Be High Maintenance, Stay Low Maintenance

What started as a viral TikTok trend changed the way I look at personal upkeep for the better.

First things first: I work in a public-facing job. So, for better or worse, my image matters. Looking (and being) clean, put-together, and professional is essential… and potentially time-consuming. Enter: arguably high-maintenance things I do every week or so to keep my day-to-day low maintenance.

Hair:

• Have a prix fix menu of hairstyles. I alternate between a low sleek pony, a low chignon, and a french twist. I generally do not wear my hair down when working.

• Have a low-effort, maintainable haircut and color. I get some subtle color quarterly and a trim when needed to prevent split ends.

• Find a good leave-in conditioner, hair mask, or hair oil. I love a spritz of unscented argan oil spritz to give some shine and gloss.

  No: extensions, vivid colors, daily blow-out

Nails:

• Keep nails either unpolished but clean and neat; OR

• Polished in a clear or neutral tone

• Trim nails (shorter is cleaner) regularly and use a nail oil daily on your cuticles.

• No: nail extensions, bright colors, patterns/designs

Skin:

• Shower and moisturize nightly. I prefer unscented lotion or coconut oil

• Be sparing with hair washing. Wash hair only when needed, which is about every 2-3 days for me

• Use sunscreen every day. Sun protection is the basis of skin health.

• No: foundation, permanent makeup, fillers, cosmetic Botox

Clothes:

• Dress in monochromatic colors to save precious morning time. Choosing an outfit should not require deep thought or multiple attempts.

• Buy gently used pieces in high quality materials. Cotton, wool, silk, leather/suede, and rayon are all ideal. Why used? Because someone else already paid full price, and now you don't have to. Try sites like ThredUp where you can set up alerts for your preferred sizes, materials, and brands.

• No: fast fashion or polyester

General wellness:

• Bring a water bottle everywhere. Water (and unsweetened tea!) leads to fewer headaches, better gut motility, and clearer skin

• Regular exercise is proven to promote longevity, bone density, and higher quality sleep. Women in particular should ensure their routing includes some strength training.

• Eat colorful foods to establish vitamin sufficiency. Fruits and vegetables are going to take your body further than any multivitamin.