Sometimes getting up and ready for work is a serious struggle, especially after a long night or on a particularly cold morning. And even though you might not have the energy to wash, condition, and flat iron your hair, that doesn't mean that you have to look like it. Winter ponytail hairstyles always come in handy: They're so simple, get you out the door in minutes, and are good enough reason to stash your beanie once you're at the office.
Granted, the styles ahead might take a few more steps than, say, brushing back your hair and securing it with an elastic. But trust — the extra effort isn't all that time-consuming. Simple spins on the classic style, like Jessica Chastain’s flipped ends or Laura Harrier’s center-parted base, can be recreated with tools and products that you likely already have laying around. As it turns out, adding a good shine serum in the mix, or perhaps a bit of styling wax, can take your look from basic to A-list.
Ahead, see some of the best recent celebrity updos — plus tips from celebrity hairstylist Jennifer Yepez and Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Renato Campora, who both created flawless looks for the 2019 Golden Globe Awards.
High Ponytail With Flipped Ends
At the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, Campora applied Sally Hershberger 24K Root Envy Ultimate Root Boost to Jessica Chastain's roots while the hair was damp for volume, according to a release. After blowdrying, he divided her hair into two sections at the top and bottom. Since Jessica’s hair is on the shorter side, he pulled the hair from the bottom section towards the center of her head and secured it in a ponytail with a rubber band, the release explained. Afterwards, joined that section with the top one, securing both with a ponytail to create the illusion of longer length.
Ponytail With Center-Parted Base
Laura Harrier also chose to wear an updo for the Globes, and Yepez used Kérastase products to achieve the look. "First, I prepped Laura’s hair with Kérastase L’incroyable lotion. I then blowdried all of the hair with a round brush from T3 and a T3 blow dryer," she says. "After blowdrying, I made a center part then brushed all of the hair into a ponytail using Kérastase Laque Couture and a Mason Pearson brush and secured it with an elastic. Then I used a pack of hair that matched Laura’s hair and wrapped it around her own hair and secured it with pins." A bit of Kérastase Mousse Bouffant made the hair nice and full, and the brand's Creme Magistrale helped seal the ends. For a finishing touch, she used a toothbrush and Laque Couture to smooth down Harrier's edges.
Ponytail With Wrapped Base
A clear rubber band is the key to creating the illusion of no elastic, like Natasha Poonawalla's pre Golden Globes look (done by Harry Josh).
Textured Half-Up
"I wanted to give a modern spin to a classic half-up half-down hairstyle," Lacy Redway explained of Kiki Layne's dazzling look for the 2019 Critics' Choice Awards in an Instagram post. "I [used] these starred Jennifer Behr hair pins which I [layered] vertically in her hair instead of horizontally on her scalp. This gave the stars the illusion [of] floating above the ponytail. Then for the texture of her hair, I wanted to keep it authentic to Kiki’s natural 4c hair texture when blown-out, pre flat-ironing."
Voluminous 60's Inspired Ponytail
"Rachel wore a custom cream suit, tailored perfectly to her," celebrity hairstylist Mara Rozak tells TZR of Rachel Brosnahan’s Critics' Choice style. "With the gorgeous, strong silhouette, I decided on a voluminous glamorous ponytail, a nod to retro '60s, to compliment the look.” For all of that glorious volume, she relied on Suave Professionals Firm Control Boosting Mousse, applying it to Broshnahan's hair while damp.
Base With Barrettes
Kahh Spence pinned Justine Marjan x Kitsch hair accessories on Ella Mai's ponytail base for a recent performance — and the "Feelings" barrette nod to lyrics in her hit song, "Boo'd Up."
Low Ponytail With Curly Tendrils
Jhené Aiko kept things simple with a low ponytail and curly tendrils. Simply wrap two small front-facing sections around a curling iron or wand, release, and go.
