Beauty

bless this mess

in pursuit of second-day hair.

by liza darwin

You know that perfectly bouncy, straight-out-of-a-shampoo-commercial hair? Sorry, I don't want it. Instead of spending an hour curling and straightening and "wand"-ing, I'd just rather put my unwashed hair in a braid before bed so I wake up in the morning with roughed-up texture and roll out the door.

Second-day hair is a thing, you guys, and I'm not the only one who wants it. This purposefully messy texture is a runway mainstay, popping up season after season at downtown faves like Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Cushnie et Ochs, and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Minus the fluffy, airy quality that comes with freshly-washed tresses, this day-after version is effortless and edgy--an "I didn't try" quality that Alexa Chung embodies so well. 

So what's the secret? Luckily, you don't really have to skip out on showers to get this lived-in look (because hello, good hygiene!). Bumble and Bumble's new Cityswept Finish spray is the latest in a list of awesome products to give you that "dirty" finish ...without actual dirt.

We've rounded up our favorite cremes, powders, and sprays below. See them all and get ready take your true grit beauty routine to the next (surprisingly pretty) level.  

If you want your bedhead to last all day, buy.... Style Sexy Hair "Slept-In"--$17.95 

If you're looking for glossy finish and a piece-y, shiny result, buy.... Bumble and Bumble Cityswept Finish--$29 

If you want extra volume from the roots up, buy....Oscar Blandi Dry Teasing Dust-- $23

If you want a runway-approved tousled (but not TOO tousled) result, buy... Bumble and Bumble Hair (un)Dressing Creme--$29 

If you want your "beach waves" to look way more authentic, buy.... Gnarly Beach Waves--$14 

If your hair wants extra texture, hold, and an incredible-smelling scent (and you might want to share it with your boyfriend), buy... Lush Dirty Hair--$15.96

If you can't decide between a creme and a spray, buy.... Jonathan Product Dirty Hair Set--$20