Let’s face it – while a standard ponytail is quick, easy and convenient, it can also be a little boring.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help…

Here are some fun ideas that you can try to play up your ponytail and give it some extra personality!

Braid It Into a Fishtail Ponytail

You can turn your ponytail into pretty much any type of braid, but a fishtail braid really does have that extra-special quality to it.

They are voluminous and full of texture, and can instantly become the focal point of your entire look.

How do you create a fishtail ponytail?

It’s easy, just follow these steps:

• Tie your hair back into a ponytail. A high one can sometimes be easier to braid
• Divide your ponytail in half
• Take the left half and section off a half-inch piece of hair from the outside
• Pull this over the top of the left-side ponytail and over to the right, taking care not to twist it as you do so
• Section off a half-inch section of hair from the outside of the right-side ponytail. Bring this over to the left, in the same way you did above
• Keep repeating these steps on each side until you have run out of hair
• Once you are done, fasten the end of your fishtail ponytail with an elastic band

If you want to place even more focus on the braid, rather than the style originating as a ponytail, you have the option of removing the first elastic band that you used at the start. If you think that you may want to do this, it would be easier to use a bungee tie at this stage, rather than an elastic band.

Add In Some Accessories

Accessories are one of the fastest and easiest ways to play up a ponytail. Plus, with so many different types of accessories out there, you can really add your own personality to your look this way.

So, where do you begin when it comes to ponytail accessories?

Hair ribbons are a good place to start, especially since these have been quite trendy lately. You can use pretty much anything as a hair ribbon, just make sure that the fabric is soft, so that the ribbon flows naturally. Then, tie the ribbon around the base of your ponytail, creating a pretty bow.

If you like the girly look, florals always work well too. There are so many accessories out there featuring florals, or you could go the extra mile and pin some real, fresh flowers to your ponytail instead. This can work beautifully, and can be so fragrant too, but keep in mind that your flowers will wilt as the day goes on.

If your style veers more towards edgy, rather than feminine, you may want to look into metal hair cuffs. These sleek accessories first became popular a few years ago, and look fantastic on all ponytail types.

When it comes to choosing a hair cuff, make sure that the cuff you go for is in proportion with the length of your hair. This means that people with short hair should go for a narrow cuff, while those with long hair would rock a wider cuff better.

Pins and hair clips can also be added to your ponytail, or you could opt for an elastic band that already features an embellishment of some sort.

Poof It Up

A front poof adds height and sophistication to your hair, and is a style that works so well with a simple ponytail. Take a look at Brigitte Bardot, for example, as she was the one who brought the poof to fame, making it a popular style all over the world.

To create the perfect poof, you would be best off starting with unwashed hair, ideally about a day “old”. If you have already washed your hair, add in a styling gel to give it some texture, as you need your hair to naturally hold with this style.

Then, section off some of your hair at the front. This section should be around an inch and a half deep. Hold this section up and run a comb backwards through it a few times, to fluff it up. Continue adding more hair to this section, combing as you go along, until you have an adequately sized poof.

Then, flip your hair back and use your comb to smooth down the outer edges.

Pull this section of hair backwards, to the point where you plan on creating the base of your ponytail. Then tie your hair up, securing it with an elastic band.

You will need to use some hairspray on your poof to prevent it from moving. You can also spray some hairspray onto your comb, and use this to gently comb back any flyaway strands.

Clip In Some Hair Extensions

Do you wish that your ponytail was thicker or longer?

If you use some hair extensions, it can be…

You will need hair extensions with both two and three clip wefts, as well as some one clip wefts if you want to really emphasize thickness.

How do you clip hair extensions into a ponytail?

Begin with a small ponytail at the crown of your head. Start clipping in your extensions around this, keeping them as close to your elastic band as possible.

Once you are done, gather everything up into a high ponytail, making sure that this covers the wefts. Secure this with a hair tie and then smooth down any flyaway strands.

Remember that your hair extensions need the same care that you provide for your own hair. Without proper care, and especially if you use heat products to style your hair, your hair extensions could easily become dry and bristly.

When selecting hair care products, be sure to choose products with vitamin E, which can help to prevent dry, tangled, or damaged-looking hair. The Lionesse Hair Serum is a good example, though you can also scout around for non-greasy hair oils to give the hair a silky, untangled feel.

Change Up Your Part

Most people tend to have a go-to hair part, whether this may be on the side or down the center.

Well, one simple way to play up your ponytail would be to change up your part.

Try parting your hair in a place that you don’t normally choose, and then tying your hair back into a ponytail.

This may seem too easy to make a difference, but it can really give your ponytail a whole new look.

Wrap It Up

Wrapping your own hair around the base of a ponytail will not only hide the elastic band that you used to tie your ponytail, but will also give your whole look so much more sophistication.

This technique may look a little tricky, but it is actually so simple to do.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Tie your hair back into a ponytail, securing it with a flat, rather than a rounded, hair tie. This will prevent your wrapped ponytail from having any bumps or bulges once you are done
• Take a small section of hair from the base of your ponytail. You only need about half an inch for this
• Thread the small section of hair through a bobby twin, twisting it around a couple of times to give it some extra grip. While you can always skip this step and place the bobby pin into your hair at the end, that can sometimes be difficult to do when you are dealing with such a small section of hair
• Holding your bobby pin, wrap the small section of hair around the base of the ponytail. Keep doing this until you have reached the end, ensuring that these ends are underneath, rather than on top of, your ponytail. You may need to wrap your hair either tighter or looser to finish with the ends underneath your ponytail
• Pin the boby pin in, run a brush through your ponytail, and you’re ready to go

Don’t have any bobby pins?

There’s another way to do it…

Once you have wrapped your ponytail with the small section of hair, pull down on the elastic band that you used at the start, to create a little gap. Thread the ends of the small section of hair through this gap, so that you are essentially tucking the ends into the elastic band. Since this will all be taking place underneath your ponytail, it will not be visible.  

Of course, you can always wrap your ponytail with fabric too.

Try it with a narrow scarf, wrapping the scarf around your ponytail a few times and then tying it off at the end.

Stack Two Ponytails

Also known as a double ponytail, stacking two ponytails on top of each other creates the illusion of a much longer and thicker ponytail.

This is a trick that so many celebrity hairstylists use, and it really couldn’t be easier to pull off.

Simply divide your hair in half horizontally, with the halfway point running from ear to ear.

Tie the top section up into a ponytail, making this as messy or as neat as you want. It will basically look like a half-up, half-down style once you have tied it off.

Then, pull the bottom section of your hair together into a ponytail, securing this directly beneath the base of your first ponytail. You could also try wrapping the top ponytail, in the same way that was explained above.

This style looks best when it has some texture, so don’t be afraid to add some waves or curls to your hair.

Heighten It

If you don’t want to stack your ponytails, there are other ways that you can add height too…

How?

One method makes use of a butterfly clip. This needs to be small, as you want it to be hidden in your ponytail.

To use it, first tie your hair into a standard ponytail, securing this with a hair tie. Then, divide your ponytail in half horizontally, keeping the top half lifted up with your hand.

With your other hand, clip the butterfly clip in between the two sections of your ponytail. Try to keep this as close to the elastic band as possible. Then, release the top section of your hair, arranging it so that it hides the butterfly clip.

The clip will basically lift your ponytail from within, giving it some extra height and volume.

You can also use bobby pins to bring about the same effect.

Here’s how:

• Tie your hair into a standard ponytail, securing it with an elastic band
• Use one hand to lift your ponytail up over your head
• With your other hand, insert two bobby pins vertically underneath the ponytail, threading them through your elastic band. These will basically prop your ponytail up
• Let your ponytail fall back down and gently brush your hair to smooth it out

Give It Some Texture

Textured ponytails are quite trendy at the moment, and you don’t need a whole array of heated styling tools to put this look together.  

All you do need is some dry shampoo…

Begin by applying the dry shampoo through your hair, running this from your roots all the way down to the ends of your hair. Massage this in gently, tousling your hair up as you do so.

Gather your hair up into a ponytail. Don’t worry if it isn’t neat, as a textured ponytail always looks better when it is slightly messy.

Once you have secured your ponytail with a hair tie, it’s back to the dry shampoo. Run this down your ponytail, as this will give it some extra volume and texture. You could also use a texturizing spray for this too.

Of course, if you would prefer, you can go ahead and use styling tools to add texture to your hair.

You can easily do this with a curling iron, simply adding some curls into your hair either before or after tying it up into a ponytail. Keep it varied when it comes to the width and tightness of your curls, as this will enhance the texture-heavy look that you are going for.

If you don’t like either of these methods, there are other ways in which you can add texture to your hair. From braiding it to using rollers, experiment to find which method works best for you.

A ponytail doesn’t have to be boring – there are so many ways in which you can play one up. The next time you plan on tying your hair into a ponytail, keep these ideas in mind for a ponytail that’s extra special.

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