Ponytails are the ultimate lazy girl hairstyle. To pull one off, all you need is a hair elastic and 60 seconds. Just because ponytails can be lazy hairstyles, it doesn’t mean they have to be.
There are tons of ways to take your ponytail from the gym to a night out on the town. Don’t believe us? We’ve rounded up eight of our favorite ways to wear a ponytail that are anything but lazy.
Half French Braid Ponytail
To begin, brush all of your hair straight back and allow it to flow down your back. Craft a basic French braid, braiding until you reach the nape of your neck. Fasten the braid with a hair elastic.
French Twist Ponytail
If you didn’t think ponytails could look elegant, think again. This style elevates a basic low ponytail thanks to the elegance of a French twist. To achieve this look, you’ll need a curling iron, a brush, and several bobby pins. Start at the back of your head, working with 2-inch sections of clean, dry hair. Spray each one with a heat protectant before wrapping it around the curling wand.
Once you’ve finished your entire head, rake your fingers through the hair to loosen up your curls. Part your hair to the right or left and clip off two small sections of hair on either side of the part. Take one section of hair and pin it to the middle of the back of your head. Then, take the other section of hair, bring it to meet the pinned section in the middle and twist the hair over itself before securing it with several bobby pins. Allow your curls to hang down your back to mimic the look of a low ponytail.
Half French Braid Ponytail
To begin, brush all of your hair straight back and allow it to flow down your back. Craft a basic French braid, braiding until you reach the nape of your neck. Fasten the braid with a hair elastic.
Grunge Ponytail
This ponytail is all about texture. To achieve this perfect combination of texture, grunge, and glamour, you’ll need to enlist the help of a crimper.
Gather all of your hair at the crown of your head and secure it into a ponytail with a hair elastic. Then, backcomb your ponytail to create a voluminous look. Set your hair with a medium hold hair spray.
Inverted Fishtail Ponytail
To begin, brush all of your hair straight back and divide your hair into two equal ponytails. To create the inverted fishtail effect, take a half-inch section of hair from the outside of left ponytail and cross it under the right ponytail. Repeat the same steps on the opposite side.
Continue alternating sections of the hair until you reach the end of the braid, securing it with an elastic. For a final touch, pancake the braid for a voluminous effect.
Twisted Low Pony
This ponytail looks complicated to pull off, but it’s actually quite simple. Starting a few inches above the nape, begin to twist your hair towards the nape of your next. Grab more sections as you twist your strands until you’ve used all of your hair. Once the twist reaches the nape of your next, twist it to the left or the right and secure the style with a hair elastic.
Party Ponytail
Section off the hair at your crown and flip it over so that it hangs in front of your face. Then, lightly spray the section of hair with a medium hold hairspray and backcomb to create volume at your roots. Flip the section back over and gently comb the top, then use a hair elastic to secure your ponytail.
Working with 1-inch sections of your ponytail, spray each one with a heat protectant before wrapping it around a curling wand. Gently backcomb the base of your ponytail for extra volume and rake your fingers through your hair to loosen up the curls. For an elegant finish, take a small section of hair from the base of your ponytail, wrapping it around your elastic and securing it with a bobby pin.
Pompadour Braided Ponytail
Make a part on the left or right side of your head. Then, grab three segments of hair (beginning at the hairline of the smaller section) and create a basic French braid or cornrow. Craft another braid on the opposite style. Style the remaining hair in a voluminous pompadour to contrast the braided side of the ‘do.
Using a hair elastic, secure the hair hanging down your back into a ponytail. Work with small sections of your ponytail, spraying each one with a heat protectant before wrapping around a 1-inch curling iron.
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