How to Do a Gorgeous Fancy Ponytail That’s Totally Special Occasion-Worthy

The humble ponytail is a real workhorse of a hairstyle. There’s nothing it can’t do! First worn in ancient Greece, this timeless hairstyle is probably the first one you learned how to do as a kid. You can dress up a ponytail for a formal occasion or just quickly throw one up for lounging around the house.

Whether you’re wearing a sleek, polished pony to work or to school, or a quick, tousled ‘tail for a workout or errands, the ponytail can meet you wherever you are. It’s a perfect hairstyle for many occasions– even formal ones, like prom or a wedding.

Yes, really! You can wear a fancy ponytail formally. All you need is a curling and a little style, and you can transform the simple ponytail into a luxurious cascade of waves that will be just the right finishing touch for your homecoming look or a wedding guest outfit. It’s a simple, elegant look that you can get at home. Here’s how to do it!

Fancy Ponytail

Supplies:

• Curling iron
• Paddle brush
• Comb for teasing
• Texture spray
• Smoothing product, like gel, pomade, or hairspray
• Hair elastic
• Topsy-tail tool or second hair elastic for manipulating the ponytail

Instructions:

1. Curl all of your hair in one direction and gently brush through the curls. You can start curling from about 4 inches down, since the hair is going up!
   
2. Tease the crown using a comb and texture spray.
3. Smooth the hair down and pull into a low ponytail. Use your favorite smoothing product– the best one for you depends on your hair type and the finish you want. Hairspray and gel are great options– opt for strong hold, since you want the top to be sleek and smooth!
4. Wrap the hair around the elastic and pull through, using a topsy-tail tool or another hair tie. This hides the elastic and makes everything look polished.
5. And that’s it! For extra sparkle you could accessorize with embellished hair pins or hair jewels, or you could leave it as-is. It all depends on what you want it to look like!

Did you try this dressed-up ponytail? Show us on Instagram and TikTok @lulus, and shop our Dress Shop for the perfect occasion fit to go with this look!

This post was originally published in December 2013 and has been updated with new content.