50 Gorgeous Ponytail Hairstyles to Update Your Updo

50 Gorgeous Ponytail Hairstyles to Update Your Updo

By: Avatar photo Andy Jones Updated: Mar 10, 2024

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It’s official – ponytail hairstyles are no longer just for “sporty-cute” styles. This classic updo is ready for a fashion-forward remake into a modern hairstyle that can cover everything from classy casual events to intricate Pinterest inspo. One major hallmark of a great style is definitely how good it looks, but budgeting time for hair while getting ready has become even more of a consideration. While several awesome ponytail styles have been passed over for formal events in favor of fishtail braids or decorated buns, this year is poised to be the year of the pony—even if it’s not quite the Year of the Horse.

50 Stellar Ponytail Hairstyles Straight From the Salon

To celebrate this ponytail-centric time, we’ve compiled a list of our top 50 ponytail looks, covering everything from off center and asymmetrical to ponytail hairstyles both high and low. Our goal is to give you something for every occasion and schedule, whether it’s a lazy day off, a trip to the gym, or even the latest run on the hottest social scene.

These modern hairstyles we’ve found are easily accessible for everyone, from the most knowledgeable ponytail aficionado to the type of girl who’s never tried anything more complicated than a half-pony with a twist or a long layered hair and simple layered hairstyle. If you like adding in little elements of your own style, or learning how to pick up new ones, these looks are definitely for you.

Once you’ve figured out your ideal ponytail hair, feel free to browse through this selection—or dive right in, and pick and choose what you think is right for you! There’s no wrong answer when it comes to looking good and having fun with what you’re wearing, and if you can match your hair to your outfit (or vice versa!), so much the better. Whether you see ponytails as just a simple solution to the “hair in the face” problem, or an opportunity for your artistic talent to shine, we’ve got something to show you. Dive on in, and find your inner ponytail girl!

1. Elegantly Sweeping Wrap-Around Ponytail Style

Elegantly Sweeping Wrap-Around Ponytail Style

This pretty light brown hair hairstyle puts us in mind of classical Greek Antiquity, a look that might not be out of place in some art gallery—or on you! The beautiful sweep of hair over the sides of the head, and the way it loops over and around the base of the ponytail itself, softens the contrasts of this simple and clean style.

2. Natural Curls Twist Ponytail Hairstyles

 Natural Curls Twist Ponytail Hairstyles

This sweetly simple hair idea is perfect to dress up or dress down for whatever event you have planned! Tying off the base with another loop of hair makes the style look much more intricate than it actually is, and adding in a little spray of pearls takes this look to the next level. Trade in flowers or ribbons for a beautiful springtime alternative!

3. Curled and Perky Ponytail Style Lift

Curled and Perky Ponytail Style Lift

A low-pony with the high ponytail lift. This cute look is the ideal ponytail hair for screaming “go-getter”, while still keeping it casual. Wrap-arounds that hide the tie are a popular way to keep that effortlessly natural feeling and take advantage of how easy hair ties are for anyone to use. This might work with straight hair, but curls are best for adding an extra element of class and drawing the eye!

4. Pretty High Pony Hairstyles With Braid Accents

Pretty High Pony Hairstyles With Braid Accents

This gorgeous look is designed to frame your face with softly curling bangs and a beautiful, loosely laced braid. The higher ponytail helps draw the braid upwards, to show off any accessories and keep your hair from hiding the decorations of whatever top you’re wearing with it.

5. Styled Waterfall Ponytail for Wavy Hair

Styled Waterfall Ponytail for Wavy Hair

Getting an updo to look this good might be a little more work, but it’s definitely worth it! This sweeping modern hairstyle easily emphasizes the hair’s natural colors, going from dark to light at the tips, with the hair wrap-around higher up adding a bright little “pop” of lighter blonde hair colors.

6. Artfully Messy Low Ponytail Styles

Artfully Messy Low Ponytail Styles

If you’re looking for a cute and easy hairstyle, try this quick, “I rolled out of bed looking this good” updo. This style works best with straight hair and bangs! Wispy strands of hair fall around the face and jaw, and tying it off a little lower gives the hair a more natural shape, making this a simple and cute hairstyle for women.

7. The Classically Fabulous Flipped Ponytail Haircut

 The Classically Fabulous Flipped Ponytail Haircut

The chignon is definitely an awesome style, but its first step, the flipped ponytail, is absolutely one of our favorites. For an active girl who might prefer to leave her hair hanging a little more freely than a bun would allow, this is a cool, in-between hair idea that can still dress up your look a little bit more.

8. Loose Top “Braid and Pony” Hairstyle

 Loose Top "Braid and Pony" Hairstyle

If you want an easy shoulder length hairstyle, but you hate having your hair in your face, try a cute braid on top and tie it off before you have to fiddle with loose ends. Hairstyles for women tend to be a little on the “tighter” side, which makes us love this loose look even more! We’d recommend this updo for anyone, including undercut hairstyle for women and shaved sides.

9. Pretty Ponytail Styles for Loose Curls

 Pretty Ponytail Styles for Loose Curls

This simple style is a little more relaxed than our fifth recommendation, for those who want the waterfall waves without all the work. A slightly lower ponytail sets those curly side bangs free from this ponytail haircut and adds to the overall “bouncy” feeling of this upbeat updo.

10. Beautiful Shifting Braid Ponytail Hairstyles

 Beautiful Shifting Braid Ponytail Hairstyles

Who says we can’t have the best of everything? It’s 2018, after all! For this perfect ponytail style, the ribbon marks the transition point from a simple dutch braid to a delicate fishtail, helping the shift to seem completely natural and beautifully intricate all at once.

11. Cool Chignon Twist Ponytail Style

Cool Chignon Twist Ponytail Style

Another take on the classic pre-chignon flipped ponytail for girls, this deceptively complicated twist will have people wondering exactly how you did your hair. Folding separate curls up and over makes for a much less obvious hidden hair tie, and gives a naturally elegant feeling to this easy hairstyle.

12. High Top, Tight Curls Ponytail

High Top, Tight Curls Ponytail

This pretty hairstyle takes advantage of the hair’s natural elements to keep loose curls out of the way and showcase the face. This is a stellar updo for any ponytail girl, but we would mainly recommend this style for short to mid-length hair! Anything longer might work best with a slightly lower ponytail tie.

13. Perfectly Flipped Wrap Around Ponytail

Perfectly Flipped Wrap Around Ponytail

Setting up your flip a little higher up gives you the perfect chance to do a larger wrap around just underneath it! This hairstyle for women goes from cute to classy, depending on what hair decorations you add into the flip. It’s a great way to showcase colorful hair ideas!

14. Hair Bump High Ponytail Hairstyle

 Hair Bump High Ponytail Hairstyle

This cute and easy hairstyle is a modern take on the 1960s bouffant, redone as a classy 2018 ponytail style. The bump turns this cute high pony into a mid-height one and sweeps the bangs forward. This look would be great to go to work and hit up any kind of party, retro or not, right after.

15. Color Contrast Tumbling Waves Ponytail Haircut

Color Contrast Tumbling Waves Ponytail Haircut

If you’ve got a hair of different hues, or you’ve just touched up your highlights, this look is made for you. Soft curls offset the light upper color against the main, darker one. While this style, with its draping tresses, would still look good on anyone, we think it fits recently dyed hair best of all. French tip nails go really well with this style.

16. Braid Based Ponytail for Girl Genie

 Braid Based Ponytail for Girl Genie

This pretty hairstyle would not look out of place in a modern I Dream of Jeannie remake! A very high pony, coupled with a wider wrap around, give this look its “genie” feel, and the tight center mini-braid absolutely makes it. Adding braids is a good way to get a lot of mileage out of an otherwise simple look.

17. Raised Chignon-Flip Ponytail Hair Twist

 Raised Chignon-Flip Ponytail Hair Twist

This is another cute hairstyle for women who want to balance their working days and exciting nights. Using the bouffant-style bump here helps center the ponytail a little more and leaves room to showcase a larger twist for the flipped ponytail. It’s a beautiful mix of casual and classic.

18. Fierce Double Braid Bound Ponytail Hairstyles

Fierce Double Braid Bound Ponytail Hairstyles

Unleash your inner warrior with this gorgeous look. A style like this proves that pretty ponytails can still look battle-ready. Four simple dutch braids go into the wrap around this ponytail, making this easy hairstyle look that much more complex. Try it the next time you need a confidence boost.

19. Ravishing Rippled Ponytail Twist and Wrap

 Ravishing Rippled Ponytail Twist and Wrap

This style falls under the category of sort of easy, sort of hard. It’s another artfully messy look, which means you can get away with a few more mistakes than your usual cute style for women! The little twists and almost braids of this look might take a little bit longer, but the end product is very worth it.

20. Twining Curls Side Ponytail Style

Twining Curls Side Ponytail Style

A doubled set of curls go into making this pretty updo perfect. Because of the way the curls are set up, it’s hard to see that any sort of hair tie is involved at all, giving this a very natural look. Pick the side you want attention drawn to and set your hair up to frame your face, leaving just enough on the other side to soften your look.

21. Curling Tumble in Low Side Pony Hairstyle

 Curling Tumble in Low Side Pony Hairstyle

If you’re a fan of longer bangs, this is the look for you! Curl a couple of stray locks, and tuck the rest back in loose loops that frame your face. Straight hair could work here, but curls are definitely best. When you’re trying this, don’t forget to have a “side” picked out ahead of time!

22. Lazy Waves, Loose Hair, & Chill Ponytail Day

 Lazy Waves, Loose Hair, & Chill Ponytail Day

Here’s another “cheat” look—because this cute style is all about strands of hair looking like they’re coming loose, you don’t need to worry as much about getting everything gelled down tight! The broader wrap around adds to this lazy day look that celebrates your natural waves.

23. Beachy Triple Braid Beginning for Ponytail Hairstyles

Beachy Triple Braid Beginning for Ponytail Hairstyles

Take advantage of this awesome look to keep your hair out of your eyes! This updo requires three braids: the main, center one, done in a fishtail style, and two side braids are done in the dutch braid style to show off the braid’s texture. Twist the braids into the ponytail and around the hair tie to finish the look off!

24. Knotted Bun Base Ponytail Haircut

 Knotted Bun Base Ponytail Haircut

A loose bun is a pretty go to for any look, but combining one with a ponytail? Genius. For this style, we recommend having long hair or making sure you can separate enough out for the upper bun and lower ponytail mixture. This will also keep your ponytail closer to your neck if you’re worried about wind.

25. Beautiful Braid Accent Ponytail Hairstyle

Beautiful Braid Accent Ponytail Hairstyle

Everything we’ve said about artfully messy can’t quite cover this look. Instead of making the braid into the ponytail or the base of a high pony, this takes a good-sized braid and makes it part of the look. Feel free to leave the ends unfinished, and let the braid uncurl through the day.

26. Quick and Cheery Color Splash Ponytail

Quick and Cheery Color Splash Ponytail

If all of our cool hair ideas are a little out of your wheelhouse (or timeframe), we’ve got another casually cute option for you. Finish off that pony with whatever fabric you have on hand, instead of a ribbon. Bandanas work great for this, and the little pop of color will draw everyone’s eyes!

27. Hidden Beginning Barely There Ponytail Hair

 Hidden Beginning Barely There Ponytail Hair

If you’re not so sure that you’re ready for a ponytail look, try this on for size. It’s almost like an inverted half-pony—leaving part of your hair down means you can easily fold it over the actual hair tie, hiding it in the rest of your curls. This pretty look would work great with a flower crown, or any other decoration you might like.

28. Flirty, Fun-Loving, Side Bow Ponytail Hairstyles

 Flirty, Fun-Loving, Side Bow Ponytail Hairstyles

Wanna show off your sweet side? Try out this upbeat, off-center, updo! The high side pony adds a cute little bounce to your hair, and the polka-dot bow (or bow of your preference!) keeps it from feeling too lopsided. Curling the ends of your hair will also keep that springy feeling, and put a spring in your step too.

29. Loose Dutch Braid Base Low Scarf Pony

Loose Dutch Braid Base Low Scarf Pony

A look that’s absolutely made for weekends out and flowers, this pretty hairstyle is easy to make and cute to look at. The braid base keeps the hair out of your eyes, and the shift to a ponytail keeps the braid light and loose. Add a bright scarf for an accent, instead of hiding your hair tie with a wrap around.

30. Pretty Ribbon Bound Ponytail Plait

Pretty Ribbon Bound Ponytail Plait

Tie off your ponytail with a long ribbon and keep on going—if you’re a fan of bright colors and beautiful braids, this is the hairstyle for you. Instead of dividing your hair into three strands, make it two and use the rest of the ribbon to add a really special twist to your plait! Extra points for matching your hairdo to your outfit.

31. Partial Braid Side Pony Hairstyles

 Partial Braid Side Pony Hairstyles

If you’d like a more professional ponytail, this might be the look for you. Folding strands of hair over one another makes the midpoint of this modern hairstyle a focal piece and cleverly hides the hair tie between the layers. For those who prefer to avoid some of the tighter tied looks, this is a good alternative.

32. Dragon Ridge Tri-Tied Ponytail Hairstyles

Dragon Ridge Tri-Tied Ponytail Hairstyles

This fantastical style leans a little more into the fiction genre of hairdos. It looks absolutely stunning with the contrasts created by a dyed hair, but its textural appeal applies to absolutely everyone. Bobby pins will help hold your hair bumps in place, but feel free to use decorated clips for a more cutesy look!

33. Folded Hair Wrap Ponytail Style

 Folded Hair Wrap Ponytail Style

Getting this style to hold into place requires a little finesse and a lot of willing to let your hair flow free! Working with the curls helps you wrap your hair over and around the starting point of the ponytail, before adding it back in neatly. For the best results, try curls.

34. Easy High Pony with Sleek Curls

Easy High Pony with Sleek Curls

A look this good is hard to find. Wrapping the hair properly around the high pony angles it upwards, to accentuate this pretty hairstyle and the beautiful, tumbling curls. This would also look wonderful with straight hair, so feel free to get creative.

35. Thin Braid Accent on High Pony Hairstyle

Thin Braid Accent on High Pony Hairstyle

Braids of all sizes, shapes, and intricacies can be balanced out with a good old-fashioned ponytail. In this case, a regular braid, whether rope or dutch, makes a nice lead into the main high pony event. The remaining strands can be easily reintegrated or wrapped around the ponytail base.

36. Braided Tresses and Low Ponytail Hair Wrap

Braided Tresses and Low Ponytail Hair Wrap

Casual ponytail hairstyles are great, and braid bases make them even better! For this particular look, the loose waves of braided locks lead into the lower ponytail, before wrapping around its base. It gives you all of the freedom of a ponytail mixed with the decoration of a beautiful braid.

37. Lace Braided Crown Ponytail Style

Lace Braided Crown Ponytail Style

A looser, more modern take on the classic milkmaid braid, this style draws attention from every angle. The braid wraps around the ponytail tightly enough that it seems to be the real hair tie, and combined with the curls, it’s a look fit for any contemporary princess.

38. Bouffant Puff Low Ponytail Hairstyle

 Bouffant Puff Low Ponytail Hairstyle

The height of the hair bump balances out the drop of the low ponytail nicely! Gathering the hair together from different sections in different ways also affects the overall flow of the ponytail in a very intriguing way. For a truly unique shape, try this look out!

39. Hanging Half-Pony Hair Bump

 Hanging Half-Pony Hair Bump

The bouffant fashion once again shifts ponytail location. This time, amid pony becomes a high pony, leaving more room for the half-up, half-down look that’s a sweet little step towards “semi-formal”. This edition updates the classic look into something much more eye-catching, in a very straightforward way.

40. Ponytail Hairstyle with Reverse Fishtail Outline

 Ponytail Hairstyle with Reverse Fishtail Outline

Fishtail braids are under constant threat of loose strands and flyaway hair, something that works best with a natural and curly hairstyle like this. If you’re looking for a style that’s going to look good no matter what state of escape your hair is in, try something that’s made to be ruffled.

41. Loose Milkmaid Braid into High Arc Ponytail

Loose Milkmaid Braid into High Arc Ponytail

A novel, cute hairstyle for women that’s not overdone isn’t easy to find—so try out older ones, and put your own spin on them! By tugging at the strands to loosen up the braid, you’ll add texture to your hair and turn an ordinary updo into an art piece. Each variation will be as unique as the last, so enjoy your new looks!

42. Princess-Pretty Double Bump Ponytail Waves

 Princess-Pretty Double Bump Ponytail Waves

Sometimes, you just need to feel like you’ve walked straight out of a fairytale. If that’s the case, then boy do we have a look for you! This high updo gives that historically regal feeling, coupled with waves and tumbling curls any fairy princess would envy. The lower locks make a great wrap around divider, but keep an eye on how sharp or soft you want your curves to be.

43. Double Twisted Flipped Ponytail Hairstyle

 Double Twisted Flipped Ponytail Hairstyle

A mixture of braids, twists, and ponytail flips go into making this cool ponytail look one we adore. If you like this style, but want to add your own little flair to this low pony look, it’s easy to remix anything about it. Add in an extra flip or a new twist and see where it takes you!

44. High Arc Ponytail for Wispy Hair

High Arc Ponytail for Wispy Hair

For those of you with hair more given to flyaways, or a look that stays on the shorter side of things, this simple look might be your best bet. Ponytail Hairstyles tend to require a lot more hair, but adding upwards into a wispy mid-pony is easy, and adjusting the wrap around to get that high arch is even easier. If you’re looking for wedding hairstyles for short hair, consider this look.

45. Bundled Base Low Ponytail Style

Bundled Base Low Ponytail Style

Gathering hair up into a sweep softens this look exponentially. It’s best with loose curls that can easily fall into shape, but this sweet and pretty style would look awesome on anyone. Using the lower strands to wrap over the hair tie makes the “bundle” a little more defined!

46. Side-Pinned Tumble Ponytail for Girls

 Side-Pinned Tumble Ponytail for Girls

Longer hair is a must for this look, but a side-pin is for anyone! This off-centered ponytail extends the maximum possible length of a hair sweep from one side to another and creates a curving, contrasting look. It’s fabulous in curls, but the stark lines of a straighter style would look very cool.

47. Loose Locks to Low Ponytail Style Twist

 Loose Locks to Low Ponytail Style Twist

A gentle twist on individual locks of hair can make a big difference in the long run. By clearly defining all the sections of hair that went into this ponytail, you’ll make seemingly minor things a lot more obvious. For example, the hair twist that leads right into the low pony goes from “necessity no one will see” to “front and center and looking good!”

48. Asymmetrical Ponytail with Chunky Rope Braid Base

 Asymmetrical Ponytail with Chunky Rope Braid Base

Rope braids are all kinds of in right now, and they pair very well with ponytail hairstyles. Instead of trying to manage three strands, gently twist two over each other, and create a brilliant new look that shows off highlights and colors alike. The loose twist of this braid also softens the sharp cut of this cool look, making it suitable for any occasion.

49. Ponytail Hairstyle with Mixed Braid Base

 Ponytail Hairstyle with Mixed Braid Base

Say you really want that perfect gym look, or you’re a big fan of mixing and matching—instead of going for clashing color combos, how about an updo opportunity? Mix up the types of braids you use as your ponytail base, going with a nice french braid up top and feeding into a more woven braid at the base of your ponytail. Your hair will thank you for the change, and so will your next selfie!

50. Chic and Sleek Metal Tie High Pony Hairstyle

 Chic and Sleek Metal Tie High Pony Hairstyle

Our fiftieth ponytail is probably the most simple and elegant one we have: instead of fussing with hair ties and ribbons, get a metal ponytail holder and slide that high pony into place. It’s an easy fix that automatically elevates your look to VIP status, and can be easily dressed up or down, depending on your mood.

50 Pinterest-Worthy Ponytail Hairstyles to try at Home

One of our favorite things about ponytails is how easy it is to mix, match, and completely redesign absolutely any style you find. If there’s one element you like in look 32, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you from adding it to style 17! Whatever ideas you have, there’s almost certainly a ponytail that’s your perfect match—and if you can’t find one, you can always make one. The possibilities are as endless as your own ideas, and who knows? Your new look and its hot take on ponytail hairstyles might just inspire someone else. Now that you’ve gone through these gorgeous looks, don’t forget to also take a look at the prettiest short blonde hair ideas and brown hair with blonde highlights!

50 Gorgeous Ponytail Hairstyles to Update Your Updo

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About the AuthorAvatar photo
Andy Jones

Andy focuses on getting readers familiar with the latest and trendiest hairstyles. There’s pretty much no style she has yet to try, and her mission is to help everyone find the perfect look they seek. When Andy is not gushing about hairstyles, she spends most of her time reading through her giant collection of sci-fi books or watching old Star Trek shows. See all articles from Andy.