The holidays, by nature, are a busy time. All the hustle and bustle – from finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list, to making sure that you attend every last holiday function put on by friends, family and co-workers, the last two months of the year are definitely a time when everyone could use an extra hour or two in their day.

Despite how busy you are or what all you may have on your plate this season, you can be sure you’re going to want to look your absolute best, no matter what.

On the flip side, in all the craziness and confusion, as well as all the family photos and office parties, we often cut corners or experiment to try and save time and money, and end up making some beauty blunders that could have easily been prevented with a little forethought. Here are three major offenders and what you can do to avoid them.

The absolute number one beauty mistake people make this time of the year is waiting until the last minute.

It’s easy to do, especially when it seems like everything gets put off until the last minute, but it can put a serious crimp in your style if you procrastinate when it comes to your beauty routine. It can be something as minor as a store being out of your favorite hairspray (which can cost even more time and money by sending you driving all over heck and creation to find a store with your product in stock, or lead to disaster if you decide to experiment with a new product, which we’ll go into more in a few) or as major as not being able to get in to see your stylist, colorist or manicurist (again, experimentation is not a good thing this time of year! You may be able to describe what you want to your stylist or manicurist, and feel like she’s reading your mind. But, when someone else takes the shears in hand, it could be disastrous!). So, how can you save yourself time, money and frustration?

• Book appointments with your style team NOW. Yes, you can book your color service or pedicure two months in advance, and by doing it now, you won’t have to worry about all the other people rushing around at the last minute possibly snagging your spot. If you’re afraid you’ll forget, when you call to make your appointment, ask the receptionist to make a notation in the book that you’ll need a reminder “X” days in advance. Most salons are happy to give you a call and remind you of your appointment.
• A little low on your hairspray? Think you have enough foundation to make it through the new year? Don’t chance it! Stock up now! Chances are, you’ll be using more of those products than normal with all the parties and family photo ops and will under-guess how much you really need. Not to mention, you probably have a few extra bucks in your wallet right now – sure you’ll be able to say the same a month from now?

The second fumble people make is drastic changes in hair and makeup.

If you’ve been a dark brunette your whole life, now is not the time to try going platinum. If you hate it, you’re either stuck with it or risk making it worse by trying to fix it. And with everyone’s camera shutter going a mile a minute, your boo-boo will be forever immortalized in somebody’s holiday photo album. The same goes for makeup – if you normally keep your makeup pretty low-key, this is not a good time to try liquid liner, glitter or bold colors. Trying your hand at liquid liner ten minutes before you’re due at an office party or deciding that you’re feeling festive, and green eyeshadow and red lips are a good way to let the world know, can all be frustrating and embarrassing ways to be seen in public or on film. We all want to look a little more glamorous for special events, but Bozo is probably not the celebrity image you had in mind. How can you avoid it?

• If you have your heart set on a drastic hair color change, do it now and have it touched up before photos, parties or family gatherings. This way you have plenty of time to live in it and really decide how you feel about it (it takes an average of one week to get used to a drastic hair color change) and, if you do hate it, plenty of time to have it corrected without leaving your hair fried and seven different colors.
• Want to experiment with makeup? That’s great! But do it before your big event. Practice will help you determine what you do and don’t like as well as what you can realistically pull off. Even if you can’t wear your dream look to work or school, play with makeup in the evenings while you’re vegging in front of the tube. Grab a package of those pre-moistened towelettes when you do, so you can easily remove your artistry without a lot of effort.

Misstep number three is experimentation.

While we’ve already discussed some of the things that can go horribly wrong when you stray too far from your normal beauty routine, it’s worth mentioning on its own. Aside from drastic changes in hair color and dramatic changes to your makeup, a few other notable mentions are:

• Waxing, especially the face, when you’ve never done it before. Waxing can leave skin irritated and inflamed for a couple of days, which leaves you as red as Rudolph’s nose. If you’re going to wax, do it early and be prepared to tweeze the strays.
• Changing your skin or hair care lines. This is just asking for break outs, allergic reactions and other irritations. Stick to what you know for now. It’s worked for you this long, another two months won’t kill you.
• A new hair cut. If you like wearing wigs and extensions, this isn’t so bad. Otherwise, wait until after the holidays, do it now so it has a chance to grow out and be re-shaped, or avoid major changes.
• Self-tanning, unless you’re an experienced self tanner. Even if you’ve been in the bed or used a certain lotion or spray before, unless you’re into looking like an Oompa Loompa, this isn’t a good idea. As Murphy says, if something can go wrong, it will – besides, being tan in winter can be a little weird. If you absolutely must have a sun kissed glow, try a gradual self tanner that only gives you a little bit of color each time you use it, allowing you to build the color of your tan.

Do something nice for yourself this holiday season and save yourself some time, money and trouble by keeping your beauty routine in check. Not being the subject of a major beauty blunder may be the sweetest gift you receive this year, and for years to come

*Pictures from sofeminine.co.uk, hairstylezone.com, and freewebs.com.