Quick Tips for Working Girls

Aloha, and welcome to Adventure Capital Day 2!

I’m probably setting myself up for failure here, publishing two posts so close together. I shan’t promise to stick to it, but I’m already enjoying blogging so much that I’m sure my posts won’t be few and far between.

I thought I’d kick things off (sorry to those of you still torn up about the World Cup loss – so close, and yet, so far…) with a truly accessible and unashamedly girly post about the ever-popular morning routine! What a revelation, fashion and beauty simply aren’t visited topics throughout the blogosphere these days! But, in all seriousness, I feel I have formed some genuinely decent tips to share with my fellow working girls, just to help make life a little easier. So, here goes…

We all leave uni with this naïve and wistful idea that, once we have a “proper” job, we will spring out of bed every morning at six o’ clock sharp, artfully paint on a full face of makeup and tease our tresses into perfectly pert curls. We’ll add a spring to our step with the most professional of heels (pointed-toe court shoes, obvs) and hop aboard our train looking fresh off the runway. I don’t do pessimism, and I don’t want to shatter any dreams, but let me be the first to tell you, it ain’t gonna happen!

Even on a good day, there are tube disruptions, packed stations and busy pavements to contend with, so giving yourself a bouncy blow-dry every morning simply isn’t an achievable goal. I should know. This summer, I embarked upon my first city-centre internship at a world-famous fashion house (don’t want to name names, but rhymes with Primarni…). On my first day, I woke at 6am sharp, fixed a full face of makeup, coiffed my hair into the perfect slicked back high pony and donned my brand-new pink power suit. How long did I keep up this charade of constant immaculateness and professionalism? 3 days.

Let me tell you, early mornings and late nights do not make for a happy camper, so sacrificing an extra hour of sleep in favour of some lippy and false eyelashes is just not a good life choice (that’s what I tell myself anyway). That being said, I totally understand and resonate with the female need to look and feel good. It boosts our confidence which, as a newly-former-student first entering into the working world, is truly needed!

So, this desire to look good combined with my need for sleep led me to discover a few simple tips and tricks that kept me looking and feeling fresh. So, without further ado, I will share these secrets with you in the hopes that you too can arrive to work looking as good as you feel (unless it’s a Monday, ofc)…

Faux-Buns

Doughnut buns have been around for just about ever, and are still a staple favourite of the time-savvy working girl. But I think it’s about time that the doughnut buns’ lesser-known cousin, the faux-bun, got its moment in the spotlight! Brands such as LullaBellz and Hair Rehab London offer these revolutionary clip-on buns that simply sit on top of your basic twist-up job and voila, you have the perfectly proportioned, tousled bun you’ve always dreamed of. Who said clip-ons were a thing of the past?

Shoe Swap

This is an age-old trick that you’ve probably seen in action a million times but remains a life-saver for city girls the world over. Simply stow away your Louboutins, Valentinos or, er, Primarks in your bag in favour of wearing your trusty trainers on your commute. You can change them the minute you get into the office, and the benefits are endless, from no (okay, less) tripping up on those jam-packed pavements to saving you buying a new pack of plasters every Monday morning. Try now, and thank me later!

Beauty Treatments

This one requires some investment, but hey, you’re a working girl, right? And time is money! To save hours each week applying makeup, perhaps consider getting an eyebrow tint or eyelash extensions. This will shave hours off your weekly prep-time and have you looking fabulous 24/7. Who needs foundation when you’ve got cracking lashes?

Hair of Dreams (literally!)

Once upon a time, hair rollers were the thing of grandmothers and Cruella de Ville, reserved only for the most experienced of users. Now, they come in every size and quantity you could imagine, with some even specialising in specific hair types. So, forget the morning blow-dry. Pop these in the night before and wake up with salon-fresh looking lengths, minus the heat damage. You’re welcome!

T'was the night before Work

This trick may bring back memories of your mum harking on about organising your school bag the night before to save time the following morning. I know, completely annoying, but I hate to admit it… she had a point. The adult equivalent is deciding what you’re going to wear the night before, to avoid that heart-stopping scramble the next morning when you realise you haven’t got a fresh pair of tights. Say goodbye to those panic sweats and hello to a longer lie in! 

I hope these little tips have helped you in one way or another, even if they only buy you an extra five minutes in bed, every little helps, eh? I’m always looking for ways to save time, so if you have any helpful hints of your own then help a girl out and share in the comments below! Let’s prove once and for all that, as girls, we absolutely can have it all.

Bye for now,

E x