Level Up Your Look With This Year’s Top 25 Ponytail Hairstyles

If there were a popularity contest for hairstyles, ponytails would be the obvious winner. Ponytail hairstyles are a classic for a few reasons: They’re convenient (ever show up to spin class without a hair tie?), easy to create, and incredibly pretty. Plus, you can wear a ponytail without having to repeat the same hairstyle over and over. You can customize a variety of stylish ponytails any way you want. From a slick back ponytail to a curly ponytail, the options are endless.

Ponytails aren’t just for long hair, either. If you have medium-length or even a short hairstyle (think a lob), you can still get in on the action, especially when you’re using the right styling products. Another ponytail perk: You can wear them anywhere. Depending on how you style your ponytail, it can look as appropriate in a meeting or at a wedding as it does at the gym. (Braided ponytail styles, anyone?)

All you need for a cute ponytail hairstyle is a little inspiration (and, of course, the ideal hairstyling products for each one). Scroll through to see all the stylish ponytails you can try to take your ponytail game to the next level.

The Best Wavy Ponytails

Low Wavy Ponytail

This ponytail style is an especially pretty hairstyle for long hair since it gives you the length to show off soft, touchable waves. To get your waves this smooth, first prep damp hair with Sleek and Shine 10-in-1 Leave in Spray. Then use a comb to apply it evenly throughout your hair. Blow dry your hair. With a large-barreled curling iron, create big, loose waves from the mid-lengths through the ends of your hair. Next, gather your hair at the nape of your neck and secure it—and, for a romantic touch, tie a thick ribbon around it.

Wavy Ponytail

Calling all minimalists! As easy as it gets, this ponytail style is a classic for a reason. The pairing of smooth hair and loose waves can’t be topped, and it’s basically the hair equivalent of the athleisure trend. Prep damp hair first with Fructis Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk, which boosts shine and combats frizz. Then, blow dry your hair, using a round brush to add body and a slight curl at the ends. Pull your hair back and you’re all set.

The Best High Ponytails

High Ponytail
Starting your high ponytail with unwashed hair is best, but feel free to add a dry shampoo for texture. After brushing your hair to get out tangles, tease your hair at the crown and secure with elastic at the top of your head.

Twisted High Ponytail
For those lazy mornings, we present a cute ponytail hairstyle that takes little to no effort. Ponytail hairstyles are even easier to style if you’re working with second- or third-day hair, since unwashed hair has a little more texture and grip. First, gather your hair into a high ponytail. Divide it into two sections and twist each one, doing so in opposite directions. Then, wrap the two sections around one another and secure it at the end with a hair tie. Spray up and down the length of your ponytail with a hairspray like Fructis Flexible Control Anti-Humidity Hair Spray, which keeps it from unraveling but allows it to move throughout the day.

The Best Textured Ponytails

Easy Textured Ponytail
Your ponytail updo doesn’t have to be sleek to look polished. A texture-heavy ponytail, especially with delicate details like a feminine headband, looks just as good as a prom hairstyle as it does on a weeknight date. To get that natural, lived-in texture, start with dry hair (bonus points if it’s second- or third-day hair). Spray a generous amount of Mega Full Thickening Lotion onto hair and use your fingers to work it through your hair. Then, loosely gather your hair in a ponytail at the back of your head and secure it with a hair tie. Add a hair accessory, like a headband, for a romantic touch.

Waist Length Textured Ponytail
Go long for this look by using textured hair extensions. Follow the instructions on the textured ponytail extension for securing the ponytail in place and spritz with a finishing spray. If you happen to have naturally mega- long locks, you can skip the extensions and use a flat iron for extra length.

The Best Short Ponytails

Short Shaggy Ponytail
Don’t let short hair keep you from rocking the pony. Get back on the horse — er, pony with a little help from Volume Anti-Humidity Aerosol Hairspray. Pull back your layers into a full or half pony and spritz in place once you’ve got that perfectly tousled look.

Vintage Flipped Short Ponytail
Spray some Flat Iron Perfector heat protectant onto dry hair and pull it back into a ponytail. Then use a flat iron to straighten your hair while curling the last 2 inches in an up and outward direction. Add some stacked ponytail holders or a shiny clip to complete this super cute 90s throwback.

The Best Long Ponytails

Wrap-Around Ponytail

The secret to this ponytail updo is that it only looks complicated. (It’s not, we promise.) Even though it’s easy, it looks elegant enough for a special event or an important meeting. First, part your hair in the center. Separate two sections of hair at the front, each on either side of the part. Pull back the rest of your hair in the ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Then, take one of the sections and pull it back, wrapping it around the base of your ponytail. Secure it beneath your ponytail with a pin. Repeat on the other side. For extra oomph, create a puffy ponytail by lifting it up and backcombing the other side, which gives it unexpected volume. Keep it all in place (and that volume intact) with a generous spritz of Fructis Volume Anti-Humidity Hairspray.

Curly Ponytail

Not surprisingly, the secret to the curly ponytail is curls. Prep your curls with Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment product and secure into a high or low pony.

Low Curly Ponytail

This easy-to-create but unforgettable ponytail style can be achieved by pulling your hair into a pony towards the back of your head, securing with elastic, and creating a few face-framing baby hair wisps.

The Best Braided Ponytails

Braided Side Ponytail

If side ponytails make you think of the 80s, keep reading—because this is not that. Today’s side ponytails are subtler, more elegant, and easier to pull off wherever, whenever. The positioning of this—only slightly off to the side and at ear-level—is both flattering and modern. Start by spraying dry hair with Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray, which will keep frizz at bay (and from ruining the sleek look). Part your hair on one side and then pull it back in the direction of the side opposite the part. (It should be at one side, but still at the back of your head and level with your ears.) Secure it with a hair tie. Then, braid your hair in a simple plait and secure the end. Finish with a few more sprays of hairspray. Side ponytail hairstyles couldn’t be easier.

Mini Braided Pony

Loads of texture and tiny details, like a small braid, make this ponytail so pretty that you could wear it as a wedding hairstyle. Plus, since the braid is tucked into the ponytail, it makes for a cute hairstyle for short hair, too. Try it with second or third-day hair, since this will give your hair a little more grip and built-in texture, both of which will boost this style. If you’re a curly ponytail girl, start with a generous spritz of Fructis Curl Renew Reactivating Milk Spray all over, using your fingers to distribute it through and scrunch it into your hair. For naturally straighter hair, try starting with a dry shampoo or texture spray. Take a section at the front of your hair and braid it. Then, gather your hair, including the braid, in a ponytail at the back of your head. Lift your ponytail and use a comb to backcomb it, which adds volume to create a puffy ponytail. Finally, keep your hair in place with Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray. Who said braided ponytail styles had to be hard?

French Braid Ponytail

Pair two of the best hair styles ever when you combine a French braid with the classic pony. Start by creating a French braid and then add a low pony. And a scarf if you’re feeling it, and voila, a chic look you can wear anywhere.

The Best Sleek Ponytails

Sleek High Ponytail

High ponytail hairstyles like this might be your go-to workout staple, but with a few tweaks—super-smooth, shiny hair, for one—it becomes a style you can wear to brunch or after barre class, too. Spray Sleek and Shine Flat Iron Perfector through the lengths of damp hair. Then, blow dry it with a round brush, making sure that the ends of your hair don’t bend under, and use a flatiron to straighten your hair. Lastly, pull it back at the very crown of your head and secure it with a hair tie.

Slick Back Ponytail

The key to the slick back ponytail is getting your locks right and tight against the crown of your head before you secure your elastic. Start off by getting glass-like shine and ten times smoother texture in just ten seconds with Garnier’s Sleek and Shine Glass Hair Water.

Snatched Middle Parted Ponytail

For this look you’ll want to part your hair down the middle and brush each side in and up and out. Then tie your hair into a mid to high position. The middle part adds a touch of glamour and the sleek and snatched look is an unexpected take on the ponytail for parties and special occasions.

The Best Bubble Ponytails

Bubble Half-Up Half-Down Ponytail
This bubble half-up half-down pony is giving major mermaid meets Gossip Girl vibes. The idea is to use elastic at multiple points in the half pony and pull the hair up through it to make bubbles. If you need to consult a YouTube tutorial for the details we totally understand, just make sure you’ve got enough Curl Refresher Spray for when you’re ready to refresh those cascading waves on the remaining hair.

The Best Unexpected Ponytail Styles

Full Ponytail for Thin Hair

Thin or fine hair? Don’t despair. There’s a ponytail hack for you. First you’ll want to create some serious volume with Garnier’s Sky-High Volume Mousse. Apply the mousse to damp hair and blow dry, lifting at the root. Then, create a ponytail on the top part of your head and secure with elastic. Next, split the bottom part of your hair into two, bring it up across the first ponytail and secure it with an elastic on top of that first ponytail. The result will look as if you have one thick, voluminous full ponytail. You’re welcome.