29 Easy Summer Hairstyles That Require Zero Effort

Short hair may be on trend right now, but if you're still committed to a long hair look, you'll know that one of the best things about having hair that falls past your shoulders is its versatility. Yes, you can wear it down, but you can also style it into any number of up-dos, from sleek buns and claw clip styles, to pigtails, braids, and of course, the humble ponytail.

Practical and perfect for the unpredictable British weather, as well as combatting the heat, a ponytail is the ultimate hair power move. You'll see it in films—just before the main character is about to save the day, you can bet they'll tie their hair up. After all, sometimes you just need your hair off of your neck to feel a little more clear-headed. However, there's no denying that (whether low or high) a ponytail can feel a little drab sometimes, right? And while it might seem like an effortless style, it can actually be tricky to get right. It's frustrating when you're facing a not-so-straight parting or lumps and bumps when all you want is a sleek, pulled-back pony.

"This is actually one of the hardest looks to achieve,” says Aaron Carlo, Tresemmé lead stylist. "The trick is to do it in two steps—you can’t do it in one! Firstly, divide the hair in half. Start by tipping your head back—this will prevent the bottom of your hair sagging out of the ponytail—and then section the hair from ear to ear and going across to the top of your head and secure that in a ponytail. Then you can begin drawing hair up from the bottom and secure that into the ponytail. This way, you have less distance and volume of hair to control, and you avoid getting those bits of hair at the back that don’t sit smooth." To finish, Carlo recommends using a strong-hold hair spray to lock in the style. 

If a carefully curated messy ponytail is more of your vibe but you can’t strike the balance between chic messy and messy messy, then Carlo advises you work with, rather than against, the natural texture of your hair. If you need to add some guts to the root for texture, "dry shampoo is your best friend," Carlo says. "Work in some dry shampoo at the roots, and then pull the hair into a topknot style, and secure it quite tightly. From here, you can pull out some face-framing bits, loosen hair at the roots to create that movement and body, and you can pin and place any loose bits of hair to create that 'I just threw my hair up' look that you know everyone wants."

Take a look below for the best ponytail hairstyles that we return to time and time again.

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Opening image: @jeannine.roxas.

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