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Sometimes it can be fun to change up our look – whether it be with a new hair cut or style, a new outfit, or a entirely different makeup routine. But when we’re pressed for time, a trip to the mall or salon can be difficult to fit in our schedules. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to update our look in almost no time at home. Whether your looking to get ready for a night out, or just want an quick change, here’s how to do it in under 90 minutes!
1) Intensify Your Hair Color | 50 minutes
At-home hair coloring has got to be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to dramatically change up or refresh your look. Semi-perm color is great if you don’t want to make a huge commitment – it fades each time you wash your hair, and typically lasts for around 20 shampoos. Or, if your pretty confident in a color, opt for a professional-quality permanent hair coloring system.
I personally color my hair around 2-3 times a year to add in some shine and enhance it to a more intense, deeper brown. For the past couple years now I’ve being using semi-perm, but since I’m always going for the same shade, I decided it was time to finally go permanent. So I picked up Schwarzkopf Color Ultime professional-quality hair coloring system while grabbing some other beauty goodies at Walmart.
It was tempted to grab one of their ruby or amethyst shades (they have 20+ trendy and vibrant shades to choose from), but I ultimately settled on a deep, black-brown shade – specifically the Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Deep Brunettes Hair Coloring Kit, 3.1 Espresso Black.
The whole process is super easy to do at home. It only took me 10 minutes to prep, 30 minutes for the coloring process, and 10 minutes to rinse and condition. The end result is rich, long-lasting color (definitely ‘true to box’), plus a healthy boost of shine. Here’s my little before and after:
2) Try a Different Hair Part | 5 minutes
Another easy way to update your hair is to change up the part. By going from a middle to a deep side part (or vice versa) you can dramatically change your look just by framing your face differently. (Bonus: Because hair tends to flatten out at the roots when you keep the same part, readjusting it will every now and then will help create extra volume and lift at the roots.)
My favorite has got to be the zig-zag part. It creates lots of extra texture and lift. I’m not talking about going full-out 90’s style though (unless you really want to!). Instead, split up your part into 2-3 sections of hair and alternate them every 2 inches or so. (Check out some great photo examples here of the zig-zag part plus more!)
3) Play Up (Or Down) Your Features | 5 minutes
Contouring and highlighting can dramatically change your face structure by playing with light and shadows. If you typically use contour products to sculpt your face and chisel your cheekbones, try using only a highlighter instead to create a softer, more romantic look (cute round cheeks and all!).
If you tend to use highlighters most the time, switch over to ‘the dark side’ and apply a contour color under those cheekbones, as well as around the temples and forehead, to create a more chiseled and defined look. You can even play with different contour colors like greys or muted purples to create an even edgier contrast.
4) Re-shape the Brows | 5 minutes
Eyebrows frame your face and have the power to make a huge impact on your overall look if you alter then, even only slightly. Try playing with their thickness, fullness, arch, length, direction of hair (brushed up or down), and even their color to add some extra definition and drama. Alternatively, you can clean up and shape your brows using a pair of tweezers. Of course, this takes a little know-how to get it right – here’s a great video that explains how to get the best shape.
When I dye my hair darker, I tend to prefer fuller, thicker brows to create some balance. What I’ll do it take my favorite super thin eyebrow pencil – one that’s slightly lighter than my brows – and draw in just over the top to thicken them a bit, especially above the arch. Then I’ll fill in only the sparse areas to create a full yet natural brow look.
5) Finish With a Mani | 15 minutes
For the finishing touch, I always like to change up my nail color to pull everything together. For softer looks (i.e. ones with lighter hair, daintier brows, and/or soft highlights), I’ll pair them with pastels (light greys, peaches, lilacs, etc) to fit a more romantic, feminine vibe. To complement a more intense, edgier look (with darker hair, fuller brows, and/or more defined features), I love deep burgundies and reds, navy, or just straight up black for that punk-rock feel (and that’s exactly what I went with today to match my new dark locks)!
What are some of your favorite ways to change up your look?
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