Girl, can we talk about the low ponytail for a second? Everybody’s chasing the snatched high pony, and I get it, but there’s something about a low pony sitting right at the nape of your neck that just reads more expensive. It’s the hairstyle I pull out when I want people to think I have my whole life together, even on the days I very much do not.
The trick with a low pony is that it looks simple, but the simple ones are the ones that show every flaw. So I’m walking you through twelve ways to wear it, from the boardroom-ready version to the one you throw up in thirty seconds before you run out the door. Grab your brush and a good elastic, because we’re getting into it.
Classic Sleek Low Pony
This is the one that never goes out of style. You smooth everything back with a boar bristle brush, set it low with a strong hold gel, and wrap a small section of hair around your elastic to hide it. It’s clean, it’s grown, and it works with literally any outfit.
Low Pony With a Side Part
If your face is more oval or round, a deep side part on your low pony softens things in a way a center part just can’t. It also adds a little drama without you having to do a single extra thing to the rest of the style.
Low Pony With a Bow
This one is having a real moment and honestly, it deserves it. A silk or satin bow tied right over the elastic turns a basic low pony into something you’d wear to dinner. Go oversized for a coquette feel or small and structured if you want it more tailored.
Textured Low Pony
Not every low pony has to be pin straight. Curl the ponytail itself with a wand after you’ve secured it, then rough it up a little with your fingers. It gives you that lived-in, I-woke-up-like-this texture while keeping the base neat.
Low Pony With Face-Framing Pieces
Pull two thin pieces loose at your temples before you smooth the rest back. Curl them under with a small iron. It softens the whole look around your face without undoing the polish of the ponytail itself.
Low Pony for the Office
Keep it low, keep it neat, and skip the shine spray if your workplace runs more conservative. A light hold cream and a covered elastic is really all you need for a look that reads professional from nine to five and still feels like you.
Complete the Look: More Ponytail Hairstyle Ideas
If the low pony has you in your feelings about your hair game, don’t stop here. Go check out our sleek ponytail hairstyles for the version with zero flyaways, because between the two you’ll never run out of ways to wear a pony well. Which one are you trying first, the bow or the textured version?
