When you’re on day three of not washing your hair and waking up tired after hitting snooze a few too many times, this seven minute peppy ponytail is the perfect way to look polished and presentable while rushing to get ready for work.
Step 1: Tease
Blame it on my Texas upbringing that I love to tease my hair. My naturally flat hair and big forehead have always frustrated me, so I mastered the art of subtly teasing my hair when I was a freshman in college. I rarely leave my apartment without a little teased hair and a few coats of mascara (or some falsies, which I talk about more here.) I like to tease the top layer of the crown of my head, as well as either side of my part ever so slightly for extra lift. My favorite teasing comb? A flat, plastic rat-tail comb like the Mason Pearson Tail Comb.
Step 2: Pony Up
Next, I pull my hair back into a pony and use my rat-tail comb to brush any odd-shaped, teasing-induced bumps out of my hair and make it look a little smoother. I like it when ponies look a little messy, but not too messy for work! My new favorite hair ties are telephone cord hair ties, but I prefer to use them for half-up half-down styles. I like using a traditional pony (since my hair is fine, I use thin goodie ponytail holders).
Step 3: Bobby-Pin
This is my number one trick to getting a peppy ponytail! I take one bobby pin, flip my ponytail up on top of my head, and stick it straight down into the ponytail holder with the opening of the pin facing into the ponytail. Just keep it angered down toward the nape of your neck! If you have thicker hair, two bobby-pins might be necessary — Just cross them in an “X” position when sticking them through. After I stick the bobby-pin in, I flip my hair back over, tighten it a little by pulling on the sides, and tug a little on my original tease with a rat tail comb so my volume is even bigger.
STEP 4: Texturizer + Setting Spray
After inserting the bobby-pin and getting my ponytail situated, I pinch the top later of my ponytail, lift it up a little, and spray texturizing spray (I prefer Umberto Dry Texture Spray from drugstores) on my pony. I tousle it a bit, then finish off the look with some hairspray. My current favorite is Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play.
Voila! A peppy pony that will make you look (and feel) more polished and awake at work. I love pairing a ponytail with bold eye makeup and extra highlighter on my cheekbones. It makes the lazy-chic style feel much more put together.