25 Fun Ways To Up Your Ponytail Game From Boring To Chic
Ponytail is a classic timeless hairstyle that can be worn for most occasions. It can be a simple way to get your hair out of your face or a fun way to cool down during the hot summer months.
However, this hairstyle also can be preppy and elegant when paired with the right accessories. You can totally wear it to a fancy dinner or a formal event, as long as you know how to style it correctly.
The best thing about these hairstyles is they are easy and require minimum effort. You can look stunning without spending hours in front of the mirror or fumbling around with your hair.
By adding accessories or changing the position of your ponytail, you can have a whole different vibe. One simple change can turn you into another person.
If you find yourself bored with your typical ponytail, this post is for you. Below are 25 fun ways to spice up your ponytail game and look like a magazine model.
1. Retro High Pony
To instantly transform a mundane ponytail into a show-stopping look, try the Retro High Pony.
This style takes the simple classic and injects a dose of glamorous, vintage-inspired drama, ensuring your hairstyle is anything but boring.
2. Center Parted
The Center-Parted Ponytail is a strikingly modern and highly sophisticated version of the classic updo.
This style is the secret weapon for the “lazy girl” who wants to look sleek, chic, and perfectly tailored with minimal fuss.
3. Bubble Ponytail
The visual appeal lies in the distinct, voluminous “bubbles” formed down the length of the tail.
To achieve this signature look, simply secure your hair into a ponytail at your preferred height. Then, place additional elastics evenly down the length of the tail.
The crucial step is gently pulling and tugging at the hair between each elastic to softly expand and “puff” out those sections.
4. Business Up Front, Party In The Back
This look works by keeping the front and crown of the hair sleek and contained, offering the structure and neatness required for a business setting.
However, the bulk of the hair in the back is left long, loose, and voluminous for natural texture, movement, or soft waves.
5. Magpie’s Delight
The technique itself is simple: pull your hair into a high or low ponytail. The messier the base, the better the contrast.
The magic happens when you load the style with multiple clips, jeweled pins, or ornamental hair accessories.
6. Fishtail Ponytail
Its distinct, woven appearance is achieved by dividing the hair into just two sections (instead of three for a traditional braid) and crossing tiny, thin strands from the outer edge of one section over to the inside of the other.
The key is to start with a standard ponytail and then execute the fishtail on the tail itself.
7. French Braid Ponytail
The French Braid Ponytail is a fantastic hybrid style that fuses the polished, intricate texture of a braid with the casual lift and swing of a ponytail.
This is an ingenious choice because it instantly adds a refined, structural element that makes the whole style look significantly more complex than it truly is.
8. Half-Braided Low Pony
The Half-Braided Low Pony is an exceptionally chic style that is perfect for the “lazy girl” who wants to look elegant without any complicated full-head braiding.
This technique adds an element of beautiful, intricate texture to the classic low ponytail, instantly elevating its sophisticated charm.
9. Scarf- Braided Ponytail
This style works by incorporating a long, thin silk or fabric scarf directly into the braiding process.
Instead of using three sections of hair, you use two sections of hair and the scarf itself as the third strand.
As you weave the braid (be it a three-strand or a French style), the fabric becomes an integrated ribbon of color and print that runs throughout the length.
10. Pull-Through Braid Ponytail
This style creates a beautiful, stacked chain of interlocking segments down the length of the hair, providing the illusion of a complex braid without any actual weaving.
To execute it, you start by dividing the ponytail into two sections, securing the top section with an elastic, splitting that section, and then pulling the bottom section up and through the middle.
You repeat this process down the length of the tail. The constant pulling and expanding of the sections dramatically increases the apparent thickness and volume of your hair.
11. Chunky Chains
The style involves securing large, link-style chains around the hair.
You can weave a chain through the base of a low ponytail, drape one along the scalp near a side part, or use smaller sections of chain as decorative elements within a bun.
12. Low Bow
The Low Bow hairstyle is an incredibly charming and sophisticated way to utilize an accessory for maximum visual impact with minimal styling effort.
This look infuses your aesthetic with timeless, romantic elegance.
13. Wrapped High Pony
The beauty of this look is the way it conceals the elastic, which is the easiest way to signify an intentional style.
After securing your ponytail high on the crown, take a small section of hair from the underside of the tail, wrap it tightly around the elastic base until it is completely hidden, and secure the end with a small pin underneath the pony.
14. Sleek High Ponytail
This look is characterized by two non-negotiable elements: maximum height (positioned precisely at the crown or just above) and flawless smoothness across the scalp.
The tight, elevated placement works like an immediate facelift, sharpening the cheekbones and elongating the neck.
15. Sleek Low Pony
Unlike its high-powered counterpart, the low pony rests gracefully at the nape of the neck, offering a refined, grounded aesthetic.
The entire power of the style lies in the flawless smoothness of the crown.
By ensuring the hair is meticulously parted (often a deep side part or a crisp center part) and perfectly slicked down with a serum or pomade, you create an architectural line that elegantly elongates the neck and highlights the jawline.
16. Chic Low Ponytail
This look distinguishes itself from a regular low pony through its meticulous polish.
It rests at the nape of the neck and is defined by a flawlessly smooth crown, often secured with a crisp center or deep side part.
17. Undercut and Braid
The visual power of this style comes from the sharp contrast between the shaved or closely cropped undercut section and the soft, woven texture of the braid.
The braid itself is typically executed along the shaved section, often starting near the temple or ear and traveling back to the crown.
18. Ziczac Tied Up
The Zigzag Tied Up style is a playful, creative technique that transforms a basic ponytail or half-updo by introducing a striking geometric element at the crown.
This is an immediate, high-impact style to look edgy and unique with minimal actual styling.
19. Bobby-Pinned
The Bobby-Pinned style is a brilliant, minimal-effort hack for the “lazy girl” that transforms a basic hairstyle into an intentional, graphic, and visually striking statement using common hardware.
20. Perky Pony
The Perky Pony is the ultimate high-energy, confidence-boosting version of the classic ponytail.
It s the perfect style for the “lazy girl” because it instantly delivers a look that is youthful, dynamic, and full of life with minimal effort.
The entire goal of the Perky Pony is to achieve maximum lift and bounce. Unlike a sleek, high-fashion pony, this one thrives on volume and spirited movement.
21. Wavy Mid-Ponytail
The Wavy Mid-Ponytail is the quintessential effortlessly chic style.
This look finds its balance by positioning the ponytail mid-height (roughly aligned with the ears or just above) and maximizing the natural, flowing texture of the waves.
22. Scarf Mohawk Ponytail
The Scarf Mohawk Ponytail is a strikingly creative and vibrant hairstyle that ingeniously uses a fabric scarf to achieve the visual impact of a voluminous “mohawk” without any complicated braiding or severe styling.
The technique relies on creating a vertical line of height and texture down the center of the head, contrasting with sleek sides.
23. Volume-Packed Pony
The Volume-Packed Pony is the ultimate secret weapon for the girl who seeks a bouncy, luxurious hairstyle that appears salon-done.
This style moves the humble ponytail out of the casual zone and into a statement of glamour and fullness.
24. High Ponytail with Wand Curls
The look is defined by two key elements: the clean, elevated placement of the ponytail high on the crown, and the dramatic, uniform texture added to the tail.
After securing a sleek high pony, use a wand or small-barrel curling iron to create tight, bouncy curls throughout the length.
25. High Pony with Side Bangs
The High Pony with Side Bangs is a flattering, versatile hairstyle that expertly frames the face while showcasing the sleekness and lift of a high ponytail.
This is a superb option to instantly adds a dimension of softness and structure without requiring any intricate styling on the back of the head.