Hair Styling Tools

This is part 2 in a 5 part series where I am discussing anything and everything to do with wearing the classic ponytail hairstyle.  As I’ve been researching, it is truly amazing how many ideas have been explored and created out of simply pulling one’s hair back into a ponytail.  While you can dress up or dress down this style, the creativity to make it more than it ever started out to be can be left up to anyone’s imagination.

While yesterday I provided a couple of different ways to spruce up the ponytail look for a formal or dressy occasion, today I’m going to share a couple of idea sof how to wear a ponytail style that will work for both a formal or casual event.  Let’s say you have a special date planned for the evening but you want your hair already styled prior to the date because you have errands to run.  How about trying a Fishtail Braid?  This is a ponytail style but actually taking it a step further and braiding it.  Here are some instructions to achieve this style:

1) Pull your hair back into a ponytail tightly.  If you were to take your finger and draw an imaginary line from where the top of your ear starts to the center of the back of your head, you will have the right placement of the hairband and where the ponytail should start.  This should be about a little more than halfway from the top of your head and about a quarter of the way up from where your hairline starts above your neck.

2)  Separate the ponytail into two sections, rather than the usual three.  Start out by holding the two sections of hair with your left hand

3)  With your right hand separate a small section from the outside of the right section of the divided ponytail and join it with the entire left section of the divided ponytail.

4)  Next you are going to reverse how you are holding the hair and switch hands.

5)  Now with your left hand you are going to separate a small section from the outside of the left section of the divided ponytail and join it with the entire right section of the divided ponytail.

6) Continue to repeat steps 3 and 5 until you have the desired length of the braid.  Finish the braid off with whatever tie suits the occasion. 

 As you can see by the picture of Diane Kruger above, her fishtail braid has been loosly woven.  While she has chosen this style for a gala affair, this style will definitely work for any casual activity you may be involved with. Especially today, where wearing jeans with a fancy top will work for an evening out be it casual or a somewhat dressier occasion. 

For the second ponytail style,  I’m going to share a style that is extremely easy to achieve and yet it can take on a glamorous look or can be worn with casual attire as well.  When looking at the front of the hair, you think that the style is actually a chignon.   After looking at the back, you will automatically see that the back is a ponytail as portrayed in the picture below.  

To achieve this slicked back look, start by parting your hair on the side and use haircare products that you usually select when you are wanting to smooth down any flyaway hair that you may have.  My personal preference is a new Super Serum I was recently introduced to by Potions International.  The next step is to use a protective elastic band to hold the ponytail near the top of the head.  After this is done, attach the ponytail to the nape of your neck with a couple of large bobbie pins to hold the section in place.  To give the pony a sleek look spray some shine spray on the hair and off you go.

Now that I have provided some ponytail styles that will work for both formal and casual wear, in Part 3 of this 5 Part series, I will address some of the do’s and don’ts associated with wearing ponytails.