4 Ponytail Hacks for More Volume

A ponytail is a quintessential updo for medium to long hair. It’s been around for centuries, having been worn by the likes of ancient farmers, British soldiers and glitter-laden pop singers alike. The ponytail hairstyle is iconic for its appearance, which involves pulling or brushing all of the hair back into a tight gathering where it is then secured with a tie or band. Though volume is a common goal among ponytail styles, different versions range from conservative and classic to dramatic and daring, making it one of the most versatile ways to style hair as well. Having said that, not everyone is gifted with thick Barbie doll hair that can be pulled back into an instantly voluminous ponytail. Here are a few hacks for getting a more voluminous ponytail.

1.Use Hidden Pins:

While it might seem difficult to hide volume-inducing hair accessories within or around a ponytail, the correct placement of these offers both discretion and concealability. In other words, by using hair accessories strategically, it’s possible to create a voluminous and natural-looking ponytail in just a few easy steps! 

This voluminous ponytail hack requires only a few bobby pins, a hair elastic and a bottle of salon hairspray. Brush through the hair and gather it into a high ponytail near the crown of the head. Make sure to wrap the elastic tightly around the hair and pull it towards the scalp to keep it secure. Next, lift up the ponytail and let the hair sit on top of the head so it’s out of the way. Grab a bobby pin and push it straight down into the elastic so that it clings to the band and will be concealed by the ponytail. Flip the hair back over the elastic and bobby pin to reveal a lifted, more voluminous pony! Secure the look with hairspray and add additional bobby pins for more volume if desired. 

2.Make Waves:

Sometimes the issue is not with the ponytail base, but rather the fountain of hair that emerges from the elastic wherever the ponytail is secured. Instead of teasing the ponytail hair and running the risk of creating a tangled, dry look, try a ponytail full of healthy, textured waves instead. This ponytail styling hack requires products like hairspray, a curling iron and professional texture hair products to make it last all day. 

After smoothing the hair back into a medium or high ponytail and securing it with an elastic band or scrunchie, brush out the ends of the hair and use a curling iron to curl one-inch sections of hair. Comb through the hair with a wide-tooth comb or fingers to create effortless waves and finish things off with a layer of texture spray and hairspray. 

3.Go Viral:

Some of the easiest and most useful hair hacks have recently become popular thanks to social media platforms, with TikTok leading the pack. TikTok is the ideal platform for quick hair tips and videos of users trying trends like the “perfect ponytail” hack. Get this look in just three easy steps using a brush and a scrunchie. 

To begin, use a paddle brush to brush hair up into a ponytail. A high ponytail provides the best results here. Once the hair has been gathered together, begin wrapping the scrunchie around the hair — but after one wrap, leave the top half of the hair out of the ponytail. This leaves the scrunchie securely tied once around all of the hair and multiple times around the bottom section, creating a bump of volume in the middle that is hidden by the top layer of hair. Make sure to use a bit of hairspray and other professional hair styling products on the top layer of hair to keep the look in place. 

4.Double Up:

For an updo that looks sleek and fierce, try the double pony hack that utilizes two elastic bands. This look provides lots of volume at the base of the ponytail all the way down to the ends of the hair. Try this simple hack by dividing the hair into one outer section of hair closest to the face and neck and one inner layer. Gather the inner layer into a normal ponytail and secure it with an elastic. Then, bring the outer layer of hair around the inner ponytail, making sure to conceal the inner ponytail elastic. Use a second elastic to secure the outer layer around the inner layer before setting the look with hairspray. The double band and dual sections create volume and help to mimic the look of thick hair!