Can you save time in the morning without giving up fashion?

By Amanda Kaye Stein

Here are some tips on how to shorten your morning fashion routine.

In the shower
Save water, save time - save your hair? Yes! Many hair types benefit from not washing everyday. Experiment a little to see what schedule works for you - you may find yourself washing only three times a week.

A daily rinse to clean your scalp is still a good idea. If your hair needs help staying moisturized, use a conditioner, then rinse. If your hair gets greasy without daily washing, try a dry shampoo product.

If you do need daily washing (many teens do), you can still shorten your shower time. Try a shampoo bar that doubles as a conditioner - or even as a body soap! Soaps with built-in  body lotion are also a time-saver.

Styling your hair
Dream world? Find a cut that's wash and wear - no products, no styling. Can't find one? Try for something low maintenance. Working with your hair's natural tendencies is your best bet for fast styling; you can always mix it up on calmer mornings. (Don't feel too restricted by your natural hair type, though. If you really love something else, just try to pick a style that won't take an hour and a half every morning.)

Think about prestyling your hair. You can curl or straighten your hair the night before - just be sure and rinse out your hair the next evening. You can also sleep with wet hair braided, then let it loose for crimps and waves.

You can also find a style with multi-day wearability - pigtails and braids may hold up to a few days of rinsing and sleeping. (Never braid or pull back your hair too tightly though - this can cause hair loss.)

Memorize a few styles that seem to work for you. Messy buns, side braids, and side, high, or low ponytails can all be fun - and fast. If your hair is bent on being wild, and if your school allows, throw on a bandana, hat, or head scarf.

Make-up
The fastest morning make-up routine? Healthy Skin. Keep up good washing habits, drink plenty of water, and use sunscreen everyday. Your skin will look and feel fabulous on its own. (Remember, make-up should be fun - never convince yourself you can't be seen without a full face on.)

If you want to wear make-up, multi-tasking products can be time saving wonders. Try to find something that works on cheeks, lips, and eyes.

You can also focus on only one or two areas. A little mascara to wake up your eyes, a touch of concealer, or some lipstick for a pop of color - and you're done!

Clothes
A crowded closet with nothing to wear can be the biggest time killer of all - organizing your clothes will make your mornings much easier.

Start by weeding out your clothes. Get rid of anything you don't like - no matter how trendy it is. Ditch anything that doesn't fit, or that you don't feel fabulous in. (If your weight fluctuates, keep separate sizes in separate places - or even store sizes you aren't wearing in an attic or garage.)

Clothes that need mending should be out of your closet. Give away clothes you don't want to charity, or organize a clothing swap with friends. If something is in great shape, think about selling it online! Also consider saving clothes for material, or future do-it-yourself fashion projects.

Now organize the clothes you do want. Try separating tops and bottoms, and then organizing by color. Also consider organizing clothes by use - even within the general color/top-bottom organization. Keep hoodies and oversized button-ups with jackets, short dresses with tops, socks with leggings, etc. You may find yourself creating outfits you never thought of!

Keep your accessories (belts, scarves, hats, jewelry) with your clothes, and organized so that they're all visible. Hanging displays, baskets, and even milk crates work great for this.

Want to free up even more morning time? Lay out your outfit the night before, or even several outfit options.

A closet full of things you love, a faster shower, and less-hassle hair and make-up can add up to more relaxed, easy mornings. After all, you never know when you'll need extra time for missing homework emergencies - or for simply dreaming of your next vacation.