Over the past few years I’ve been living a more minimalist and simple lifestyle.  For me this makes an already busy life a lot less hectic and stressful.  I never set out to be a ‘minimalist’ or to follow a particular lifestyle, it just happened.  It probably began as I moved house around ten times in ten years.  To save lugging all my belongings every time I just cut down on what I had.  Before moving in with my husband Ben, I lived in a bedsit for three years.  This is where I really had to cut down on belongings and only live with my essentials as there was no room to store anything else. 

Now we have a three bed house, but I still enjoy only having what we need.  I’m regularly selling items we don’t need or the children have grown out of and my obsession for only having what we need has stretched to my beauty routines too.  I no longer have an overflowing make up bag, but just the items I use every day.  I also used to use a whole bunch of hair care products, but there really is no need.  I’ve reduced my hair care regime to the bare essentials and I honestly don’t think my hair looks much different!  I’m just saving a small fortune on products as well as saving time every day.  Here are the essential items you need for a minimalist hair care routine:

Hair Dryer

Now, you could even go totally minimal and not have one at all, letting your hair dry naturally all the time, but if you have work to go to or important events, then you’re probably not going to want to turn up with soaking wet hair!  The best thing about a hair dryer is it can double up as a straightening tool.  A minimal routine is about making the most of everything you have and using items for more than their intended purpose. If something can have two uses and you don’t have to buy two separate items then that saves space, money and time.  If you dry your hair in a downwards motion then you’ll straighten it at the same time.  My hair is pretty straight anyway, but on the days I don’t wash it I do wake with a kink here and there, so a few minutes blast with a hair dryer and my hair is smooth and straight once again.

Brush

Unless you’re going for a pixie cut which must be the ultimate minimal hair style, then you’re going to need a bush.  I recommend a detangling style brush if you have hair that easily knots.  This will save on having to buy detangling sprays or shampoos.  I’m sure there are so many products out there screaming at us to buy them when we don’t need to.  I used to have such an extended hair routine and use so many products I thought I needed, but when you strip back to the bare essentials you’ll realise you didn’t need half of them and you won’t even miss them.  A brush, however, is an essential for anyone with long enough hair.  You can even get a brush which helps to shine the hair so you can do away with any shine sprays you might have been using.

Shampoo and Conditioner

I did try to go super minimal and eco-friendly by trying the no poo hair washing method.  This consists of just washing hair with water only and no products at all. Unfortunately my water is hard and so it just didn’t work.  I gave it a good go for three months, but had to go back to using shampoo.  Conditioner definitely softens my hair and I do notice the difference.  I’ll either use just shampoo or I’ll buy a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner to save time and keep it simple.  I recommend only using natural based hair products as they’re better for you and the environment. One hair mistake a lot of people make is using too many products that weigh the hair down and take a lot of time to apply when there's no need.

Related How to save money on natural beauty products

Hair bands

Hair bands are a must for anyone with shoulder length hair or below.  As a busy parent I often need to tie my hair up out of the way to stop it falling all over my face whilst cooking and doing household chores.  I’m also a regular gym goer so need it all off my face when working out.  A bunch of black elastic ties is all that’s needed – they’re cheap and do the job.  Again, nothing fancy or unnecessary to stick with a minimal routine.

Kirby grips

My final minimal hair care essential are Kirby grips, just make sure you’re wearing them the right way round.  I have a pack of black grips that can hold my hair to the side and out of my face when down, or can pin up loose fallen hairs when in an up-do.

Final word

These 5 items are the only hair care items I have making for a quick no-fuss haircare routine every morning.  Keeping things simple means I spend less than ever before on hair care and save a ton of time each day too.  It’s also much better for the environment to not be spraying so many chemicals into the air or washing them down a plughole.  Take a look at your hair care routine and see if you can cut costs and get some valuable time back each day too.