Ah, the ponytail! Is there any other hairstyle more versatile than these ponytail hairstyles for women?
A ponytail can be dressed up or dressed down. You can wear a pony to a client meeting, prom, a rave, or even a wedding!
What I love about these ponytail hairstyles is that they don’t even take much time or effort.
And the best thing? You can tailor them to suit just about all face shapes and sizes.
I think all women should know at least a few classic pony styles that they can don on different occasions.
Ponytail Hairstyles for Women
Here are some of my favorite ponytail hairstyles for women.
#1 - Short Ponytail
Who says you cannot get a ponytail with short hair? If your hair grows a few inches below the nape of your neck, a ponytail is possible.
However, you won’t be able to create a high ponytail, you’ll have to stick with a low one.
If you want a short ponytail to look sexy and not funny, I suggest using texturizing products to add volume and thickness to your locks.
A messy do is so much better than a sleek pony in this case.
I also love adding bangs to a short ponytail as it takes attention away from the shortness of your hair and adds a chic look to your face.
#2 - Long Ponytail
If you have long hair, then you’re in luck. Most ponytail hairstyles were made for long, smooth hair.
You can experiment a lot with a long ponytail. If you have straight hair go for the sleek, low pony look for a classy occasion.
Or you can curl or add waves to your hair for a bouncy, cascading effect.
Thick hair looks great in a long ponytail. But if you have thin, long hair I suggest going for a low pony as a high pony can add to the tension on your strands and contribute to breakage.
Adding hair extensions is also a good idea as it gives the illusion of a head full of hair.
#3 - Low Ponytail
This is one of the best ponytail hairstyles for women with naturally straight and fine hair.
You can create a low pony by combing your hair back and tieing the locks low, at the nape of your neck.
I think this is a great professional hairstyle and can be worn to work. It’s also great for thinning, fragile hair as the pulling and tugging involved in creating a high pony can damage strands further.
The low ponytail works well on women with oval and heart-shaped faces. If you have a fuller, round face shape, I suggest adding curtain bangs or side bangs to soften the effect.
You can also wear either a side parting or a middle parting depending on your preference.
#4 - High Ponytail
The high ponytail has been around for decades now. And why not? It looks casual, sexy, and is very practical at the same time.
You can wear it while you’re going out running or working out at the gym. And you can wear it on a date as well.
It’s better if you have some texture to your hair while creating this hairstyle as very clean, fine hair can slip from the hair tie and lower the ponytail.
So spray some texturizing spray or dry shampoo on your hair before creating a high ponytail.
This will also give your hair a slightly tousled, messy effect.
#5 - Side Ponytail
A side part can look very chic if done right. The key to this hairstyle is getting the height of your pony right.
Make sure your ponytail starts right at the top of your neck or a few inches above. Don’t make it too high.
My favorite style of side pony is with a lot of textured waves. I usually use a lot of sea salt spray to get waves to form on my hair.
Then I create a naturally low ponytail and tease a few strands of hair on my face for a soft, feminine look.
A little hiccup with this hairstyle is that it suits women with really thick hair.
So if you have fine, straight hair, you should try a sleek side pony instead.
Use a lot of hair gel or pomade to set your hair back, and wear the pony low near the side of your neck.
#6 - Braided Ponytail
To give a little more character to your ponytail, you can braid a portion or the entirety of your ponytail.
If you want a summery, beach vibe to your hair or a more stylish date-night hairstyle, braid the hair on the sides of your head starting at the temples.
Tie these sections along with the rest of your hair into a high ponytail and using a curling iron add soft waves to the pony.
If you want something more work-like and out of your face, get your hair into a high ponytail, secure it tightly with a scrunchie, and braid the ponytail.
#7 - Braided Ponytail For Black Hair
You can try this hairstyle by braiding your gorgeous type 4 hair or wearing your protective braids in a ponytail.
If you’re trying to wear a ponytail with an Afro, I suggest you use a lot of styling gels meant for black women’s hair to keep your curls slicked back and frizz-free.
#8 - Crochet Ponytail
This type of hairstyle is created with crochet extensions and is one of the best ponytail hairstyles for black hair.
If you don’t have enough hair length, you can use a crochet needle to braid hair extensions and then tie up your ponytail.
#9 - Bangs And Ponytail
If you’re wary of ponytail hairstyles as they draw attention to your wide forehead or fuller, rounder face, I suggest adding bangs.
You can add full, straight bangs to cover a large forehead or thin, wispy ones to give your round face a more oval shape and slimmer look.
#10 - Curly Ponytail
To get the perfect curly ponytail, you’ll need to detangle and defrizz your curls first. Otherwise, they’ll turn out looking like a birds’ nest.
#11 - Retro Ponytail Style (50s Ponytail)
This ponytail gives you a classy, retro vibe. You’ll need to add soft waves to your hair before getting started on this ponytail.
To complete the look curl your bangs and lay them sideways on your head.
If you don’t have fringes, you can still add waves to a section of your hair and pin them up to create the illusion of bangs.
#12 - Messy Waves Ponytail
A messy waves ponytail is ideal for the party or the brunch. It involves getting your locks into a high pony and teasing the hair to create messy waves.
This is a great hairstyle for thin hair as it creates the illusion of volume.
You can add a few strands of hair on your face to complete the effortless, messy look.
#13 - Half Up Half Down Ponytail
This hairstyle is very popular among teenage girls and adults alike.
Here you take only the front and side sections of hair and tie them in a ponytail, leaving the back sections of your locks loose and flowing.
#14 - High and Sleek Ponytail
Made famous by pop star Ariana Grande, this hairstyle, which is one of her signature looks, is copied worldwide by everyone.
To get this look you have to slick back your hair using gel or pomade and tie your ponytail very high up.
This look works best for straight and long hair.
#15 - Crimped Ponytail
The crimped ponytail can be either a high ponytail or a low ponytail. It’s a nice level up from the simple ponytail hairstyles for everyday wear we usually see.
To get this look you’ll have to use a crimper on your ponytail to give a texture.
You can do it just on your pony or crimp the entirety of your hair before creating the ponytail.
#16 - Cascading Ponytail
This one is a great prom hairstyle for girls and is fantastic for weddings as well. All you have to do is get your locks in a high pony and curl the ends.
#17 - Futuristic and Flirty Ponytail
If you’re looking to make a statement, you can add metal accessories to your sleek and high ponytail for a futuristic look.
#18 - Bubble Ponytail
Princess Jasmine fans, where you at? This hairstyle has taken inspiration from our fave Disney Princess.
To get this look, you need to tie your hair in a regular high ponytail.
Then add a hair tie at the end of your tresses, after 3/4th the length from the scrunchie on top, and in between the first two hair ties.
#19 - Ponytail With Dutch Braid
This is a cute hairstyle for women with super long locks.
To get this look, divide your hair into four sections. Braid the two side sections into dutch braids (even French braids will do), and backcomb the crown section to create a beehive.
Now take all the four sections in your hand and tie them up in a high ponytail. Don’t forget to add soft curls or waves to the ponytail.
I usually wear this hairstyle to a wedding function or a cocktail party.
#20 - Pony With Textured Braid
Also called the Viking braid, this hairstyle looks badass!
You can add cornrows or regular braids on the side and create a braided mohawk on the crown section of your hair.
Then all that’s left to do is get your locks into a high ponytail. A good texturizing spray will be your best friend while creating this hairstyle.
#21 - 80s Ponytail
Nostalgia is the flavor of the season! Even with hairstyles. So get those colorful scrunchies and tie up your hair in a gravity-defying high pony for the 80s look.
I’d suggest starting with something sober like Hailey Bieber’s look here.
But if you’re brave enough, you can try the off-center pony which was the trademark of the 80s era.
#22 - Drawstring Ponytail
Want the stylish ponytail hairstyles for black women you see here? Have very thin or fragile hair? Don’t worry!
Just get a drawstring ponytail extension. All you need to do is create a simple pony and tie these extensions around your hair.
#23 - Formal Ponytail
Sleek, low, and practical, this formal ponytail can be accessorized with bows. Or you can use a strand of your hair and wrap it around the hair tie to hide it.
#24 - Two Ponytails
A very girlish and youthful hairstyle, the two pony look is now back in fashion.
This hairstyle looks best when you add a lot of volume and waves to the ponytail and create the pony high instead of low.
A few strands of hair that fall on your face give it a flirty appearance.
#25 - Reverse French Braid Ponytail
Why settle for a boring old ponytail? Add a reverse French braid to the back section of your hair and tie it up in a high ponytail to keep the braids visible!
No matter what your personal style or aesthetic is, these ponytail hairstyles for women can get you ready in minutes.
They range from simple to sexy to classy and work well with hair of short to long lengths.
You can even add a bunch of accessories like bows, scrunchies, hair clips, etc. to spruce up your ponytail.
