When it comes to classic hairstyles, there’s none more iconic than the good old ponytail. Sure, pulling your hair back and tying it up with a band or scrunchie sounds basic—the kind of thing you do when you don’t know where else to put your tresses.
But over the years, women have reinvented the ponytail to make it look charming, glamorous, and elegant. Because of this versatility, it’s a go-to for girls of all ages, from young teens on the way to softball practice to bold femme fatales about to step out for a glitzy event.
Need some ideas on how to style your hair in a ponytail? Here are 20 different ponytail styles you can draw some sassy inspiration from!
Double Dutch Braid Ponytail
Let’s start with the one that’s cute for younger girls. This ponytail style is fantastic for sporty girls that need to keep their hair out of the way but want to add a bit of charm to their hairstyle.
Split your hair down the middle to divide it into two. Then, do a Dutch braid on each side from the hairline going down to half your head and secure each braid with an elastic band. Finally, pull the hair together to create one ponytail.
The Trendy High Pony
Thanks to popstars like Ariana Grande and Kim Kardashian, the high ponytail has become a trend that never seems to go away. It’s bold and modern but still sophisticated, so what used to be a hairstyle for children has become an elegant way to keep hair out of the face.
The key to a perfect high pony is making sure your hair is sleek and smooth when you pull it together to tie it! Check out this photo for inspiration.
Ponytail with Weave
Ponytails look ten times better when you have super long hair. Sadly, not everyone is blessed with thick, long locks. If you want to rock a long pony, get creative with extensions! Try a weave to make your hair look longer and lusher. One weave that looks sultry in a ponytail is an uber-long curly weave like this one.
Curly, Braid “Tie” Pony
If you have curly, poofy hair, you may think a ponytail isn’t for you. You’re probably worried that your hair will look unkempt and unruly. But as long as you use your favorite styling gel or mousse to tame and bring out your natural curls, a high pony will look fab on you.
For a girly touch, put a thin lock of hair in a braid and wrap it around your hair tie.
Ponytail with Full Bangs
For a more innocent look, try styling your hair in a ponytail and pairing it with some loose bangs. You can opt for a full fringe if you want to look youthful, but a wispy, soft fringe is also a terrific option if you want to look more sophisticated and romantic. The less perfect your bangs are styled, the better.
Pineapple Ponytail a la Rihanna
If you have medium-length hair, you’ll enjoy this pineapple ponytail look. It’s kind of like a bun but doesn’t have a structured round shape.
Gather your hair on the very top of your head and tie it in a loose ponytail. Rearrange your locks so that they fan out and cover the hair tie, making it look like a “pineapple” in shape. Et voila! You’re done.
Ponytail with Vintage Swoop
People are starting to love all things retro again, and the ponytail with swoop is a trend that is coming back in full force. Brush your hair to one side of your face, creating that chunky swoop from one side of your face to the other.
Swooped bangs look fantastic with a high ponytail in layered hair. For more of a vintage touch, add flyaways to the ends of your hair using a flat iron.
Drawstring Ponytail
The drawstring ponytail is a hair extension that you simply attach to your hair to make your pony look thicker and often curlier. All you have to do is tie your natural hair in a bun and then attach the drawstring ponytail. The finished product is a thick, voluminous ponytail like this one.
Frontal Ponytail
A frontal ponytail is when you have a thick hair extension that runs from one side of your hairline to another, creating a look of thick tendrils and a sleek pony at the back. In this style, you can form cute, curly tendrils in the front of your face with the frontal for that romantic touch.
Half-Up, Half-Down Pony a la Ariana Grande
Although Ariana is known for her signature high pony, she also spices things up sometimes and wears different versions of it. One of the more laidback styles she sometimes goes for is the half-up ponytail. This style is great if you want to keep your hair out of your face while still showing off your length.
Bubble Ponytail with Bows
If you’re sick of the regular ponytail braid, you can go for something a little more out of the box, like this bubble braid ponytail. Tie your hair in a high pony and add another elastic band every two or three inches down your mane. For a feminine touch, add bows to each area you tie.
Side Ponytail
One thing about ponytails some women don’t like is that people can’t see your hair when you’re facing them directly. It’s only when they look at you from the back that they see your locks.
If you want to show off your tresses even when someone is in front of you, try wearing a side ponytail. They’ll be able to appreciate your mane’s length and texture better this way!
Wavy Low Ponytail
Although high ponytails are all the rage today, there are still lots of times when the more mature low pony is appropriate, like weddings and formal events. Rock a low pony with big, retro waves like this the next time you go to a nighttime event!
The Messy Ponytail
Sleek ponytails are super pretty, but messy ponytails look stunning too! It gives you that au naturel vibe, which is great if you want that surfer girl aura. Just carelessly tie your hair in a messy ponytail and let your natural textures and flyaways come out!
Cornrow Braided Ponytail
Love putting your coarse hair in cornrows? Try this braided ponytail style! Install your cornrows so that they start from the outermost part of your face going in. Then, tie all your braids together in a smooth, sleek ponytail. Wrap a braid or two around the ponytail, too, for that seamless finish.
French Braid Low Pony
An easy way to elevate your everyday low ponytail is by connecting it to a French braid. Start by making a loose braid from the top of your head, moving downward. When you get to your neck, stop braiding and tie your hair in a ponytail instead!
Middle-Part Ponytail a la Zendaya
A middle-part ponytail is incredibly trendy nowadays, especially on TikTok and Instagram. Hope on that trend by splitting your hair down the middle and keeping your hair part in place with a bit of styling gel before tying your hair in a high ponytail.
Sleek Pony with a Side Part
If you don’t find a middle part too flattering on you, you can also try your luck with a deep side part. Brush your hair so that you make a swoop with your bangs on one side. Then, with the rest of your hair, brush upward to gather it all and then tie it in place with a scrunchie or elastic band.
A Ponytail Braid
This style combines two iconic ones—the ponytail and the classic braid. This is perfect for those with thick hair and who don’t want their ponytails to look too poofy.
Start by putting your locks in a sleek high ponytail. Then, put your entire mane in your favorite kind of braid. Secure with an elastic band at the ends, and you’re done.
Sleek Pony with Swirled Edges
The one thing that can make a sleek high pony look even more elegant? Hairline edges brushed out into flawlessly beautiful spirals! After putting your hair in a ponytail, take a toothbrush and some edge-styling gel and put your edges in all kinds of pretty swirls!
