Styling long hair is challenging and some days it can be a straight-up hassle. When it comes to women’s hairstyles, is there anything more classic than a long ponytail? It works with every hair texture, suits any face shape, and is easily put together in less than a minute!
With a few style tips like teasing the hair, wearing it over the shoulder, or using a fun scrunchie, there’s no reason your ponytail can’t look its best. Ponytails are an everyday hairstyle for long hair, but sometimes keeping it perfect all day is difficult.
Not to worry! We’ve created a helpful step-by-step tutorial on how to put long hair into a perfect ponytail that will last all day long. Plus, get all the answers to all your questions about the ponytail hairstyle.
How To Put Long Hair in a Ponytail
Here are step-by-step instructions for the most basic ponytail. This style of ponytail is easy and effective.
- Step 1: Brush your hair. Remove all tangles. Add any product you normally use in your everyday hair routine.
- Step 2: Take your brush and brush the hair away from your face into the ponytail at your desired height. Hold the ponytail with your free hand.
- Step 3: Wrap the elastic around the ponytail until secure. If you have thick hair, consider using two elastics.
- Step 4: Gently pull the hair of the ponytail until it feels as tight as you like.
- Step 5: Smooth any bumps or lumps you see to create the perfect, smoothed ponytail.
Long Ponytail Hairstyles
Whether your hair touches your shoulders or falls all the way down your back, you can reinvigorate your hair prestige with a ponytail that shows off its length.
Let your imagination run free—and just in case you’re having trouble, we’ve got a few drop-dead gorgeous ponytails to pique your creativity.
1. Braids and Dreads
Mix and match texture and color by rocking both dreadlocks and braids in high ponytail. The combination of colors in the two hair extensions seen here make the long ponytail look full and detailed.
2. Bubble Ponytail
If you have really long thick hair, a bubble ponytail is the style for you. To style, make a high ponytail, then section it off with hair ties. You can plump up the sections by softly pulling them loose. If you’d like, leave one strand of hair loose near the face to braid.
3. Half Twist Ponytail
For women with long straight hair, use a hair claw to assist in making a twist right above the nape of your neck. Then make a low ponytail with the rest of your hair. Simple but chic!
4. Side Bow Ponytail
Long straightened hair is ideal for making this classy low side ponytail. Disguise a plain hair tie by making a small bow out of your hair. This style is gorgeous for dates and other special occasions.
5. Thick Yarn Dreads
Black women who are rocking yarn dreadlocks can easily make this glamorous ponytail. We love the large braid that secures it all together. Your thick extensions can either be a neutral low-key shade or you can go bright and flirty with a light purple.
6. Pull Through Ponytail
If you don’t consider yourself very good when it comes to hairstyling, don’t worry – you can still make a beautiful ponytail with your long hair! The pull-through pony features three easy ponytails: one high, one at medium height, and one low. Connect them together by flipping each one inside out.
7. Sleek Low Ponytail with Waves
We’re getting major J Lo vibes from this glamorous long middle part ponytail. Get it by combing hair all the way through, parting it in the centre and taking care to smooth your hair down before making the ponytail. Fill the rest of your hair with soft waves.
8. High Pony with Swirled Hairs
Black women tend to have beautiful baby hairs along their hairline. While you can certainly smooth them down as you normally do, swirling them around your hairline will dress up the borders of a high ponytail.
9. Half Ponytail
If you have highlights in your long hair, one of the best ways to show them off is in a half ponytail. Slick back the top half of your hair into a small high ponytail, wrapping it with a strand of hair. Fill the bottom half with soft waves.
10. Ponytail with Bright Pink Extensions
Whether you’re ready for a completely different hair color or you’re just looking for a temporary change, you’ll love how bright pink hair color looks when in a high ponytail. Let its waves cascade over your shoulders and catch everyone’s eye.
11. High Weave Ponytail
Another way for Black women to get the hair length they’re longing for is with a weave. This long swirled ponytail drapes beautifully over the shoulder and draws attention to the eyes with its loose tendrils and baby bangs.
12. Twist Ponytail
For natural black long hair, comb it straight back to make a sleek low ponytail. Braid the ponytail and twist it to emphasize its beautiful length. The final touch is combing your baby hairs smoothly.
13. Long Braided Ponytail
After combing your hair, gather it into a ponytail at low, mid, or crown height and secure it with a hair tie or scrunchie before starting your braid. Braid all the way down or leave a couple of inches at the end unbraided.
14. Sleek Ponytail
When your goal is to make a glam statement, an extra-long ponytail is your best choice. Smooth any bumps and flyaways with a comb and hairspray, then follow up with a hair shine or oil for extra sleekness.
15. Long Ponytail with Bangs
Securing your ponytail off-center so it drapes over your shoulder and brushing your bangs to the side are great ways to use your hairstyle to express your extroverted side. With a bright bow or ribbon, your ponytail becomes even sassier.
16. High Puffy Ponytail With Side Flicks
This hairstyle is the perfect option for a date night look. If you have fine hair, then a puffy ponytail paired with side bangs is the hairstyle you can go ahead with. It will work well with straight hair and an oval-shaped face.
17. Sky High Curls
This simple curly hairstyle will give you a sporty look and is not at all boring. The glamourous long flowing curls will enhance your personality. You can wear this long hair ponytail during the day as well as the night look.
18. Messy Ponytail
A bit messy hairstyle can work well for thin hair. You can go ahead with this look if you want a casual or even professional look. To upgrade the look, you can cover the hair elastic and make the style look more polished.
19. Easy High Ponytail
This high ponytail can go well with medium to dark skin tones and a round or heart-shaped face. It is best for having a simple casual look. This is one of the easiest hairstyles that just requires you to pull your hair back tightly.
20. Box Braids Pony
Box braids are a cute way to style your ponytail. Here, you just need to braid your hair, pull them up, wrap and pin it. It will give you a cool look and can go well with thick hair and medium to dark skin tones.
21. Wavy Low Ponytail With Accessory
This is a another easy way to style your hair. The style will look great when it starts just above your neck. Moreover, pairing a low ponytail with loose waves and an accessory like a ribbon or scrunchie will add to the beauty of this hairstyle. This can give you a bit of a 90s look.
22. Braids and Dreadlocks
A hairstyle that can go well with medium to dark skin tones is the dreadlocks. Here, the braids are made only using half of the hair from above, and the ends are left unbraided. This is a good hairstyle for getting a casual Look.
23. Sleek Wrapped Ponytail
If you’re looking for a stunning modern look, then just wrap your hair in a high ponytail. This hairstyle is good for thick straight hair and an oval or triangle-shaped face. This is a popular look and has a certain attitude, and accentuates the face.
24. Two Wavy Ponytails
An even cuter way to style your hair is to tie them in two ponytails. It will give you the look of a schoolgirl. In order to make it a fun night out hairstyle, make sure to add beachy waves to it and add volume to your locks. You can cover the hair elastic and leave some hair strands to frame your face.
25. Unique Twisted Hairdo
Adding some twists and waves to your normal long hair ponytail can make it even more fantastic. The twisting is unusual and eye-catching and provides a feeling of movement to your hair. It will look great on medium to thick hair.
26. Sassy High Ponytail
This sassy look an go well with medium to thick hair and a round face. Here, the hair is tied tightly at the crown area, and again, the hair elastic needs to be covered with a strand to make it cleaner.
27. Messy High Ponytail With Front Bangs
This is the best option for those having thin hair. You can tie your hair high up and pair it with bangs and beachy waves. This hairdo can suit round as well oval-shaped faces and can be paired with a ribbon to enhance the look.
28. Wavy Ponytail With Braided Fringes
If you have some time to style your hair, then you can go ahead with a braided high ponytail. This is another great hairstyle for thin hair, as the waves can add volume to your hair. This hairdo will work well for a casual as well as a night outlook
29. High Voluminous Hairdo
This hairdo is best for those having thick hair. You can tie up the locks in a simple high long ponytail, covering the elastic, and get that red carpet look. It will give you a more confident and bold look.
30. Twisted One-Sided Ponytail
By combining your beach waves hair with some twisting, you can get a soft, summery look. It can be a great hairstyle for date night as well as a casual weekend brunch. Moreover, it will look even better on highlighted or ombre hair, bringing out different tones.
31. Two Long Ponytails
The two ponytail style isn’t just for children! After parting your long hair in the center or at the side, separate it into two sections, comb up, and secure two ponytails. With or without bangs, this style is a must try.
32. Long Wavy Ponytail
If your long hair is wavy, it will be easy for you to get beautiful style in a matter of minutes with a ponytail. You can also use hairspray and a comb to tease in texture for a wavy body.
33. Freefall of Curls
Long ponytail hairstyles are fun. They can be sexy, sassy, sweet, sloppy, and a whole host of other adjectives beginning with letters other than “s.” Curly ponytails manage to be sexy, sassy, and sweet all at once. Though this one is tightly secured, you can see that it doesn’t use a small elastic—that’s why the base is so thick.
34. Sleek High
Wearing your ponytail high up on the crown of your head adds volume and height, particularly if you tease your hair a bit. Creating a small bump doesn’t hurt, either. To give your pony a fun, careless vibe, opt for straight strands.
35. Long and Low
A long ponytail worn low and sleek is the height of elegance. It works in any setting, and you can dress it up in any number of ways. Those baby hairs slay all damn day, too, but don’t even think about trying to copy that unless you know that you can.
Go To Office Look With Long Hair
How to Do a Ponytail without A Hair Tie
There are a few ways to create a ponytail without a hair tie. Most methods require that you literally tie your hair, so be prepared for that if you have more tender hair or hair that is prone to tangling.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to do your ponytail without a hair tie. It is better if your hair is more dirty than clean for this hairstyle.
- Gather all of your hair behind your head in a low ponytail
- Twist the ponytail until at least half of it is twisted
- Hold the ponytail with one hand, then part the pony in half at the base of your ponytail, near the nape of your neck, with the other hand.
- Pull the entire length of the ponytail through the part you created with the other hand.
- Gently tug at the ponytail until it is secure
FAQs
Let’s address some of the most commonly asked questions regarding long ponytails.
Since a ponytail requires that you gather all of your hair up into the elastic band, it can shorten the length of your hair, especially if you wear a high ponytail. However, there is a way to fix this.
Divide your hair in half with a top portion and a bottom portion. Take a small rubber elastic and make one ponytail with the lower half. Take a large elastic and make a ponytail with the top half directly above the lower half. Drape and style the hair to conceal the smaller elastic. Voila! You have a longer ponytail!
If you do not have the natural inches on your hair for a long ponytail, you will not be able to style a long ponytail on short hair.
You can buy ponytail extensions. Straightening your hair also makes your ponytail longer because your hair is flattened to its fullest length without any curls or waves.
It is a myth that your hair grows longer in a ponytail. As long as you keep the ponytail loose enough that you don’t feel your hair pulling on your scalp, the hairstyle will not affect the growth rate of your hair.
In general, a low ponytail is better for your hair because it eliminates pulling on your scalp. A high ponytail is more fashion-forward for those times you need to dress up. Choosing a high ponytail or low ponytail is all about preference.
Long hair itself does not give you a headache, especially if it is free-flowing and down. Though if the hair is heavy, the headaches usually come from the weight of certain hairstyles.
Hairstyles that may give you a headache include high buns, high ponytails, tight braids, and other tightly pulled hairstyles. High tension styles cause nerve endings in your scalp to be pulled very tightly and the hair to weigh down on your shoulders.
Now that you have a clear guide to putting your long hair in a ponytail, we hope you are inspired to try it for yourself! Ponytails are a versatile hairstyle that can be dressed up or down. And they’re relatively simple to do. We like to think it may become your go-to hairstyle.
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