The undone, messy appeal of the low ponytail

As seen at Fashion Week.

For years, slicked-back buns have been ubiquitous. From weddings to workplaces and Pilates classes, they’ve been the reigning style for anyone with hair long enough to keep it in place. Best achieved with a handful of gel, a boar-bristle brush and a prayer, the style is snatched, sleek and (crucially) looks just as good with unwashed hair.

Yet lately, it seems the tide is turning. Just as the runways at Fashion Week predict the clothes, styles and silhouettes set to dominate the season ahead, beauty is no different. And if there was one hairstyle that’s caught our eye, it’s the low pony.

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At New York Fashion Week, Cult Gaia hairstylist Karim Belghiran used hair extensions to create a low, knotted ponytail, while TWP stylist Joey George kept models’ hair natural and loose, folding and fastening it with a barrette. This spilled over into Milan Fashion Week, with Jil Sander and Fendi offering their own interpretations of the low pony.

Having been on the ground in Paris for Fashion Week, Original Minerals’ Editorial Director, Diane Gorgievski, says the contrast is a welcome change. “I love that the low pony feels effortless and a little imperfect. After seasons of highly polished, slicked-back styles, there’s something really fresh about embracing texture, movement and a sense of ease,” she says.

In theory, it’s an easy hairstyle to execute, provided you have an elastic band on hand. But if you want to really nail it, Diane and hairstylist Mary Alamine share their tips below.

How to master the low pony

Image via Orlando Pita.

By nature, the low pony is designed to sit lower than what might feel natural. Start by tying your hair at the base of your neck, then pulling the hair tie down – keep it low and loose. To help secure it, you may need to loop your hair tie a few more times than usual.

For an extra layer of security, prep is key. “If you look closely at this kind of style, there are often no visible pins or elastics… You want enough texture and hold in the hair that the shape can almost hold itself,” explains Diane. In this case, she recommends a volumising product like the Original Minerals Atonic Thickening Spritz to give the hair “body, grip and hold.”

The art of the knotted low pony

Image via Cult Gaia.

Another option is the knotted ponytail. “Texture is key,” explains Mary. “If the hair is too soft or slippery, the knot simply won’t hold.”

If you’re due for a wash or have let your hair air-dry, then you’re likely good to go. However, if you need to outsource some texture, Mary recommends the Original Minerals Desert Dry Texture Spray.

Generally speaking, it’s a style suited to longer locks. There are a few ways to approach it, though you’ll still need a hair tie on hand. The easiest way is to start by tying your hair in a loose ponytail and pulling out two small strips of hair from either side. From there, wrap them around the base of your ponytail, fasten them with a knot and tuck them into the hair tie to keep them in place.

“Once you’re happy with the shape, I’d finish with the Queenie Firm Hold Hairspray to give it some hold without taking away that effortless, undone feeling,” Mary says.

And if in doubt, remember the messier, the better. “The trick is not to make it too perfect – you want the knot to feel effortless and slightly undone, rather than overly constructed,” Diane adds.

For more Fashion Week hair trends, try this.