A straight ponytail has a kind of quiet confidence to it. No texture to hide behind, no curl pattern to distract from a bad section line, just smooth hair doing exactly what you told it to do. It’s unforgiving if your technique is off, but absolutely stunning when it’s right.
Here are twelve ways to wear the straight pony so it looks like glass, not like you fought your flat iron for an hour to get there.
The Glass Hair Pony
Flat iron in small sections with a heat protectant, then gather into a pony and run the iron over the ponytail itself for that mirror-like shine everyone’s obsessed with right now.
Straight Pony With a Middle Part
A precise middle part is the foundation of the classic straight pony. Use a rat tail comb to get it perfectly even before you smooth everything back.
Straight Pony With Volume at the Root
Blow dry your roots with a round brush before flat ironing the rest, so the pony doesn’t sit completely flat against your scalp. It keeps the style from looking severe.
Straight Pony With Blunt Ends
A fresh, blunt trim makes all the difference in a straight ponytail, since split or uneven ends are impossible to hide when everything is pulled back and smooth.
Straight Pony With a Wrapped Base
Wrap a section of your own hair around the elastic to hide it completely for a cleaner, more finished look at the base of your pony.
Straight Pony for Long Hair
If you’ve got the length, let it show. Skip layers-heavy styling and let your straight pony fall in one long, uninterrupted line for maximum drama.
Complete the Look: More Ponytail Hairstyle Ideas
For the version with even more shine tips, check out our sleek ponytail hairstyles post. What’s your biggest struggle with a straight pony, the shine or the flyaways?
