17 Chic Ponytail Hairstyles That Are Easy to Do

A ponytail is the fastest way to get hair off your face, but small choices change the result completely. Height, texture, what hides the elastic and how tight you pull all decide whether it looks like a gym tie or a finished style.

These 17 ponytail hairstyles run from five-minute sleek ponies to braided and bubble versions for events. You’ll find the hair type and length behind every style, the steps, a realistic time, and the fix for whatever usually goes wrong with it.

How to Choose and Build a Ponytail That Lasts

Pick the height first

A high ponytail sits at the crown, roughly where a line from your jaw up past your cheekbone would meet the top of your head. It lifts the face and looks sporty or glamorous depending on finish. A mid-height pony, at the back of the head, tends to be the most comfortable for long days. A low ponytail sits at the nape and reads relaxed or elegant. If you wear a ponytail most days, rotate the height so the same spot on your scalp isn’t pulled every time.

Work with your hair type

Fine hair looks fuller when you tease a little at the crown, curl or wave the lengths, or stack two ponytails. Thick hair can feel heavy, so secure it with two elastics or split the pony into two sections. Curly and coily hair holds a sleek shape best when smoothed with gel and a soft-bristle brush; for a fuller look, work with the texture rather than against it. Most ponytails need hair at least chin length, and shorter layers can be pinned. If your hair is fine and mid-length, our guide to mid length haircuts for fine hair covers cuts that make ponytails look thicker.

Use the right tools

A snag-free elastic or spiral tie (such as Invisibobble) grips without crimping or breaking hair. Bobby pins help hold layers and wrap the base. A smoothing or boar-bristle brush gives sleek ponies their finish, while a texture spray or dry shampoo adds grip and volume to clean hair. For sleek styles on textured hair, a strong-hold gel and edge control help. If you heat-style first, use a heat protectant.

Protect your hairline

Tight ponytails worn every day can pull on the hairline and lead to traction alopecia, a type of hair loss caused by constant tension. Early signs include soreness, small bumps along the hairline or thinning at the edges. Loosen the tie if your scalp aches, avoid tying hair while it’s soaking wet, and give your scalp days off. A loose, low style or a satin scrunchie is a kinder choice for sleeping.

17 Ponytail Hairstyles to Try

1. Sleek High Ponytail

One pony that goes from a morning workout to the office to dinner with only a change of earrings: hair pulled tight and smooth to the crown, no bumps, a glossy finish. Straight or blow-dried hair that’s shoulder length or longer gets there fastest, though textured hair can wear it just as sleek with gel.

Brush hair up with a smoothing brush while tilting your head back slightly, which keeps the nape tight and bump-free. Secure with a strong elastic, then tame flyaways with a little gel or a toothbrush misted with hairspray. Finish with shine spray or a drop of hair oil on the lengths. Plan on five to ten minutes once you’ve done it a few times.

2. Chic Low Ponytail With Face-Framing Pieces

Second-day hair actually holds this one better than freshly washed hair. The pony sits at the nape with a soft center or side part, a little lift at the crown and two thin pieces left out at the front, so it looks relaxed but deliberate for brunch, the office or a casual dinner.

Spray texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots, gather hair at the nape and tie it loosely. Curl the front pieces away from your face with a flat iron or a small wand, then gently tug at the crown to loosen it. If it still looks too neat, loosen it a little more. Softness is the whole point.

3. Braided Ponytail (Classic Three-Strand)

Humid days, travel, sports and school runs all go easier with the length braided. Turning a plain pony into a three-strand braid keeps hair neat for hours and stops curls or waves from frizzing out. It works at any height on medium to long hair of any texture.

Tie a ponytail, braid the length, and secure the end with a small clear elastic. Gently tug the edges of the braid to make it look fuller. For a longer-looking braid on fine hair, add a clip-in extension under the pony first. Allow about ten minutes. Kids and teens who need something that survives a full day can find more ideas in our roundup of cute hairstyles for school.

4. Curly Voluminous Ponytail

Natural curls and coils are made for this: the tie sits at the crown and the curls burst out of it in a full, defined puff. Straight hair can borrow the look with a 1-inch curling wand and a light hand with hairspray.

Define curls with a curl cream or a light gel, then gather them with your fingers rather than a brush, which breaks up the curl pattern and causes frizz. Tie loosely with a fabric scrunchie or a snag-free elastic. Want a sleeker front? Smooth just the hairline with gel and leave the curls loose. For more curl-friendly styles, browse our curly hairstyles.

5. Ponytail With Bangs

Pulling everything back can feel exposing if you have a long or high forehead. Keeping curtain bangs or a full fringe out of the tie fixes that, softening a mid or high pony and framing the face. Most hair types and lengths can wear it.

Separate the bangs before you tie anything and style them first with a round brush or a flat iron. Keep the ponytail soft rather than sleek so the two halves match. If you have curtain bangs, sweep each side outward. Bangs that are growing out make a perfect frame for a messy pony. Give it about ten minutes, most of it spent on the fringe.

6. Braided High Ponytail (Dutch Braid Into a High Pony)

Nothing falls forward here, even during a spin class. A Dutch braid starts at the hairline, runs back over the top of the head and ends in a high ponytail, which is why it shows up at the gym, at festivals and on long active days. You need medium to long hair.

A Dutch braid crosses strands under rather than over, so the braid sits raised on top of the hair. Braid from the forehead to the crown, then gather the rest into a ponytail right where the braid ends. One braid down the middle or two side by side both work. A little gel on the braid and edges adds hold. Expect about 15 minutes.

7. Bubble Ponytail

Concerts, parties and festivals are its natural setting, and it’s one of the best tricks for making fine hair look fuller. Evenly spaced elastics run down the length of a pony, and each section between them is gently puffed into a bubble.

Tie a ponytail, then add a clear elastic about two inches below it. Pull the hair between the elastics outward to make a bubble, and repeat down the length, keeping the bubbles even in size. For a more dramatic look, add a clip-in ponytail extension first.

• Time: about 10 to 15 minutes
• You’ll need: four to six clear elastics, a strong base tie, flexible hairspray

8. Sleek Low Ponytail

Think black-tie wedding or a big presentation. Slicked tightly back to the nape, usually with a center part and a glossy finish, it reads sharp and finished, and straight, wavy or textured hair can all get there with enough gel.

Apply gel or a smoothing cream to damp or dry hair, brush back with a fine-tooth comb or smoothing brush, and tie at the nape. Wrap a small strand around the elastic to hide it (see Look 11) and add a drop of oil to the length. The crisper the part and the smoother the surface, the more expensive it looks. It takes around ten minutes.

9. Ponytail With a Braided Crown

Brides, bridesmaids and prom-goers love the halo effect of a braid wrapped around the head and finished in a ponytail at the back. It needs medium to long hair and a bit more braiding practice than most styles here.

Start a French or Dutch braid at one side of the head, braid it around the hairline, and meet at the back to finish in a ponytail. Pin the braid to keep it secure, then pull it gently to loosen it and add a few face-framing pieces for a softer look. Hairspray will hold it through a long event. Set aside about 20 minutes, more for a first attempt.

10. Messy Textured Ponytail

Weekend errands, long flights and third-day hair are where this shines. It’s one of the fastest styles here, about five minutes, and suits most hair types: loose, with volume at the crown and pieces left out around the face.

Spray texture spray or dry shampoo through the hair, then gather it loosely with your fingers. Tie it at mid-height, pull out a few pieces at the front and loosen the top. The goal is relaxed texture, not frizz, so don’t brush it out.

11. Wrapped Ponytail (Hidden Elastic)

Hiding the elastic under a strand of hair is a two-minute detail that makes any basic pony look finished. It works on all hair types, as long as the hair is long enough to wrap, and on high, low and side ponytails alike.

After tying the ponytail, take a small section from underneath, wrap it around the elastic, and secure the end with a bobby pin slid under the base. A little gel or hairspray on the strand keeps it smooth. If the pin won’t hold, tuck the end into a tiny clear elastic before pinning.

12. Half-Up Ponytail

Want hair out of your face but still want to show off length and waves? Tie only the top section back and leave the rest down. It works for dates, school and everyday wear, and even shoulder-length hair has enough to tie.

Section hair from the temples back, tease it lightly for volume and tie it at the crown. Curl the lengths for a softer look. A bow or claw clip can stand in for the elastic when you want something more decorative. Five minutes, start to finish.

13. Side-Swept Low Ponytail

The bare side is the best part: with the pony resting over one shoulder, statement earrings get the spotlight. Wedding guests and date-night dinners are its best use, and it’s especially pretty on long, wavy hair.

Make a deep side part, sweep the hair over to the opposite side and secure it just below the ear. Pin the hair on the bare side to keep it smooth. Curl the length with a wand for a fuller look, and leave a few face-framing pieces at the front for softness. Budget around ten minutes.

14. Double-Stacked Ponytail

Fine or shoulder-length hair gets an instant length boost from two ponytails tied one above the other. Once the top one falls over the bottom, the result looks like a single long, full pony.

Split hair horizontally from ear to ear. Tie the top section in a high ponytail and the bottom section in a pony just underneath it, close enough that no gap shows. Let the top pony fall over the bottom one to hide the second elastic, then curl the lengths so they blend. It takes about ten minutes.

15. Silk Scarf Ponytail

Brunches, picnics and vacations call for a little color, and a silk scarf knotted at the base of a pony adds it with some vintage charm. It works on any hair type and at any height.

Tie the ponytail first, then wrap a thin silk scarf around the elastic and knot it, letting the ends hang down. A twilly (a long, narrow scarf) is easiest to tie and leaves tails long enough to show. Pick one color from your outfit for the scarf so the look feels planned.

16. Sleek Natural-Hair Ponytail With a Drawstring Extension

Gel and edge control smooth natural hair back, and a drawstring ponytail extension adds length and volume on top. Worn this way it doubles as a low-manipulation style for events, vacations and everyday wear, since the extension takes most of the daily styling. Extensions come in straight, wavy, curly and kinky textures.

Smooth hair with gel and a soft brush, tie a secure but comfortable ponytail, and slip the drawstring extension over it, pulling the strings tight and tucking the combs in. Wrap a strand of extension hair around the base. Be gentle with your edges and take breaks between installs to keep tension off the hairline.

• Time: about 20 to 30 minutes
• Also handy: a satin scarf to tie down your edges while the gel sets

17. Short Hair Stubby Ponytail

Bobs and lobs can still tie back on workout days or hot afternoons. Hair as short as chin length can form a small pony at the back, as long as you pin the shorter layers that won’t reach.

Gather the hair at the back of the head, tie a small ponytail, and pin any layers that fall out. Texture spray gives short hair grip, and front pieces that are too short to tie can simply stay out. For more ideas for short cuts, see our short hairstyles for women.

Which Ponytail Fits Your Hair and Your Morning

Ponytail	Hair type and length	Time	Wear it to
Sleek high	Straight or smoothed, shoulder length+	5–10 min	Gym, office, nights out
Chic low	Most types, second-day hair	5 min	Brunch, work
Braided	Medium to long, any texture	10 min	Sports, travel, school
Curly voluminous	Curls and coils	5–10 min	Everyday, weekends
With bangs	Most types with bangs	10 min	Everyday
Braided high	Medium to long	15 min	Gym, festivals
Bubble	Medium to long, fine hair	10–15 min	Concerts, parties
Sleek low	Straight, wavy or textured	10 min	Weddings, formal
Braided crown	Medium to long	20 min	Weddings, prom
Messy textured	Most types	5 min	Weekends, travel
Wrapped	All types, long enough to wrap	+2 min	Any occasion
Half-up	Shoulder length to long	5 min	Dates, school
Side-swept low	Long, wavy	10 min	Weddings, date night
Double-stacked	Fine or shoulder length	10 min	Any day you want more length
Silk scarf	All types	5 min	Brunch, vacation
Natural hair with extension	Natural or textured	20–30 min	Events, low-manipulation weeks
Short hair stubby	Chin length to lob	5 min	Workouts, hot days

Common Ponytail Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

• Bumps at the crown or nape. Tilt your head back as you brush up for a high pony and chin down for a low one, and use a smoothing brush instead of your fingers for sleek styles.
• A sagging ponytail. Use two elastics, or cross two bobby pins into the base in an X shape. Texture spray or dry shampoo also gives clean hair more grip.
• A thin-looking pony. Tease the underside of the ponytail, curl the length, or stack two ponytails. A clip-in pony is the quickest fix for very fine hair.
• Headaches or a sore scalp. The tie is too tight or too heavy. Loosen it, switch to a spiral tie, or move the ponytail lower.
• Creases in your hair. Regular elastics leave dents. Use a spiral tie or a silk scrunchie, or tie hair while it’s fully dry.
• Breakage at the same spot. Change the height day to day, avoid elastics with metal joins, and never yank an elastic out; roll it off gently.

FAQs

What are the easiest ponytail hairstyles?

The easiest ponytail styles are the messy textured pony, the soft low pony, the half-up pony and the sleek high pony. Each takes about five to ten minutes. Wrapping a strand around the elastic is the simplest way to make any of them look more finished, and a bubble ponytail is an easy upgrade that needs only a few extra clear elastics.

Can an older woman wear a ponytail?

Yes. A ponytail looks polished at any age. A soft low ponytail with face-framing pieces, a sleek low pony or a wrapped ponytail looks especially elegant. Add a little volume at the crown and avoid pulling hair back too tightly, which can emphasize thinning at the temples. A silk scarf or claw clip adds a stylish touch.

How do I make my ponytail look fuller?

Tease a little at the crown and the underside of the ponytail, curl the lengths, or stack two ponytails one above the other. A bubble ponytail also adds volume. For the most dramatic fullness, add a clip-in or drawstring ponytail extension matched to your hair color and texture.

How do I keep my ponytail from falling down?

Use a strong elastic or two elastics, and cross two bobby pins into the base in an X shape. Spray texture spray or dry shampoo into clean hair first to give it grip. Spiral ties hold well in fine and slippery hair. For heavy, thick hair, split the ponytail into two sections and tie each one.

Are ponytails bad for your hair?

Ponytails aren’t harmful when worn loosely and varied. Problems come from wearing tight ponytails every day in the same spot, which can cause breakage and traction alopecia at the hairline. Use snag-free ties, change the height, avoid tying soaking-wet hair, and give your scalp regular breaks.

Can you do a ponytail with short hair?

Yes, if your hair reaches at least the chin. Tie a small ponytail at the back of the head and pin any shorter layers. A half-up ponytail is often easier on short hair. Texture spray helps short hair stay in place, and small clips can hold pieces that fall out.

Start with the ponytail that fits your hair and your morning. A sleek, low or messy pony covers most days, a wrapped base makes any of them look polished, and a braided or bubble version is ready for the weekend. Whichever you choose, change the height often to keep tension off your hairline.