How to Master the Perfect Low Ponytail

Unlike, say, the Baby Spice pony that bopped around in the ’90s, this polished look, as seen on Cobie Smulders, has a grown-up, minimalist vibe. Do a sharp low side-part and you have a seriously boss hairstyle.

Nothing should come between you and your Fitbit—especially not a blowout. Slip your hair into a chic low pony, like that seen on Cate Blanchett, and no one will be able to tell you’ve already walked six miles before work.

This low rider pulls the eye down, so it’s naturally slimming on round faces, like Olivia Palermo’s. If you have a long face, create the illusion of width by adding texture; pull layers out near the front, and holding an iron vertically, curl them outward.

• To copy this look, seen at Alberta Ferretti:
• 1. Gather hair loosely at the nape. Secure the pony with an elastic while keeping a 1-inch section of hair free.
• 2. Wrap the loose part around the elastic. Secure the ends with a bobby pin.
• 3. Give your banana a slight curve. Run a flatiron, like FHI Heat Runway styling iron ($600; fhiheat.com) down the length of the pony, bending gently under at the ends.

Work with your natural texture for a full ponytail like that seen at Derek Lam:
1. Slick hair back. If your hairline is frizzy, spritz it with serum, then brush away from your face, securing hair at the nape with an elastic.
2. Fan the crown of your pineapple. Tease the bottom layer of hair, smooth the top with a brush, and give it a bump from mid-shafts to ends with a curling iron. We use T3's BodyWaver 1.75” styling iron ($149;

sephora.com).

Winding hair around the elastic? Truth is, it's hard to do it yourself. So, ladies, we are here to say, there is no shame in employing the Tonytail ($8; ulta.com). The key is finding the right shade then mussing it up with dry shampoo—this snuffs the Barbie gleam right out of those nylon fibers so they look more like real hair.