There is nothing more chic than a high ponytail, especially on days when you’re totally over what to do with your hair. Going to the gym? High pony. Getting dinner Saturday night with your besties? High ponytail. Wedding season? Definitely a high ponytail.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, we’ve curated 15 celebrity looks, all with a variety of hair textures and lengths, so there’s a bit of something for everyone. Ready for some inspiration? Keep scrolling for more!
Classic Curls
Rihanna’s loose curls complement her high, voluminous ponytail. This look could work for a night out or as an everyday style, and we love the styled baby hairs at the front that give the look a classic, 90’s inspired feel. “To recreate this pony, I recommend curling your hair with a wide-barreled curler once it has been tied,” Lazou says. “Curls that are too tight could create a completely different look, so keep them wide for best results.”
Sleek and Voluminous
This look is all about the glam. “Hailey’s high ponytail has been neatly pulled together with so much sleekness and shine, yet there isn’t the flatness you often see with other ponytails,” Lazou says. To get volume here, gently backcomb the hairs on the underside of the ponytail. If you want to elevate the look, take some inspiration from Bieber and finish it off with a statement hair bow and softly flipped ends.
Max Length
J.Lo’s ponytail is pure perfection—we love the sleekness on top and the soft elegance of the cascading curls. If you tend to take a more-is-more approach to styling, this look might be for you. The secret is to use a clip-in ponytail like Luxy Hair’s Clip In Ponytail Extension as well as a bit of your own hair to wrap around the base, hiding any clips for a seamless finish.
Braided Bombshell
Pictured is Zendaya is serving long braided ponytail goals. Recreating this look starts with finding the perfect ponytail placement. “For a classic high ponytail, aim for just above the crown of your head and where it feels comfortable,” says hairstylist Joey Scandizzo. “Smooth and gather the hair using a fine-tooth comb, and apply ELEVEN Australia’s I Want Body Volume Foam to the top section before gathering it into the ponytail to manage volume and achieve a smooth finish. Then secure it with a strong elastic band.”
Expert Asymmetry
Beyoncé’s take on a high ponytail subtly differs from the traditional look. Who’d have thought that gathering your hair slightly off-center would look so good? “This look is definitely more formal—it would be perfect for an evening out,” Lazou says. “To achieve Beyoncé’s curls, use a wide-barreled curler once you’ve tied your hair up. I wouldn’t recommend styling your hair like this too often as it can put a lot of pressure on the scalp, so it’s best saved for special occasions only.”
Teased Texture
High ponytails look great sleek, but embracing a bit of frizz can also create a stunning look. Ciara has opted for a glamorous take on the style, which would work great on those with textured hair. When recreating this look, Lazou recommends keeping the roots as sleek as possible to balance out the frizz of the ponytail.
Precise Placement
One of the best things about ponytails has got to be the “facelift” effect they give. While you should be sure not to tie your hair too tightly in order to avoid breakage, ponytails can add definition to the face and bone structure. “To recreate this look, you’d need to blow dry your hair in the direction of the ponytail to keep everything sleek and smooth,” Lazou says. “Once you’ve tied the ponytail, attach your hair extensions to the base. Use strands from your own hair to wrap around the base of the ponytail and hide any extension clips.”
Simple Glamour
Kacey Musgraves has kept things simple with a sleek ponytail that draws attention to her bohemian-inspired outfit. The look has been elevated with a twisted wrap-around to hide the base, which also links with her outfit. “To recreate this look, tie your hair into a bun, keeping a few pieces loose,” Lazou says. “Attach a ponytail extension piece to the bun to keep it secure and then twist together the leftover strands of your natural hair to wrap around the base.”
Color Contrast
If you want to experiment with different colors without having to dye your hair completely, why not take some inspiration from Katy Perry and opt for a high ponytail that matches the color of your highlights? If you prefer a voluminous look, you might want to add a ponytail hairpiece, especially if you have thinner hair.
Ultra-Sleek
It would have been impossible for us to do a roundup of the best high ponytail hairstyles without including Ariana Grande. The musician, actress, and beauty icon has worn this style in a number of ways, and she gets it right every single time. To recreate this look, you’ll need super smooth, sleek hair, so it’s best to start by straightening your strands. “Once you’ve tied up your hair, I would recommend using a few products to keep the hair around your scalp looking sleek,” Lazou adds. “To add volume to the pony, use some hairspray or dry shampoo. If you have curly or wavy hair, use some humidity-resistant products to maintain the sleekness.”
Background Beauty
If you’re wearing a high ponytail for a special occasion, take the rest of your look into consideration. If your outfit or makeup is bold or dramatic, then a subtle ponytail may be best. Tessa Thompson’s high ponytail draws her features upward while highlighting her makeup and face shape. To recreate this look, focus less on volume and more on length.
Bubble Moment
Braiding hair looks amazing in a high ponytail, and Amandla Stenberg’s look is no exception. Her natural hair has been slicked back beautifully, and to elevate the look, a few of her baby hairs are laid into a slight curl at the side of her face. Before adding the hair extensions to create your voluminous updo-ponytail hybrid, gather your natural hair into a bun first.
Fringe Benefits
One stunning way to elevate your high ponytail is by pairing it with a fringe. We love how this one on Tyra Banks frames and complements her face shape. Bangs are universally friendly: They suit everyone and come in different styles, so there’s something to suit your preferences. If you want to try the style but aren’t sure whether you want to commit to fringe full-time, try some clip-in faux bangs.
Retro Glam
Bella Hadid’s high ponytail is perfect for those with medium-length hair, as this style doesn’t need to be long in order to be glam. What’s so great about a mid-length style is that it easily transitions from day to night. Take some inspiration from the supermodel and keep accessories minimal: We love that she’s ditched the earrings and opted for a statement metallic choker instead.
Keep It Simple
Khloe Kardashian’s ponytail is so simple. It complements her highlights and blends in seamlessly with her extensions. If you have layers, they can create interesting texture in a high ponytail, so don’t worry about it looking perfectly sleek. “To recreate this look, blow dry your hair upside down to add a bit of volume at the roots,” Lazou says. “Then, gently pull the hair back into a ponytail, ensuring any layers are on top of the tail like Khloe’s. Once hair is tied, add some texturizing or volumizing spray to the tail to stop it from going flat.”
