“Behind every beautiful thing, there’s some kind of pain.”
― Bob Dylan

Love a high ponytail but hate the pain? Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello have each complained about the constant pain of wearing the ultra high, ultra long hairstyle. Is the ponytail the stiletto of hairstyles? Maybe but you don’t always have to suffer for the sake of beauty. bob + paige salon stylist Chandler Bond shares her tips on how to get a beautiful ponytail that’s (mostly) pain-free.

Is It Possible To Wear A Ponytail Without The Pain?

Ariana Grande’s ultra high ponytail is amazing but she recently revealed on Twitter how excruciatingly painful it is. I sometimes wonder how she’s stuck with it all this time! Some people just have a higher pain tolerance than others, but everyone feels a sense of relief when they finally let their hair down like Camila Cabello tweeted recently:

I’m not going to lie and tell you there’s a way to have a totally painless ponytail (you could take a pain killer but you may want to save those for your next root canal!). Luckily, unlike Miss Grande, a high pony isn’t something everyone is expected to be seen in daily. You won’t have to wear it for long hours on end! The longer your hair is up the more likely you are to feel that ache so choose an event that won’t be so prolonged. Also, the lower the pony, the less it will hurt.

Can Anyone Wear A High Pony Tail?

Not all face shapes suit this high pony look. If you have a long face, you might want to avoid as it will elongate it even more. It’s really best for people with round, oval or heart shaped faces because it draws the eye away from the bottom half of your face.

Looking for other ideas? Check out our guide to The Hottest Hairstyles in Toronto

What Kind Of Elastic Should I Use?

Using the right elastic is key to keeping pony pain to a minimum. My fellow hairstylist Alisha Leela swears by what she calls “slinky elastics”. She has just as much hair as Ariana so she knows what she’s talking about! At the salon we carry EZ Bobbles. They don’t snag and have a varying amount of tension for all types of hair.

How Can I Make Sure My Ponytail Stays In Place?

If you have long thick hair and want a pony that stays up and looks sleek, you’ll need: three bobby pins, one small claw clip, two elastics, a styling brush, and hair spray.

Step 1: Section the first quarter front of your hair from the top of your head to the back of your crown. Clip it away and deal with the bottom first.

Step 2: Use a boar bristle brush! My favourite is the FI Wilhelmina. It will help your hair come out smooth with the right tension. Brush your hair upwards into a pony underneath where your front section ends. Smooth everything out and make sure your tension is even. I find a lot of the times this section can end up sagging so tying your pony tight and smoothing it out is really important!

Step 3: Split off the top half section of this pony by taking your claw clip and placing it at the base of your elastic, in between your two sections. The top section should be sticking up. This will give your pony height and volume.

Step 4: Take your front section then brush and smooth it towards your back pony. Take your elastics and connect the two. The top section needs to be thick enough to cover the claw clip.

Step 5: Cover the elastics by taking a piece of hair from the bottom of the ponytail and wrapping it around the elastic. Use the bobby pins to secure it, grip side (the bumpy side) down.

Step 6: Smooth out the sides and seal it all with hairspray! My favourite spray is Superfine by Oribe.

More Celebs Rocking The Best Hair!

I Need More Volume!

If you want a pony with more volume tease it from mid-shaft to base, but don’t go too crazy! A good way to keep the volume is to use Powder Cloud by Schwarzkopf. It’s a sprayable powder that creates amazing texture and grip.

Need a ponytail tutorial? Make an appointment with a stylist at bob + paige salon.