The Foundation: Prepare Your Hair
The secret to any great hairstyle lies in the preparation. For a ponytail that boasts volume and hold, it’s best to start with hair that isn’t freshly washed. Day-old hair has more natural grit and texture, which helps it hold a style much better. If
you must wash your hair, avoid heavy conditioners that can weigh it down. Before you begin styling, apply a texturising spray or a sea salt spray from roots to ends. This will give your strands some extra grip and make them easier to work with, providing a solid foundation for the volume you're about to create. A light spritz of heat protectant is also a wise move, as you'll be using heat to create those essential curls.
The Art of the Tease: Building a Crown
Crown teasing is the quickest way to achieve that impressive lift at the top of your head, instantly making your ponytail look more polished and intentional. To begin, separate the top section of your hair at the crown—think of a rectangle from your temples back to the highest point of your head. Clip the front part of your hair away. Working with one-inch sections from the back of this crown area, hold a section straight up. Using a fine-tooth comb or a dedicated teasing brush, gently push the comb down towards the roots two or three times. The key is to be gentle to avoid creating knots. Focus the teasing close to the scalp. After teasing a few sections, lightly smooth over the very top layer of hair with your comb or fingers to hide the backcombed texture, creating a smooth, bumped-up shape.
Add Life with Curls and Waves
Curls are your best friend when it comes to adding fullness and a festive feel to your ponytail. Before gathering your hair, take the time to curl it. You don’t need perfect, tight ringlets; loose, bouncy waves will do the trick beautifully. Using a curling iron with a 1 to 1.5-inch barrel, wrap sections of your hair around it, holding for a few seconds before releasing. For a more modern look, alternate the direction of the curls. Once all your hair is curled, gently run your fingers through it to break up the curls into softer waves. This step adds texture and body throughout the length of your ponytail, ensuring it looks just as full and lively as the crown.
Securing Your Perfect Ponytail
Now it’s time to bring it all together. Gently gather your teased and curled hair to the desired height of your ponytail—a high pony at the crown feels modern and chic, while a mid-height one is classic and elegant. Be careful not to flatten the volume you created at the crown. Secure the ponytail tightly with a hair elastic. For a professional, polished finish, take a small, half-inch strand of hair from the underside of the ponytail. Wrap this strand around the base of the ponytail to completely hide the elastic, and secure the end with a bobby pin tucked underneath. This simple trick instantly elevates the entire look.
Finishing Touches for Lasting Volume
Your ponytail is almost complete. To maximise volume, you can use a simple trick: split your ponytail into a top and bottom section and place a small claw clip in the middle, hidden beneath the top layer of hair. This will prop up the ponytail and give the illusion of extra thickness. Alternatively, you can crisscross two bobby pins at the base of your ponytail underneath the hair to give it a lift. Gently tug at the hair at the crown to enhance the volume further, and pull the ponytail itself apart slightly to make it appear wider and fuller. A final, generous mist of a medium-hold hairspray will lock everything in place, ensuring your voluminous festive ponytail lasts through hours of celebration.
