How to look put together for work

[Meshy23]

I’m going back to work after mat leave soon and I’ll be doing nursery drop off and still having to look really put together in minimal time - I work in a professional services firm and am fairly senior and meet clients a lot.

My hair has always been difficult to work with - it’s frizzy and I use straighteners every day but it never really sits straight. I have no idea how to put volume into my hair let alone curl it to make it look nice.

Any tips at all on the above to help me with getting ready quickly but nicely, and making my hair look less like a birds nest would be really helpful.

Are there any special treatments or appliances out there that can help?

Thanks so much

You need a hairstyle that works with your hair. Find a hairdresser who understands how your hair behaves and styles it accordingly, so that you don;t have to do much with it.
Other suggestion is to get the day's clothes ready the night before.

i shouldn't say this as i am a CGM curly girl but you could get a salon keratin treatment to make your hair more manageable (i don't know specifics but others will) because believe me getting yourself to work and a baby to nursery is a hardcore PITA. although you probably have a partner who is around a bit more than mine as it's not a high bar. i do it alone 99% of the time and I'm used to it now but it it was a shock to the system at first, and i don't have to look remotely presentable for my job thank goodness because i haven't gotten that far!

Drop off remains the worst part of my day and my lot are in big school. You have my sympathy.

As soon as you come home, change out of your smart clothes to cut down on smears and stains from little fingers. Check the weather forecast on your phone, and then put out a good weather AND bad weather outfit together with underwear, tights or socks, and shoes. I have dedicated hooks on the back of the door. Then do the same for the children.

The following morning, shower whilst your partner does breakfast with the kids, and then you get your kids dressed whilst OH showers. Dress yourselves last to avoid messes. Your OH will have to have breakfast at work. You do your face and hair in the office.

Short hair and machine washable clothes. My work clothes fall into 3 types of outfit
1 - Jersey dress, blazer, tights boots
2 - smart casual trousers (I have Boden Richmond trousers in 5 colours!), shirts (Gap Tall so they are long enough to tuck in!), blazer and brogues
3- Site work- fleece and black jeans. I try to vaguely look tidy in jeans, corporate polo shirts/fleece. I work a couple of days a week on building sites.

Agree with keratin smoothing treatment!

Depending upon what money you want to spend, I think several looks can be great.

Tailored dresses. Jaeger and Hobbs understand these dresses. Hobbs do matching dresses, jackets, skirts and trousers. Definitely go with them for the more corporate look. Good savings at the moment too.

I think tapered trousers with shirts look smart. Dresses with sleeves in higher quality materials are “stand alone” and don’t need jackets. A good cost is a must as are good shoes and handbag. Dressing in a hurry is easier if you plan the night before and have a capsule collection so everything works together.

Hope you can get your hair sorted.

Coat not cost!

Another vote for keratin treatment!

Thanks for the style and hair tips - lots of food for thought! I Didn’t know about keratin treatment and @mumdom that morning schedule Could actually work!

I’m so nervous about going back to work and I just can’t imagine how I’ll be able to do it all

What length is your hair? My hair is naturally curly and if I don't use the right product it frizzes into oblivion.

If you can use a bun ring, I highly recommend it. Really quick, slick back two hair ties and a couple of grips. A professional hair style in seconds.

(I have had my bun ring in since Sunday morning, do not judge me !!) I just smooth over the edges in the morning.

@snowflake9 mid shoulders. What product do you use to tame your hair?

Might give a bun ring a go and see how it goes - it can look really polished I agree

I meant mid back

I use L'Oréal studio gel. Let me see if I can find a link.

www.superdrug.com/L'Oreal-Styling-StudioLine/L'Oreal-Studio-Line-Mineral-Control-Extra-Strength-Gel-150ml/p/568805

I put it on wet hair, not the roots , just the ends along with some serum. I use medium strength though. Don't blow dry, unless you have a diffuser. And invest in a tangle teezer.

Do your bun ring from wet hair too. It will look way more polished , I sometimes go to work with it wet, then when I take it out at night (I wear mine at the nape of my neck) I find sometimes it's dried really nice and I can then wear it in a pony tail, or down as the roots are not frizzy and are straighter.

Amazon sell USB powered straighteners - these are my life, soooo convenient. Big rain jacket that is reasonably stylish as you won't have hands for umbrellas etc on the drop off. Comfy shoes to get to work, change into something smarter when you arrive. Small bag of essential make up in your bag to get you through the worst days. If you can't get ready / dressed last then put a dressing gown on over your clothes until you leave the house.