How to look high maintenance when you are low maintenance

If only there was a way to wake up and be ready to leave the door, feeling your best, without having to put so much effort into it every day. Well I’m here to tell you how to be be high maintenance, so you can be low maintenance everyday.

Heatless curls

I have tried many variations of heatless curls;

• the leggings method (I got that from the fabulous Emilie Kiser)
• Using my dressing gown cord
• Silk heatless curl rod

Each one creates unique curls. I personally like the silk heatless curl rod the best, because of the thicker rod on my thinner hair, which creates bigger and bouncier curls. As well as the silk being good for my hair.

This gives me SO much extra time in the morning! I leave them in for as long as possible and take them out at the last second, sometimes I will hairspray them lightly so they stay longer. And voila… curls that are good for your hair, took minimal effort, and you look amazing. What more could you ask for?!

It looks like you have put in so much effort for these amazing curls, when all you had to do was put them in the night before and go to sleep!

Tip: If your hair is on the finer side like mine, do it on SLIGHTLY damp hair (Not fully damp – at least for me anyway – because your hair will go frizzy due to not being able to fully dry overnight). Doing it on slightly damp hair will ensure your hair dries for the morning, and make your curls last longer.

Tip: If you want softer curls, do it on dry hair as they will drop quicker.

Skincare

Skincare really is the base to your makeup sitting well on your skin. Once you’ve mastered your skincare and get your skin looking really hydrated, that’s when the makeup will look amazing.

I go into more detail in this post (http://bigsisterera.com/how-to-use-cycle-syncing-to-get-rid-of-your-acne-in-4-months/) about my skincare routine. But it is very minimal and doesn’t take a lot of effort at all, but it is effective.

Ensuring you have a good and consistent skincare routine, will mean that you don’t have to spend as much time on your makeup because your skin really speaks for itself.

Having a good moisturiser is KEY to a good base of makeup. It means your makeup won’t cling to any dry patches, and you will look glowing underneath your makeup.

I love the Cetaphil moisturiser because of how hydrating it is on my dry skin (and it’s very affordable). https://amzn.to/3TEyicx

TIP: I use fake tan drops on my face, which means I don’t have to put as much bronzer on, shortening the time it takes to do my makeup, and it makes my face have a healthy glow without any make up. This is the one I use – and it doesn’t give me acne. https://amzn.to/42CQ6sS

IPL

Intense pulsed light is basically laser hair removal, but you can do it from home yourself, and it’s much cheaper.

Intense pulsed light essentially targets the hair follicle and overtime, destroys it, leading to no more hair growth.

You do this for once a week for 12 weeks consistently, and you should notice a difference.

I have been using it for longer than 12 weeks now and have noticed a massive difference, especially in my leg hair. It grows back much slower and more fine, as well as some parts of my legs not growing hair at all. (Hopefully soon there will be no more hair growth lol)

This is the one I used: https://uk.luxskin.co/products/ipl

You have to be really consistent with it for it to work – just to keep in mind!

This is a high maintenance tip to be low maintenance, because you take about 10 minutes every week to do your IPL treatment, which eventually will mean that you don’t have to shave as often. And lets admit it, shaving is an absolute chore.

Painting your nails

For me – I’m not complete without nail varnish. You will NEVER see me with bare nails.

Painting your nails once a week, or when they start chipping can seem like a lot. But if you think about it, it’s once a week, maybe even less, that you have to dedicate to painting your nails or getting your nails done.

It takes maximum 2 hours to get your nails done, to look high maintenance for a week and a half.

A small sacrifice to look put together all the time.

And getting your nails done could be the perfect opportunity to listen to a podcast or your favourite music, or catch up with your friends.

I have tons of inspiration for what to nails to get (https://bigsisterera.com/nail-inspo/). All you have to do now is pick a design and get them done / do them yourself!

Mastering a quick makeup look

Having a quick make up routine down, with products that are reliable, that you know and love is great for giving you that extra boost in the morning.

It’s a quick way to make you look and feel more put together and brighter in 5 minutes!

These are my holy grail products that I use everyday and I know I can always trust:

• N07 lift and luminate primer https://amzn.to/3JFijX0
• N07 skin illuminator https://amzn.to/3z1Qa7E
• It cosmetics cc cream https://amzn.to/40b2tKM
• Revolution ultra cream contour https://amzn.to/40qRWuP
• N07 kiss and cheek palette https://amzn.to/42xwCWp
• N07 perfect light pressed powder https://amzn.to/40afbcU
• NXY control freak eyebrow gel https://amzn.to/3ZboGHw
• Eyelash curler https://amzn.to/3TzUftp
• Whatever my current lip obsession is https://amzn.to/3LKATQd

Slick bun when your hair is getting greasy

When you feel your hair is getting greasy, and you just can’t use dry shampoo anymore. Now is a great time to put oil or a leave in conditioner in your hair and do a slick bun or pony.

This is my favourite leave in conditioner: http://Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Banana Hair Mask 390ml

This looks sleek and professional, no one needs to know it’s because you haven’t washed your hair!

It also gives your hair a little treatment, which is overall making your hair healthier in the long run. Meaning you can continue to be low maintenance with your healthy looking hair.

Jewellery

Jewellery elevates an outfit.

If there is something missing from your outfit, try layering some jewellery and then tell me that your outfit doesn’t look better.

It’s amazing what jewellery can do for your confidence. Whether you are a silver or gold girl, it makes a huge difference.

One maintenance day a week

Once a week, I try to have a maintenance day, of most of the things listed above. This includes:

• 1-3 hours before I wash my hair I put rosemary oil in it https://amzn.to/3yXK5JF
• Washing my pre oiled hair
• Exfoliate, Shave & IPL
• Self tan
• Painting my nails

Having this once a week is maintainable and means that I can set myself up for the week ahead, having to put little effort everyday, because I have done all of these tips and tricks.

Sometimes I don’t have time to do all of this in one day, so they will be split across a few days! But it’s so worth it for not having to stress for time every day!

Thank you for reading! If you have any other tips and tricks to look high maintenance whilst being low maintenance, please leave a comment below!