Ponytail Hairstyles

Who Can Wear Ponytail Hairstyles

In reality, anyone with enough hair for extensions can wear ponytails. They're ideal for those who like long hair but don't always want to style it enough to leave it down. They're perfect for a girl on the go as long as she doesn't need extensions (those take a bit longer!).

Straight, wavy, and curly hair all look fantastic in ponytail hairstyles. Do you have a unique hair color pattern that includes different colors on the top and bottom? Show it off with a ponytail. There's no need to hide that bottom color.

The main beauty of a ponytail hairstyle is its versatility. Though we're sure you'll love the looks included here, you can even easily take a ponytail one more step and make a bun, a topknot, or a braid.

High Ponytail Styles

High ponytail hairstyles aren't just for the gym. They can be dressed up just like low or side ponies for a glamorous look.

For a casual look, brush all hair up to the crown of the head, leaving the bangs or any pieces you would like to frame the face free. It may help to turn your head upside-down to get the hair as high as you'd like. Brush it smooth and secure with a ponytail holder. Style your bangs or face-framing fringe as you wish.

You can mix funky with red carpet, as Halle Berry's spunky ponytail here proves. Just take a ponytail holder that matches your hair color or, if your hair is very long, leave a one-inch section free and wrap that around the base of your pony, then pin into place.

Her bangs are very carefree here, yet they manage to dress up the pony by drawing attention to her eyes. This style would look just as sexy at school, at the mall, or anywhere else. The key to keep it looking more dressed up than gym-ready is to make sure there's hair framing her face.

Low Ponytail Styles

Low ponytails can be dressed up for formal events. You can add a "pouf" to the crown to make them retro, sweep your bangs to the side in front to dress them up a bit, or flip them through their own bases to add just a little bit of interest to an otherwise boring ponytail.

How to Make the Pouf

Since the pouf is a great way to add pizazz to not just half up, half down 'dos, everyone should know how to make them to add oomph to their ponytails, too! You can make them any size you like by adjusting how much hair you include and how much you tease it. Check out Pursebuzz.com's Hairspray the Movie Hairstyle tutorial. She ends by putting her hair into pigtails, but this type of pouf will work with low or high ponytails, or even a French twist.

Flipping the Tail through the Base

To flip your ponytail through the base and achieve an elegant "rolled" look, start with a ponytail at the nape of the neck. It should be relatively loose.

With both hands, divide the hair in half right above the ponytail holder. Use one hand to hold them apart while the other hand brings the end of the ponytail up to the front of the division.

With the hand that was holding the base of the ponytail apart, pull the tail through the opening. Below the ponytail holder, divide the tail (which is now hanging vertically) into two pieces and tug them apart to tighten. Voila!

Side Ponytail: 80's Flashback with Class

The side ponytail hairstyle is making a comeback. It's not the same as the high side pony that was popular in the 1980s. It's lower, off-center from the nape of the neck, and it gives you a soft, romantic look.

Hairstylist Johnny Lavoy of Ford Models on YouTube has a fantastic tutorial on how to take short to medium hair and turn it into a long, gorgeous side ponytail with the use of extensions. Don’t worry, though; it's easy to do!

It's casual enough for day, but it's also sexy enough to wear with, as Johnny says, that little black dress you have.

Accessorize

You can dress a ponytail hairstyle up even more — or just add a fun, flirty pop of color — by adding hair accessories. Try a thick or thin headband, dazzling bobby pins with rhinestones, or a scarf tied around your head or around the base of the ponytail. It's a great way to tie your hairstyle to your outfit.