The Fastest Way to Save a Bad Hair Day

On mornings when we wake up with a few flakes of dandruff, less-than-fresh bangs, or a blowout that's gone wrong, we rely on a maybe-lazy, always-practical technique we've been using for years: Washing just the front of our hair. Not only does it cut our styling time in half, the finished effect is so polished that no one has ever noticedit's our little dirty hair secret.

The technique is always the same: Separate the front section of your hair and pin back the rest (a little dry shampoo can freshen up the unwashed section). Next, flip your head over the sink to get the front section wet, cleanse with a tiny amount of regular shampoo, rinse, and style as usual. It's that easy.

If dandruff is your issue, we recommend using a soothing shampoo like Phyto Phythol Intense Anti-Dandruff Treatment. If greasy bangs are the culprit, turn to a gentle formula for daily use like Klorane Shampoo with Desert Date to zap oil and dirt but not moisture. And if you want to restyle without starting over completely, spritz your freshly shampooed front section with a heat protectant like Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect, blow dry, then flat iron or recurl your front sections to match the back. It brings a whole new meaning to "wash and go."