Looking Good and Feeling Great as a Parent
There’s something about a 10-step brow tutorial on Pinterest that really rubs me the wrong way.
Yes, Becky, your brows look amazing, but I’d like to do the rest of my face, too.
It. Is. CRAP.
The tutorials are amazing, and those girls? Those girls are TALENTED.
But let’s be real here — there are about four loads of dirty laundry piled up in front of the washer, your oldest has to be at preschool in 20 minutes, and you’re still in the same spit up crusted shirt you slept in.
Ombre brows? Nuh-uh, not today, Becky.
It’s tough to make time for things like this, even if you know they’re going to make you feel amazing. The crux of it is, a lot of moms spend time feeling down on themselves, wishing they could spend more time looking and feeling great.
But then those tutorials surface in their Pinterest feed, and they think, There is no. Freaking. WAY.
Look, we can’t all roll out of bed lookin’ like Beyonce, but we CAN do a few easy things to make us feel just a tiiiiiny bit more put together every day.
Remember: this is YOUR standard we’re working with here, nobody else’s. If you feel like a goddess in a T-shirt and bare face, you rock that thing, mama. You GO.
But if you want to do things to your face or wear something that’s going to make you feel like you’re all that in a bag of puffs, we have some pointers.
Hack #1 — Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Brows
Okay, to be fair, there’s more than one way to shape a bomb dot com eyebrow. But for moms that just need to tame the crazy hairs and add a little more color and definition WITHOUT breaking out the angle brush, there’s Busy Gal Brows from Tarte Cosmetics.
Just swipe it on, and get on with your life. DONE.
Hack #2 — Eyelash Extensions
Eyelash extensions have been blowing up at salons for the past year or so, and for good reason — they’re one of the easiest ways to roll out of bed looking bright-eyed. Your first visit will require you to be there for a couple of hours to get the whole thing done, but after that, fills are the only required maintenance and a much shorter appointment.
Prices vary depending on where you go, but you can expect to pay $250-500 for the initial installation, and another $30-75 every two to five weeks.
Hack #3 — Sleep on It Hairstyle
There are a few things you can do to create more manageable hair without actually having to touch a blowdryer, but one of the easiest is a sleep-on-it hairstyle. The concept is easy enough — you style your hair in such a way that it shapes your hair while you sleep, and when you wake up and let it out, it’s soft, silky, and perfectly styled.
Depending on your hair texture and length, there are a few different styles you can use to save some time on your morning routine:
-
- Loose braids for soft waves
- Tight braids or cornrows for kinky curls
- Pin curls and finger waves for a vintage style
- Hair bunches or a topknot for crown volume (without the blowdry)
If you use a sleep-on-it hairstyle, make sure you’re also planning for friction — use a silk hair cap or silk pillowcases to keep it from turning into a frizzy, tangled mess the next day.
Your hair texture will determine how much product you need to use, but in some cases, all you need is a spritz of water and the warmth of your head to set the style overnight.
Hack #4 — BombDotCom Black Leggings
Say what you will about leggings, but any woman will tell you, that the right pair makes you feel like the hottest thing on two legs.
Compression leggings are not only SUPER flattering but have thicker fabric to prevent that not-so-fun buttcheek show through and are especially great for postpartum moms looking for abdominal support.
Here are a few of our favorite brands and styles:
Spanx Faux Leather Moto Leggings
Girlfriend Collective Leggings (made from recycled fishnets and plastic bottles!)
Hack #5 — Smoothies for Simple Healthy Breakfast
Most of how we look is what we’re putting in our bodies every day, so make sure you’re starting with the good stuff. Smoothies are easy to prep ahead, fast to make in the mornings, and easy to take with you as you’re rushing out the door.
Sneak some greens into yours along with bananas and frozen berries, and you’ll feel like you can do ANYTHING.
Hack #6 — Babywearing Workouts
Okay, now first, the disclaimer: not ALL forms of exercise are safe or appropriate to do while babywearing. Getting active with baby is okay, so long as you’re not jostling the baby, compromising your balance, or creating a situation where the baby is getting too cold, too hot, or a restricted airway.
In other words, proceed with caution.
That said, going for a walk while babywearing is a great way to soak up some fresh air and vitamin D and get moving again postpartum without overdoing it. Many moms also integrate squats, lunges, and gentle strength training exercises.
Hack #7 — Unbeatable Concealer
After a long night, there isn’t much that can beat a really great concealer. Tarte Cosmetics’ Shape Tape concealer has developed a cult-like following from the tired mom’s crowd — just a swipe of this takes care of undereye circles and gives you the misleading appearance of being well-rested.
Hack #8 — Wash Your Hair Less
I know it’s crazy but go with me here.
Washing your hair less gives your hair’s natural oils a chance to disperse throughout your mane, taming frizz and actually making it EASIER to manage. How often you wash your hair is going to depend on your own levels of oil production, but there are remarkably few people who actually benefit from washing their hair every single day.
Hack #9 — Give Yourself a Break
It’s hard enough raising tiny humans to be upstanding, healthy citizens, let alone doing it with perfect wingtip eyeliner and a six-pack. Give yourself a whole lotta grace here because managing self-care and caring for others is a tough balance to strike.
But if it’s what makes you happy, try to make it a priority — put on Frozen for the ten millionth time, give your kids a busy box, or do your brows while you babywear like some kinda crazy supermom.
.
