Formal Ponytail: How to Create A Textured Ponytail

by Julie Redfern Davis (Subscribe to Julie Redfern Davis's posts)
Posted Jun 18th 2010 at 7:00AM

Debra Messing wears a textured ponytail at the 2009 Golden Globes. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Any girl with curls knows a sleek ponytail is almost impossible -- especially during the summer (hello, humidity). But according to Ted Gibson, celebrity stylist and Hair Basics expert, it's entirely possible.

Need proof? Gibson gave Debra Messing a stylish textured ponytail for a red carpet event--with not a frizz or flyaway in sight.

The most important step? Your brush choice.

With highly textured hair, the key to achieving a sleek ponytail - i.e. minimize frizz and maximize shine - is a boar and nylon bristle brush. The double-bristle brush works with your hair, not against it, to create a smooth, frizz-free finish.

To recreate Messing's voluminous ponytail, Gibson suggests using a small barrel curling to emphasize and define the curl. Tip: When wrapping the hair around the iron, leave the ends out to create a curl that looks more natural as opposed to a Shirley Temple curl.

Watch the video and click through the gallery below for more of Gibson's tips and tricks to create this perfectly polished, textured ponytail.

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Hair Basics Steal The Look: Textured Ponytail

Who says curly haired girls can't wear the perfect ponytail? Celebrity stylist and Hair Basics expert Ted Gibson shows you how to make it happen -- effortlessly.

Peter Buckingham

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

Brush Hair Back
The key to achieving a sleek ponytail -- with highly textured hair -- is the right tools. To minimize frizz and maximize shine, a boar and nylon bristle brush is essential. The double-bristle brush works with your hair, not against it, to create a smooth, frizz-free finish. Use the brush to smooth the hair into a sleek ponytail.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

Fasten Ponytail
Wrap a bungee elastic around the base of the ponytail and secure. The reason for the bungee? It holds better and doesn't leave the tell-tale dent when removed.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

Disguise the Elastic
If you don't have an elastic that blends with your hair color, hide it. Remove a small strand of hair from underneath the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic. And secure the end of the strand with a bobby pin.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

Add Texture
If you have lots of texture, use a small barrel curling iron on a few strands to emphasize and define the curl. Styling tip: when wrapping the hair around the iron, leave the ends out. It creates a curl that looks more natural as opposed to contrived.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

Apply a Shine Lotion
To tame lingering frizz or flyaways, apply a shine lotion to the hair. Using a nickel to quarter size amount, warm it between the palms of your hands and smooth it over the crown area. Finger comb any remaining product through the ponytail.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

The Finished Look
A sleek and stylish textured ponytail.

Hair Basics: Textured Ponytail

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