Shay Mitchell Shares Her ‘Go-To’ Hairstyle for School Drop-Off That ‘Gives Put Together,’ Even in Pajamas (Exclusive)

• Shay Mitchell, who has partnered with OGX for their latest Bond Protein Repair Collection, says a tight bun is her “go-to hairstyle” for dropping her daughters off at school
• “It kind of gives put together, even if I’m dropping them off in my pajamas, you know what I’m saying? But for school drop-off, it’s just the easiest,” Mitchells tells PEOPLE about her everyday hairstyle
• While caring for her own hair takes time, Mitchell says doing her daughters’ hair is “fun”

Shay Mitchell has mastered the art of looking effortlessly put together.

The 38-year-old actress and mom of two, who has teamed up with OGX for their Bond Protein Repair collection campaign and plays the role of “The Fixer” addressing the greatest “hair crimes,” shares how she manages to keep her hair looking great — especially during school drop-offs for her two daughters, Atlas, 5, and Rome, 2.

“Tight bun. We’re keeping it tight,” Mitchell tells PEOPLE about her drop-off go-to hairstyle. “It kind of gives put together, even if I’m dropping them off in my pajamas, you know what I’m saying? But for school drop-off, it’s just the easiest. I can pull it back and I don’t have to think about it.”

While Mitchell loves the simplicity of the updo, she admits that it can lead to hair damage if done too often. “This is kind of why I feel like you need really great products because [even] a tight bun can cause a lot of breakage, so I feel like I need to protect my hair,” she says. She calls on the bond protein repair collection, “because the strands can break easily if you don’t take care of your hair,” she explains.

The Béis Travel founder adds, “When you pull it back in a bun, then you can leave a conditioner in. I always spray the three-in-one oil mist, it’s my go-to when I put it back. Nobody knows if you just got out of the shower or if you’re hydrating your hair.”

While caring for her own hair can sometimes feel like a challenge, Mitchell finds taking care of her daughters’ hair “kind of fun.” “They’re not getting all these hot tools. I definitely don’t stress about their hair, and I actually don’t stress about my hair now either thanks to OGX.”

Although playing “The Fixer” with OGX may be temporary, Mitchell views taking care of her daughters and setting a good example, as a lifelong role. “I am constantly playing the fixer with them,” she explains. “Obviously I want to choose empowering roles, and I really do feel like this campaign playing the fixer was this really empowering role because, I mean, now being a mom reflects how I approach life with having to solve different problems all the time, and also finding balance and trying to find control with even my hair. So it was kind of perfect that they got to come to the set and saw me play this character.”

With her birthday and Mother’s Day approaching, Mitchell says what she looks forward to most is spending quality time with her daughters. “Just being with them at home and trying to relax — though I don’t know if that happens when you’re a mom,” she jokes. “I get a card from them and I think we will just have a chill day. I get very excited for that.”