Don't just pull your hair into a ponytail—give it some polish in a few easy steps.
The Look: Sexy and Sideswept
The side ponytail is back—but with a modern twist.
Make Waves
If your hair is straight: Mist volumizing spray over damp hair and set with hot rollers. Or use a texturizing spray to coax out curls.
If your hair is curly: Prep with a cream or serum and blow-dry straight. Add waves with a curling iron.
Go Sideways
Gather your hair to one side just below the nape of your neck. "You want the hair around your face to have a full, rounded shape," says stylist Oscar Blandi.
Loosen Up
Add romantic wisps around your face by freeing a few strands with a pick-style comb.
Sexy and Sideswept: The Tool Kit
Goody Versa Comb, $3
Sexy and Sideswept: The Tool Kit
Hot Tools Professional Hairsetter with 20 flocked rollers, $50
Sexy and Sideswept: The Tool Kit
Garnier Fructis Style Wonder Waves Wave Enhancing Spray, $4
Sexy and Sideswept: The Tool Kit
Tresemme 24 Hour Body Root Boosting Spray, $4
The Look: Smooth and Chic
Get Sleek and Shiny
If your hair is straight: Prep dry hair with a thermal-protecting spray and smooth with a flatiron. Finish with a light mist of shine spray.
If your hair is curly: Layer a shine serum over a heat-styling spray to shield your curls from heat damage. Then blow-dry your hair straight and use a flatiron to add extra polish.
Part Smart
You don't want your hair to look plastered to your head, so make a deep part on the opposite side of your natural part. "This will give your hair built-in lift," says stylist Mark Garrison.
Fight Frizzies
A natural-bristle brush keeps your hair smooth as you pull it into a low ponytail. Touch up flyaways along the hairline with a fine-tooth comb coated with hairspray.
Smooth and Chic: The Tool Kit
Infiniti by Conair 1-inch Solid Ceramic Straightener, $38.99
Smooth and Chic: The Tool Kit
Oscar Blandi Mini Jasmine Oil Hair Serum, $35
Smooth and Chic: The Tool Kit
Brush Strokes Wooden Boar-Bristle Brush, $6.49
So Long, Scrunchie
Use these decorative elastics to dress up your ponytail.
Here: France Luxe Cone Ponytail Holder in Ivory Tokyo, $16
So Long, Scrunchie
Scunci Crystal Ponytailer, $6
So Long, Scrunchie
Bellissima Ponytail Holder, $6
So Long, Scrunchie
Jane Tran Animal Print Ponytail, $7.50 for three
Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, July 2009.