Anyone who has ever had long hair knows the beauty of the ponytail whether you love it for style or simply because it allows you to pull your hair back away from your face and neck. High or low, sleek or full of texture, the ponytail is a staple for long-haired women across the globe, from the red carpet to the laundromat.
Cast your eye over the gallery above for a serious injection of chic new ponytail inspiration.
New ways to style a low pony
The low pony is an easy solution that can add a classy dimension to any outfit. This look works best with longer hair and can be styled messy or sleek, depending on what kind of vibe you want to create. For a messy look, flip your head over and brush your hair toward the floor to create added lift and volume. Gather your hair into a loose ponytail and tie it just above the nape of your neck. You can leave some strands out to frame your face if you don't have bangs. This will give everything a more romantic feel.
Smoother low ponytails work really well when styled totally straight (heat protection spray and flat irons at the ready!) and a center part can help sharpen things up even more.
Another truly chic option is to wear a low ponytail with a French twist hairstyle. This involves combing your hair to one side and clipping into place before smoothing hair on the opposite side and rolling it back over itself. When doing this, you should leave a medium-sized section of hair loose at the nape of your neck to create a low pony with when you're done.
Add detail to any pony
For a classic, volumized style, tease your hair before securing it and apply a generous amount of hairspray to hold everything in place. Add a glamorous touch by taking a large strand from the pony and wrapping it around the base to hide the hair elastic. Secure it in place with a bobby pin underneath and you're good to go.
Alternatively, you could go for a braided or bubble pony. After pulling hair back into the pony, braid it all the way down and fasten with a hair elastic. For the bubble effect, tie extra elastics at regular intervals and then pull hair apart to create the "bubbles."
After all that, ponytails need never seem overly simple again! Unless you want them to, that is...
