years. It not only cuts grease, but the right brand can give you extra volume and make your hair look super luxurious. My personal favorite brand of choice is Klorane.

4. The Classic Bun

This is a great go to look if you've just hopped out of the shower, or even when your hair is kind of greasy because it makes for an elegant slicked-back aesthetic. I also love the way may hair looks after it's completely dried in a bun — perfect for a night out!

5. The Low Side Bun

This is a twist on the original that is so incredibly elegant — and better yet — so incredibly easy. Take a look at the above how-to video to see how you can master it in minutes.

6. Accessorize

When in doubt, put a bow on it! Seriously, having an ample supply of cute hair accessories at your disposal is a no-time-for-getting-ready secret weapon. Much like the hair twist, I often find I get the most compliments on days when I use these to my advantage.

7. Curl Just The End Of Your Ponytail

In the above video for eHow beauty, professional hairstylist Danielle Valiente shows us how to create a fancier-looking ponytail with a hair curler in just minutes. I personally often take an even faster approach, which simply entails using the curler to curl the very end of the ponytail so that it has that nice, bouncy flip.

8. Two Braids

On her YouTube channel, beauty vlogger Jackie shows us how to quickly braid our hair into two super cute sections when wet. And bonus, when your hair dries it will look super beachy.

9. The Side Twist And Ponytail

This is a variation on the side twist, and literally just entails throwing your hair back into a ponytail once you've accomplished the twist. And if you want to get really fancy, you can curl the end of the ponytail. You'll look way nice, and it will have taken all of six minutes.

10. Do The "Night Before Wrap"

This is a tip I got from a Harpers Bazaar compilation piece, and I found people who swear by it after doing some additional online research. When your hair is wet, simply tightly wrap it around your head and secure it with bobby pins. When you wake up, it should be smooth and sleek.

11. Keep A Spray Bottle For Bangs

Amber Glass Spray Bottle, $8, Amazon

Harpers Bazaar also noted that if you don't style bangs right away when wet, they're basically done for. However, if you keep a spray bottle of water handy, then you can style and restyle them to your heart's content. I often wake up, throw my hair back into a bun, and then simply wet and blow dry my bangs. I have a super sleek, retro look in minutes!

Doing you hair in a hurry doesn't have to be the bane of your existence — nor does it mean you have to sacrifice style. Just keep a few of these tips in your arsenal and be prepared to save a lot of time in life.

Images: Nadija Pavlovic/E+/Getty Images