I’m Kayla Sox, and I test beauty stuff the way I live—messy mornings, sweaty days, loud hair tools, and real plans on the calendar. Folks ask me this all the time: hair first or makeup first? If you want a classic breakdown of the pros and cons, the editors at L’Oréal Paris weigh in here. For an even deeper dive, check out my detailed recap of the experiment on Girindus.
Short answer: it depends on heat, time, and your skin. But I’ll show you what happened when I tested both. With real mornings. Real gear. Real sweat.
My usual routine (and why I bend the rules)
Most days, I do makeup first. My skin sets better when my face is cool. If I blow-dry first, I sweat, and my foundation slides. Not cute.
But I switch it up when I’m using hot rollers, doing a big blowout, or working with curls. Those need time, heat, and patience. And patience doesn’t wear mascara yet.
Here’s the thing: both orders work. The trick is knowing which day you’re having.
Test Day #1: Fast work morning, 15 minutes flat
- What I did: Makeup first, hair second.
- Products I used: Milk Hydro Grip primer, Maybelline Fit Me foundation, Benefit 24-HR Brow Gel, Urban Decay All Nighter. Then I hit roots with Batiste dry shampoo and tossed my hair in a low pony.
- Result: Clean base, no sweat mustache, no hairline dents. I felt pulled together on Zoom.
When I tried hair first on another busy morning, my cheeks got a light film from hairspray (Kenra 25). Powder sat weird. I had to wipe and start again. Lost time.
Test Day #2: August wedding in Atlanta (hot and humid)
- What I did: Hair first. Big barrel curls with my Dyson Airwrap. Kenra 25 to set. I let the curls cool while I did makeup.
- Makeup after: Tatcha primer, NARS Light Reflecting foundation, cream blush, then a thin powder and All Nighter spray.
- Result: Curls held. No sweat while I did my base because the hot tools were done. My blush stayed smooth. For more tips tailored to weddings and special occasions, Edith James Beauty has a helpful guide.
I tried makeup first before a different summer event. Then I curled after. My face got warm. My bronzer went patchy. Lesson learned.
Test Day #3: Gym, then quick brunch
- Plan: I don’t do full makeup before a workout. Not worth it.
- What I did: Sunscreen first (Supergoop Unseen), clear brow gel, lip balm. Workout. Quick rinse. Then I styled hair fast with the Revlon One-Step and did makeup last.
- Result: Fresh face. No clogged feel. Hair looked bouncy. Simple and sane.
Curly hair days need their own rules
When I wear my curls, I do hair first. I wash, add Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé, and diffuse. If I do makeup first, the heat from the diffuser can melt brow gel and make my T-zone tacky. So I let curls set, then I tap on concealer, blush, and a little powder. Works every time.
Tiny fix if you do makeup first by mistake: use a cool setting on your diffuser and hold a clean towel over your brows and cheeks. It helps.
Bangs? Do them first. Always.
Bangs set fast. If you wait, they lock in weird. I spray a heat protectant (Tresemmé Heat Tamer), blow-dry my bangs with a small round brush, clip them to cool, then do my base. That five minutes saves the whole look.
Oily skin vs. dry skin: what I learned
- Oily or sweaty skin: Hair first, then a quick cleanse or micellar wipe, then makeup. This clears hairspray dust from your cheeks.
- Dry skin: Makeup first is fine. Let hydrating primer sit while you start hair prep, then go back to makeup.
I have combo skin. On hot days, I treat it like oily. On calm days, I treat it like dry. Easy.
Updos and rollers: little tweaks
- Hot rollers or a tight updo? I do hair first so the shape sets right. While rollers cool, I do makeup. Then I finish the updo.
- Worried about powder in your hairline? I wrap a soft headband over the front. It shields curls and keeps flyaways down.
Mistakes I made so you don’t have to
- I once blew out my hair, got sweaty, then put on foundation right away. It pilled. Now I cool my face with a mini fan for 60 seconds before makeup. Problem solved.
- I’ve done full makeup, then used the Dyson. My brow wax softened and smudged. Now I style first on hot days or use less heat.
- Hairspray fog can coat your cheeks. I spray away from my face or aim into the air and walk through it.
Quick rule of thumb you can remember
- Hot tools or humid day? Hair first.
- Short, cool morning with a simple pony? Makeup first.
- Curly wash day? Hair first.
- Gym before plans? Makeup last.
- Using rollers? Hair first, makeup while they set.
And you know what? If you run hot, pick the order that keeps your face cool. That one wins.
My simple 10-minute flow (what I actually do)
-
Weekday work:
- Makeup base and brows
- Dry shampoo and quick brush
- Cream blush, mascara, set spray
-
Big event:
- Hair with heat protectant (Kérastase Defense Thermique or Tresemmé Heat Tamer)
- Let it cool; then makeup
- Finish hair with Kenra 25 or Living Proof Flex
-
Curly day:
- Leave-in + Curlsmith gel
- Diffuse; hands off while it sets
- Light makeup after
Products I trust from real use
- Heat protectant: Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique; Tresemmé Heat Tamer
- Dry shampoo: Batiste; Living Proof Perfect Hair Day
- Hairspray: Kenra Volume Spray 25
- Primer: Milk Hydro Grip; Tatcha The Silk Canvas
- Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me; NARS Light Reflecting
- Brow: Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter
- Sunscreen: Supergoop Unseen or Glowscreen
- Setting spray: Urban Decay All Nighter
- Curls: Curlsmith Soufflé; Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk
If you’re curious about why these formulas actually work—the polymers in heat protectants, the fixatives in setting sprays—check out the easy science primers on Girindus.
I’ve used each of these many times, in heat, on travel, and during long shoots. They’re steady.
Polished look, real plans
Locking in the right order means you can step out confident and ready for literally anything—errands, dates, or a late-night ramen run. If your perfect blowout or fresh curls have you feeling flirty and you’d like to meet someone new who’ll actually notice the effort, take a peek at this local dating hub for Asian singles where quick-match filters let you zero in on nearby profiles and set up a spontaneous coffee or karaoke date in minutes.
Already got a match and just need the right spot to debut that humidity-proof hairstyle? For Los Angeles readers, consider slipping into Tryst Hollywood, a chic, mood-lit cocktail lounge where flattering lighting, velvet booths, and a creative drink list make it easy for your flawless hair and makeup to take center stage and spark conversation.
My final take
Most days, I start with makeup. But if heat is involved—or curls, rollers, or bangs—I start with hair. Cool skin makes makeup last. Cool hair makes shape last. Pick what needs the heat first.
It’s not fancy. It just works. And honestly, that’s all I want when I’m rushing out the door with one shoe on and a latte I haven’t even sipped yet.