Hi, I’m Lena — a professional hairstylist with over 10 years in busy salon floors. In this post I showcase 24 ponytail hairstyles for women, from sleek editorial highs to relaxed, face-framing lows and textured messy looks. These ponytails suit a wide range of hair types and lengths: long and thick hair can carry bold, voluminous styles; medium lengths work beautifully with wrapped or low-slung ponies; fine hair benefits from texturizing and root lift, and curly hair looks stunning when you embrace texture. I’ll share practical styling tips I use in-salon — how to prep for volume, which tools and products protect and hold without damage, and quick tricks for turning a daytime pony into an evening-ready statement. Use the 24-image gallery as a visual guide to find the ponytail that matches your face shape, lifestyle, and the time you have to style.
Voluminous Textured High Ponytail with Loose Romantic Waves
This glamorous high ponytail suits medium-to-long lengths and works best on medium-thick to thick hair; fine hair benefits from clip-in extensions and root-lifting products to achieve the same volume. Start on towel-dried hair: apply a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse or root-lift spray, then blow-dry with a round brush to build lift at the crown. Create loose, uniform waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling wand, curling away from the face and leaving the ends slightly softer for a lived-in look. Lightly backcomb the crown for height, gather hair into a high ponytail, and secure with a strong elastic; wrap a small section of hair around the base to hide the band and pin it underneath. Finish with a flexible texturizing spray to separate waves and a light-hold hairspray for long-lasting shape. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, curling wand, teasing comb, paddle brush, elastics, bobby pins. Difficulty: intermediate — achievable at home in 25–40 minutes. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo and a quick re-curl of a few pieces, sleep on a silk pillow or loosely braid to protect waves, and trim ends every 8–12 weeks to maintain bounce.
Messy Textured High Ponytail with Beachy Waves
A salon-friendly, messy textured high ponytail that reads modern and relaxed—ideal for medium to long hair. Best suited to naturally wavy or straight hair; fine hair benefits from volumizing mousse and root teasing, while thick or curly hair works well with sectioned drying and stronger hold products. Technique: work on freshly washed, towel-dried hair; apply heat protectant and a volumizing mousse or sea-salt spray. Rough-dry with a round brush or diffuser to boost lift, then use a 1
Textured Messy Ponytail with Face‑Framing Layers
A relaxed, textured messy ponytail with soft face‑framing pieces — ideal for medium to long hair and versatile across fine, medium and thick textures (thicker hair may benefit from slight thinning). From salon experience: start on second‑day hair or spray roots with dry shampoo, apply heat protectant and a lightweight texturizing mousse. Rough‑dry while lifting at the crown, then create loose waves with a 25–32 mm curling wand working away from the face. Lightly tease the crown for lift, gather hair into a mid‑to‑high ponytail leaving two to four front strands free, secure with an elastic and wrap a small section of hair around it, pin underneath. Tug at sections and pull small pieces out around the crown to soften the look. Tools: blow dryer, round brush (optional), curling wand, teasing comb, elastics and bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, salt or texturizing spray, dry shampoo, smoothing serum for ends and a flexible hold hairspray. Difficulty: Easy–Medium (about 10–20 minutes). Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo or salt spray, retwist loose pieces with the wand as needed, and trim face‑framing layers every 8–10 weeks.
Textured Voluminous High Ponytail with Soft Waves
This voluminous, textured high ponytail with soft waves suits medium to long lengths and works best on fine to medium-thick hair with light layers. Straight or wavy hair holds the shape well; very thick hair benefits from light thinning and finer hair will need root lift for comparable volume. Styling technique: blow-dry with a round brush and root-lifting mousse, then backcomb the crown lightly for height. Gather hair into a mid-high ponytail, secure with a strong elastic and wrap a small section around the band; pin. Create loose waves through the lengths with a 1-1.25 curling wand, alternating directions for movement, then gently tousle and separate with fingers. Tools needed: blow dryer, 1-1.25 curling wand, round brush, tail comb, elastics and bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, root-lift mousse or spray, texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray and a smoothing serum for ends. Difficulty: easy-intermediate; 15–25 minutes in-salon or at home. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo and texture spray on day two, re-tighten the elastic if needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and deep-condition weekly to keep ends healthy.
High Voluminous Wrapped Ponytail with Loose Beachy Waves
This high, wrapped ponytail with soft, loose waves suits medium to long hair and reads especially well on medium to thick textures; fine hair can achieve the same lift with a volumizing powder or lightweight clip-in extensions. Start on clean, towel-dried hair: apply a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse at the roots. Blow-dry with a round brush or diffuser while lifting the crown, then backcomb a small section at the crown for extra height. Smooth the top layer, gather hair into a high ponytail and secure with a strong elastic. Wrap a 1–2 inch strand around the base and pin it underneath to conceal the band. Create waves with a 1–1.25 curling wand, alternating directions and leaving ends slightly straighter for a lived-in finish. Tools: tail comb, round brush, curling wand, elastics, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, root-lift mousse or powder, texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray and a small smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty: medium — salon result in 20–30 minutes. Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo, retouch waves with a curling wand as needed, sleep on silk and re-secure the ponytail to avoid breakage.
Textured Voluminous High Ponytail with Loose Waves
Suitability: Ideal for medium to thick, straight-to-wavy hair and long lengths; fine hair benefits from padding or clip-in extensions, while very curly hair can be smoothed first or worn more textured. Styling technique: Start with a volumizing blowout or rough-dry using a round brush to lift the roots. Apply heat protectant, then curl mid-lengths and ends with a 1–1.25 curling wand for loose S-shaped waves. Tease lightly at the crown for lift, gather hair into a high ponytail, secure with a strong elastic, and wrap a small section of hair around the band to conceal it. Pull out soft face-framing tendrils and loosen waves with fingers for a tousled finish. Tools needed: blow dryer with nozzle, round brush, 1–1.25 curling wand, teasing comb, sectioning clips, strong elastics, bobby pins. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root lift, texturizing/salt spray, dry shampoo for grip, flexible-hold hairspray, lightweight shine serum. Difficulty level: Moderate — salon-level results at home with practice (20–35 minutes). Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and texturizer, retouch curls selectively, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loose braid, and re-smooth or re-secure the ponytail as needed to maintain volume.
Textured High Ponytail with Face‑Framing Curtain Bangs
This modern textured high ponytail with piecey curtain bangs suits medium to thick hair best and can be adapted for fine hair with volumizing products or lightweight extensions. Start on towel-dried hair: apply a root-lifting mousse and heat protectant. Blow-dry the bangs forward with a small round brush to create soft, separated curtain pieces; dry the rest smooth, then lightly backcomb the crown for lift. Gather hair into a high ponytail and secure with a strong elastic, wrapping a small section of hair around the base and pinning to hide the band. For movement, run a 1 curling wand through random mid-lengths and ends, then tousle with fingers for texture. Tools needed: blow dryer with nozzle, small round brush, tail comb, 1 curling wand, elastics, bobby pins and sectioning clips. Products required: heat protectant, root-lift mousse, texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray and dry shampoo. Difficulty level: easy–intermediate. Maintenance tips: trim bangs every 4–6 weeks, refresh volume with dry shampoo between washes, touch up curls as needed, and deep-condition weekly to protect ends.
Textured High Ponytail with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This modern high ponytail suits medium to long hair and adapts easily to straight, wavy, and relaxed-curly textures. For fine hair, build lift with volumizing products and gentle backcombing at the crown; for thicker hair, smooth the roots and add a texturizing spray to create separation. Start on towel-dried hair with a heat protectant and a root-lifting mousse, then blow-dry with a round brush to smooth the top and build lift. Lightly tease the crown where you want volume, gather hair high on the head and secure with a strong elastic. Take a small section to wrap around the band and pin underneath for a polished finish. Pull out two to four soft face-framing tendrils and shape them with a curling or flat iron for movement; finish with a texturizing spray for piecey texture and a light-hold hairspray to set. Tools: round brush, blow dryer, teasing comb, tail comb, elastics, bobby pins, curling or flat iron. Products: heat protectant, root-lift mousse, smoothing serum, texturizing/dry shampoo, light-hold hairspray. Difficulty: easy–moderate (15–30 minutes). Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo between washes, sleep on a silk pillowcase, avoid heavy oils at the roots, and retouch tendrils with a little water or styling balm as needed.
Textured Mid‑High Ponytail with Soft Volume for Long Hair
This textured mid‑high ponytail suits straight to wavy hair and works well on fine‑to‑medium or thicker long hair — fine hair will benefit from texturizing for grip, while very curly hair may need light smoothing first. Technique: blow‑dry smooth with a round brush or flat iron to tame frizz, lightly backcomb at the crown for lift, then gather hair into a mid‑to‑high pony and secure with an elastic. Take a small section to wrap around the band and pin underneath, then pull out a few face‑framing pieces and loosen the crown for a relaxed finish. For more movement, create large, soft waves with a curling wand and break them up with your fingers. Tools needed: paddle brush, tail comb, blow dryer and round brush, elastic and bobby pins, flat iron or large‑barrel curling wand. Products required: heat protectant, root‑lifting mousse or spray, sea‑salt/texturizing spray, lightweight hairspray and a smoothing serum for flyaways. Difficulty: easy–moderate (3–5/10). Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo and texturizer between washes, avoid overly tight elastics to prevent breakage, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and trim ends every 8–12 weeks.
Voluminous Textured Side Braid-Bun with Face-Framing Layers
Soft, voluminous side braid-bun that suits medium to thick hair and works best on shoulder-length to long lengths. For fine hair, add extensions or use volumizing products. Start on towel-dried hair with a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse; blow-dry with a round brush to create lift at the crown. Optionally use a 1 curling wand to add loose bends for texture. Lightly backcomb the crown for height, gather hair to one side and create a pull-through or loose three-strand braid, securing each section with small elastics. Gently pancake the braid and pull pieces at the crown to create fullness, then tuck the braid end into a low messy bun and pin with U-pins and bobby pins. Finish with a texturizing spray and flexible-hold hairspray, and smooth flyaways with a pea-sized serum. Tools: blow-dryer, round brush, 1 curling wand, tail comb, elastics, bobby/U-pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing spray, flexible-hold hairspray, light serum. Difficulty: intermediate — requires basic braiding and pinning skills. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, re-pancake as needed, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap, and deep-condition weekly to maintain shine.
Textured High Ponytail with Face‑Framing Layers
Suitable for medium to long hair, the textured high ponytail with face‑framing layers is ideal for fine to medium densities and works well on thick hair when thinned. Start on clean, towel‑dried hair: apply a volumizing mousse at roots and a heat protectant through lengths. Blow‑dry using a round brush for lift, then create loose waves with a 1–1.25 curling wand, alternating direction for texture. Tease lightly at the crown with a teasing comb to achieve height, gather hair into a mid‑to‑high ponytail and secure with a snag‑free elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the band and pin underneath with a bobby pin; pull out two soft face‑framing pieces and loosen the crown for a lived‑in finish. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, 1–1.25 curling wand, teasing comb, elastic bands, bobby pins. Products required: volumizing mousse or root lift, heat protectant, texturizing/salt spray, light‑hold hairspray and a touch of shine serum. Difficulty level: Easy–Intermediate; allow 20–30 minutes. Maintenance tips: refresh with dry shampoo and a mist of texturizer, sleep on a silk pillowcase or braid loosely to preserve waves, and re‑curl ends the next day for bounce.
Sleek High Ponytail with Voluminous Soft Waves
Suitable for medium to long hair with straight to naturally wavy textures; works best on medium-to-thick density to hold volume. To create: start with clean, towel-dried hair and apply a heat protectant and a lightweight smoothing serum. Blow-dry the roots sleek with a round brush for lift at the crown. Gather hair into a high pony at the crown, secure with a strong elastic, then wrap a small section of hair around the base and pin to conceal the band. Divide the ponytail into 1–1.5-inch sections and curl away from the face with a 1–1.25-inch curling iron, holding briefly; brush out gently to form soft, flowing waves. Finish with a medium-hold hairspray and a light shine mist for polish. Tools needed: blow dryer, round brush, 1–1.25 curling iron, elastic, bobby pins, sectioning clips and paddle brush. Products: heat protectant, smoothing serum or cream, texturizing spray for grip, medium-hold hairspray and shine spray. Difficulty: intermediate — requires clean smoothing and consistent curl timing. Maintenance: refresh waves with low-heat touch-ups, use dry shampoo to rebuild volume, sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely braid, and trim ends every 8–12 weeks to keep the ponytail looking healthy.
Voluminous High Curly Ponytail with Lifted Crown
This voluminous high ponytail with soft face-framing pieces and cascading loose curls creates a polished, lifted look that flatters most face shapes. Hair type suitability: ideal for medium to long lengths and works well on straight, wavy, or loose-curly hair; fine hair benefits from volumizing mousse or clip-in extensions, while very tight coils may require smoothing before styling. Styling technique: apply heat protectant and a lightweight volumizing mousse to damp hair, blow-dry with a round brush for lift at the crown, backcomb the roots lightly, then smooth the top section. Gather hair into a high pony and secure with a strong elastic, leaving a few face-framing strands. Wrap small sections around a 1-1.25-inch curling wand to form soft spirals; conceal the elastic with a wrapped strand and pin. Tools needed: round brush, teasing comb, 1-1.25-inch curling wand, strong elastics, bobby pins, blow dryer. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or powder, texturizing spray, medium-hold hairspray, dry shampoo. Difficulty level: intermediate — some teasing and curling skill needed. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely braid, refresh with dry shampoo and a quick re-curl or diffuser touch-up, and avoid overwashing to preserve lift and texture.
Textured High Ponytail with Soft Face‑Framing Tendrils
A versatile salon-ready high ponytail tailored for medium to thick hair and for straight or naturally wavy textures; fine hair will benefit from light teasing or clip-in extensions for the same fullness. Start on clean, towel-dried hair: apply a root-lifting mousse and heat protectant, then blow-dry with a round brush to build volume at the crown. Backcomb the roots lightly where you want lift, smooth the surface with a paddle brush, and gather hair into a high pony using a strong elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the base to hide the band and secure with a bobby pin. Create loose waves through the mid-lengths and ends with a 1
Sleek High Ponytail with Wrapped Base for Long Hair
This sleek high ponytail with a wrapped base is a polished, salon-friendly look best suited to medium–long lengths. It works particularly well on straight to slightly wavy hair and medium-to-thick textures; fine hair benefits from a volumizing root spray or clip-in pieces for fullness, while curly hair can be smoothed with heat or worn textured for a softer finish. Technique: work on dry, detangled hair. Apply heat protectant and a small amount of smoothing serum. Gather hair into a high pony at the crown using a boar-bristle brush to smooth sides, secure with a snag-free elastic, then wrap a 1–2 inch section of hair around the base and pin underneath. Backcomb lightly at the crown for lift if desired and finish by smoothing flyaways. Tools needed: boar-bristle brush, fine-tooth comb, elastic, bobby pins, flat or curling iron. Products required: heat protectant, smoothing serum/cream, light-hold hairspray, dry shampoo for refresh. Difficulty: easy–medium, 8–15 minutes. Maintenance tips: sleep on silk, refresh roots with dry shampoo, retuck the wrap and swap elastics regularly to reduce breakage.
Textured High Ponytail with Loose Waves and Face‑Framing Pieces
This modern, textured high ponytail suits medium to long hair and works well on straight, wavy, or naturally curly textures. For fine hair, add volumizing mousse and backcombing at the crown; for thick hair, use a strong elastic and extra pins to secure weight. Start with a heat protectant on dry hair, then create 1–1.5 inch loose waves with a 1–1.25 inch curling wand, alternating curl directions for natural movement. Lightly tease the crown with a tail comb to build lift, gather hair high at the crown and secure with an elastic. Wrap a small length of hair around the elastic to conceal it and pin underneath. Pull out a few face‑framing strands and loosen the ponytail with fingers for softness. Tools: curling wand, tail comb, paddle brush, elastic, bobby pins, and a fine‑tooth comb. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or spray, sea salt or texturizing spray, and medium‑hold hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate — 20–30 minutes. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, re‑curl dropped pieces, sleep on a silk pillow or use a loose scrunchie, and touch up texturizer as needed to preserve shape.
Textured Mid-High Ponytail with Face‑Framing Tendrils
This textured mid-high ponytail with soft face-framing tendrils suits medium-to-long hair and works especially well on wavy or layered hair. Fine hair benefits from volumizing products and light backcombing for lift; very thick hair may require smaller sections or thinning for manageability. Technique: apply heat protectant and a volumizing mousse to damp hair, blow-dry with a round brush focusing on root lift, then add loose waves with a 1–1.25 curling wand. Leave two face-framing pieces out, gather the remaining hair into a mid-high ponytail, secure with a strong elastic and wrap a small section of hair around the base to conceal the band. Lightly tease the crown for added volume and pull textured pieces loose for a lived-in finish. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, curling wand, tail comb, elastics and bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or root spray, texturizing spray or dry shampoo, light-hold hairspray and a smoothing serum for ends. Difficulty: moderate — requires basic sectioning and heat work. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo or salt spray, re-curl stray pieces, sleep on a silk pillowcase and deep-condition weekly to keep ends healthy.
Textured Voluminous High Ponytail with Wrapped Base and Face‑Framing Waves
This voluminous textured high ponytail works best on medium to long hair and suits fine to medium-thick textures; thin hair benefits from clip-in extensions while layered cuts add movement. Start on towel-dried hair with a heat protectant. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25-inch curling wand, alternating directions for natural texture. Lightly tease the crown with a teasing brush and gather hair into a mid-to-high pony, securing with a strong elastic. Pull a small section through to wrap around the base and pin discreetly. Leave a few face-framing strands and gently loosen the top for a lived-in finish. Tools: curling wand, blow dryer and round brush, teasing brush or fine-tooth comb, elastics, bobby pins, sectioning clips. Products: heat protectant, lightweight mousse or root volumizer, texturizing or sea-salt spray, flexible-hold hairspray, dry shampoo for refreshes. Difficulty level: Moderate — expect 20–30 minutes depending on length and texture. Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase, refresh with dry shampoo and quick re-curls, avoid heavy oils at the roots, and trim ends every 8–12 weeks to prevent frizz.
Textured Tousled Ponytail with Curtain Bangs
This lived-in, textured ponytail with soft curtain bangs suits medium to thick hair and straight-to-wavy textures best. Fine hair can wear the look with volumizing products or clip-in pieces for fullness; very curly hair benefits from a quick blowout to loosen coils. Start on clean, towel-dried hair: apply heat protectant and a sea-salt or texturizing spray, then rough-dry with your fingers or a diffuser to build body. Create loose waves with a 1–1.25″ curling wand on random sections for movement. Lightly backcomb the crown for lift, gather hair into a mid–high ponytail, and secure with an elastic; pull out face-framing pieces and gently pancake the ponytail to amplify texture. Tools: blow dryer with diffuser, 1–1.25″ curling wand, teasing brush or comb, elastic, bobby pins, and a wide-tooth comb. Products: heat protectant, texturizing/sea-salt spray, root-lift powder or dry shampoo, light-hold flexible hairspray and a small amount of matte paste or shine serum on ends. Difficulty: moderate. Maintenance: trim bangs every 6–8 weeks, refresh texture between washes with dry shampoo or texturizer, and sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely braid to preserve waves.
High Wavy Ponytail with Blunt Fringe (Voluminous Textured Style)
Ideal for medium to thick long hair and flattering on natural wavy, curly or straight textures (fine hair can use clip-in extensions for extra body). Begin on clean, towel-dried hair: apply heat protectant and a volumizing mousse or root lifter, then blow-dry smoothing the fringe with a round brush and flat iron for a polished finish. Create a high ponytail at the crown, gently backcomb the base for lift and secure with a strong elastic. Take a small section, wrap it around the elastic and pin under to hide hardware. Use a 1–1.25” curling iron or wand to add loose, alternating-direction waves through the ponytail; finger-comb for softer movement and finish with a light texturizing spray and flexible-hold hairspray for hold without crunch. Tools: blow dryer, round brush, tail/fine-tooth comb, flat iron (for bangs), 1–1.25” curling iron, elastics, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse/root lift, smoothing cream for bangs, texturizing spray, flexible-hold hairspray. Difficulty: Moderate — salon results at home with practice. Maintenance: refresh with sea-salt spray or a low-heat wand, rewrap the elastic if loosened, sleep on silk, and trim bangs every 4–6 weeks.
High Voluminous Wavy Ponytail with Face-Framing Tendrils
Suitable for medium to long hair and best on medium-to-thick textures, this elevated ponytail can be adapted for fine hair using clip-in extensions or targeted root volumizers. Start on clean, towel-dried hair: apply a heat protectant and a volumizing mousse at the roots. Blow-dry with a round brush, lifting the crown and smoothing the top. Create volume by backcombing the crown lightly, then gather hair into a high ponytail and secure with a strong elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic and pin underneath to conceal. Work through the lengths in 1–2 inch sections with a 1 to 1.5-inch curling iron or wand to create loose waves; brush gently with fingers or a wide paddle to soften. Tools needed: blow-dryer, round brush, tail comb, curling iron/wand, section clips, bobby pins, elastic. Products required: heat protectant, volumizing mousse or spray, texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray, and a small amount of shine serum for ends. Difficulty: intermediate — requires sectioning and curling. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo at the roots, re-curl a few face-framing pieces on low heat, sleep on a silk pillowcase, and deep-condition weekly to keep ends healthy.
Voluminous High Ponytail with Loose Waves
Salon-ready high ponytail with soft, loose waves — ideal for medium to long hair with medium-to-thick density. Works best on naturally straight or wavy hair; fine hair benefits from volumizing products or clip-in pieces. Start on clean, towel-dried hair: apply a root-lifting mousse and heat protectant, blow-dry using a round brush lifting at the crown for volume. Section hair, create a high pony at desired height, secure with a strong elastic and tease the base slightly for lift. Wrap 1 to 1¼ sections around a curling iron or wand, alternating direction for natural movement; pin curls to cool for longer hold. Release and soften waves with fingers and a light-texture spray. Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic and secure with a bobby pin for a polished finish. Tools: blow-dryer with concentrator, round brush, tail comb, 1–1¼ curling iron/wand, elastics, bobby pins, clips. Products: volumizing mousse/root lift, heat protectant, texture spray or dry shampoo, lightweight shine serum, flexible-hold hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo, re-curl face-framing pieces, sleep on silk and avoid heavy oils to keep bounce.
Textured Mid-Height Ponytail with Soft Face‑Framing Layers
This textured mid-height ponytail suits shoulder-length to long hair and works best on straight to naturally wavy or slightly thick hair; fine hair can achieve the same look with added lift, while very curly hair can be smoothed or worn textured for a more lived-in effect. To style: start on dry or second‑day hair, apply root‑lift spray or volumizing mousse, blow-dry with a round brush for lift at the crown, then backcomb lightly at the roots for added volume. Gather hair into a mid-height ponytail, secure with an elastic, and wrap a thin section of hair around the band, pinning underneath. Loosen the crown and pull out soft face‑framing pieces; finish by curling the ponytail ends with a 1
Voluminous Twisted Rope Braid with Soft Face‑Framing Tendrils
An elegant, voluminous twisted rope braid with soft face‑framing tendrils suited for medium to long hair. Best on straight to wavy textures; fine hair benefits from mousse and root teasing for body, while thick or curly hair may need smoothing blow-dry before braiding. Start on dry, prepped hair: apply heat protectant and volumizing mousse, blow-dry with a round brush. Create a loose French twist at the crown, then transition into a two-strand rope or pull-through braid down the back, securing with small elastics. Pancake the braid by gently pulling at the loops for fullness and loosen a few tendrils around the face; curl them with a 1 wand for softness. Tools: tail comb, sectioning clips, elastic bands, 1 curling iron/wand, bobby pins. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse, texturizing spray or dry shampoo, flexible-hold hairspray, lightweight shine serum. Difficulty: intermediate (20–35 minutes). Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo, re-curl loose tendrils as needed, and sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely tie with a silk scarf to preserve shape. Conceal elastics with a wrapped ribbon for a polished finish.
Ponytails are one of the most versatile, time-saving styles you can master. My professional advice: always prep hair—refresh with dry shampoo if needed, use a heat protectant for hot tools, and add a texturizing spray for grip on fine hair. Swap thin rubber bands for silk-covered elastics or spirals to reduce breakage, and anchor styles with bobby pins hidden under a wrapped section for long wear. Rotate ponytail placement to avoid tension marks and schedule regular trims plus weekly deep-conditioning if you heat-style often. Practice a few favorites from the 24 images—once you can do a sleek high pony, a wrapped low pony, and a textured messy ponytail, you’ll have looks for work, workouts, and nights out. If you’d like a customized plan for your hair type or a step-by-step tutorial, book a consultation at my salon—I’m happy to help you build a ponytail routine that’s both healthy and stylish. —Lena