Are you a fan of short hair and want to play with ponytail hairstyles? Even if your hair doesn’t flow halfway down your back or it barely brushes your shoulders, a ponytail is still achievable. So snag some hair elastic, grab a handful of bobby pins, and stock up on the hairspray.
Stunning Short Ponytail Hairstyles
Are you under the impression that all short hair ponytails are messy, sloppy, and unattractive? Get out from beneath that misconception because it is built on lies. You just have to know how to style them!
1. Sleek Ponytail
To get a smooth, sleek ponytail, you’ll need to comb out the hair as you’re gathering it into a ponytail. Comb each side so it’s free of lumps, then secure it with a hair tie.
2. ’80s Ponytail
The 80s were all about side ponytails. Take a trip back in time by gathering your hair together at one side and securing it so the hair falls over the shoulder.
3. Half-Up Ponytail
A half ponytail is great for when you want some of your hair out of your face, but still want to feel feminine and flirty. Use a colorful scrunchie to secure your ponytail!
4. High Puff with Defined Coils
Is your hair naturally curly or thick? Gather it up in this cute high ponytail that will look adorable if you leave your hair its natural texture.
5. Shaved-Side Ponytail with Bangs
For women who like an edgy touch to their hairstyle, try out shaved sides! This high pony also flaunts V-cut bangs that stop short of the eyebrows.
6. Loose Updo with Wispy Bangs
Even older women with short hair can still pull off a ponytail. For a softer style, gather hair up at the nape of your neck, wind it up, and secure with a hair claw instead of a hair tie. With or without long thin bangs, it’s a low maintenance look.
7. Pigtails with Side Bangs
Pigtails have no age limit! The playful look has room for plenty of creativity, including in the hair ties where you can use bright colors to contrast against your hair color. Side bangs are a great way to cover a wide forehead.
8. Pink Ponytail with a Blonde Crown
For those times when you want your hair off your neck and face, use a slicked back ponytail to contain ultra thick and curly hair. Light blonde and pink hair color are beautiful against dark skin. Don’t forget to swirl those baby hairs along your hairline.
9. Undercut Ponytail with Green Streaks
Edgy and bold are the two words that come to mind when we see an undercut with a short ponytail. Leave it plainly buzzed or trimmed like this or experiment with shaved-in line designs.
10. Messy Ponytail
Messy ponytails are a go-to for women who are either on their way to the gym, running errands, or even hanging out at home! Finger comb hair, but not too carefully, so that a few lumps are present and tendrils fall loose.
11. Golden-Brown Ringlet Ponytail
For women with naturally curly hair, a ponytail is just the style to bring all your texture to everyone’s attention. Whether it’s secured high or low, it’s beautiful.
12. Low Ponytail
A ponytail gathered at the nape of the neck is another easy hairstyle to do. Make it look this pretty by adding a hair clip at the front.
13. Center-Parted Ponytail
Do you have curtain bangs? They’ll look so cute with a low ponytail. Straighten them for sleekness or give them a slight curl to draw attention to your eyes.
14. Low Pigtails with a Headscarf
Put some pep in your step with a spunky two ponytail hairstyle. Simply use a hair tie to secure each one at ear level. You can even use a printed bandana to make the look even more fun.
15. Wavy Ponytail
Wavy hair is another texture that looks great as a ponytail. If your hair is layered, it’ll look even better as the hair fans out in an effortlessly pretty way.
16. Very Short Ponytail
Even if your hair is super short, as in above the shoulders, you can rock a cute ponytail. To get it all in one hair tie, you’ll have to gather it low and slick back the hair for neatness.
17. Ponytail with a Nape Undercut
Adding an undercut to your hairstyle will not only give it a dose of edge, but make a ponytail look rocker-chic! Keep it buzzed to less than an inch to avoid it looking sloppy.
18. Blunt Bob with a Mini Ponytail
For bob length hair, you could gather it all in a low ponytail or try this half updo. Use just a quarter of the hair for a style that looks perkier and hip.
19. Mid-Height Ponytail with Loose Strands
Ponytails, particularly short hair ponytails, don’t have to be perfect. Messy, tousled ponytails with falling tendrils of hair are casual and sexy.
Scrape your hair back and secure your ponytail in the middle of the back of your head. Don’t worry about any strands that escape your pony; just let them fall and frame your face.
20. Side-Braided Ponytail
Simultaneously liven up your ponytail and secure your short tresses by weaving a side braid along your temple first. You can do it on just one side or on both. It will hold the shorter layers of your hair in place, plus it saves your hairdo from being boring or predictable.
21. Librarian Chic
Softly waving tendrils framing your face, topped off by a short hair ponytail that barely sticks out of the elastic. There’s something sweet yet casual about this coiffure.
It’s ideal for girls who have wavy or curly hair because the pieces that fall out of the hair tie still have texture and shape.
22. Wrapped High Ponytail
To make shorter ponytails appear longer, you simply have to secure them higher up on your head. It sometimes helps to hang your head upside down, then brush all of your hair smooth.
Hold it loosely in your opposite hand to gather it into a ponytail. Use hairspray or pins to keep any hair from falling in the back.
23. Low Ponytail with a Bouffant Crown
Short hair ponytails don’t always have a lot of volume because of the effort it takes to get every strand of hair in a rubber band.
Opt for a low ponytail secured at the nape of your neck, however, and you can create a retro bump of volume at the crown. Try this style if you have layers in your hair, as well.
24. Side Ponytail with Rope Twists
It’s almost impossible to create a side ponytail if you have short hair because the opposite side usually isn’t long enough. Chin- and shoulder-length haircuts still count as “short,” though, kind of. The point is, if your hair falls somewhere within that length, you can, and should, pull off a side pony.
25. High Afro Puff
Ponytails are both practical and on-point when you’re growing out your natural hair or simply giving it a breather. Show off your curls and coils with a short, puffy ponytail that also reveals how superbly laid your edges are.
You might think that short hair ponytails are non-existent, but you can pull your hair into a ponytail even if you only have a few inches to work with. You might just need to get inventive. Will you wear your hair up when it’s short?
