Ponytail Styles: Five Awesome Styles

I’m a major fan of ponytail styles: They are easy to wear and require little prep time. However, wearing the same old ponytail can be, well, boring. So here’s a look at five upgraded ways to wear a ponytail that’ll keep things interesting this summer.

When you buy via links on this page, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

My fav five ponytail styles

1. The wrap around

Remember this old favorite? All you need is a few bobby pins and a hair elastic. Here’s how you create it:

• Smooth your hair back to a medium height ponytail using a bit of hairspray or light gel to curb your flyaways.
• Then grab a small portion of your pony tail from the bottom.
• Wrap that section around the base numerous times, pinning as you go.
• You’ll only need three or four bobby pins for a firm hold. Pin a couple partway through your wrap and then two more to hold down the ends.
• You may need to smooth the wrapped section to cover the pins.

2. Add a headband

Adding a ribbon or headband around your head is the simplest way to dress up a ponytail. The great thing about this styling technique is that you can pull your hair back into a high, medium, or a low ponytail and still have room for a pretty headband. If you use a ribbon, just be sure to secure it with a few bobby pins so that it holds throughout the day. For added interest, part your hair on the side.

3. Pile it on

Who said ponytails can’t be glamorous? For this look, put your ponytail as high as you possibly can on your head but don’t pull it all the way through at the end. At this point, you should have hair that looks like a loop at the top of your head. Take a piece of the loop and pin it down and repeat all over in no particular order. This helps to create a whimsical messy bun that you can wear to work or out with friends.

4. Add braids

Part your hair anywhere, then grab a chunk and braid it. Pull the whole thing back into a ponytail. The addition of the braid adds a touch of sophistication. You can use a French braid or a simple braid for this technique. You don’t even need a small hair elastic to tie the braid off at the end. Simply tuck it in with the rest of your hair when you finally pull it back to make your ponytail.

5. Rope braid

A rope braid is different from most braids in that you only need to separate your hair into two sections instead of three. To achieve this look:

• Pull your hair into a high ponytail, adding hairspray or gel as needed to get a smooth look.
• Then, separate your hair into two sections.
• Twist both sections clockwise separately until you are about halfway down.
• Then, twist the two sections with each other counter-clockwise until you reach the bottom of your hair. It sounds complicated, but all you do is twist your hair in opposite directions from each other to achieve this look.