Sometimes you don’t need a dramatic style, you just need cute. Not fussy, not overworked, just a ponytail with a little personality that makes people say you did something different even when you didn’t spend more than ten minutes on it.
Cute ponytails are all about the small extras, a clip, a wrap, a little wave. Here are twelve ways to bring that playful, feminine energy to a hairstyle you probably already wear most days.
Ponytail With a Scrunchie
Bring back the scrunchie, but make it satin or velvet instead of the terry cloth kind from middle school. It softens the whole look and keeps a crease-free bend where your hair meets the elastic.
Bubble Ponytail
Section your ponytail into two or three parts and secure each with a small elastic to create that fun bubble effect. It’s playful, it photographs beautifully, and it takes almost no skill to get right.
Ponytail With Front Twists
Twist small sections at the front before pulling everything into your pony for a cute detail that frames your face without any heat styling involved.
Ponytail With a Bandana
Fold a bandana into a headband shape and tie it at the nape before or after you put your hair up. It adds instant personality and works for almost any outfit, casual or dressed up.
Curly Ends Ponytail
Keep the base simple and just curl the ends with a small barrel iron for a cute, bouncy finish that takes about five extra minutes but changes the whole feel of the style.
Ponytail With a Ribbon Wrap
Wrap a thin satin ribbon around your ponytail from base to tip for a sweet, girlish detail that feels a little nostalgic without looking costume-y.
Complete the Look: More Ponytail Hairstyle Ideas
For something a little more grown, check out our low ponytail hairstyles post for the polished side of the ponytail world. Which cute detail is calling your name, the scrunchie or the ribbon?
