How to Make a Poofy Ponytail

Last Updated: January 13, 2021 References

Poofy, fluffy, voluminous ponytails are popular, and for various reasons. Curly-haired people have it easy; they can simply pull their hair up into a ponytail and go! Those with straight or thin hair, however, will have to put in a little extra effort in order to gain some extra fluff. With a few clever tricks, however, it's possible to turn a thin, sleek ponytail into a thick, poofy one!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making a Simple Poofy Ponytail

1
Brush or comb your hair. Even though you will be teasing your hair to create the poofy ponytail, you still want it to be free of any knots and tangles. Take a moment to brush out your hair.
2
Consider curling your hair if it is straight. You don't have to do this, but it will help create additional volume, especially in the ponytail part. It will also help add texture to your hair and make it easier to style.^{[1]
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- The best way to curl your hair for a poofy ponytail is roller setting. You can use other curling methods, but the curls won't hold as well.
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3
Lightly mist your hair with a texturizing or volumizing spray.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Hairsprays, basic texturizing sprays, and dry shampoo sprays are all great options. Fluff your hair up in between sprays and be sure to get the inner layers as well.^{[3]
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4
Tease the hair at the top of your head. Working one section at a time, tease your hair using a rat-tail comb. Make the section span from your forehead to the back of your crown, and eyebrow to eyebrow.^{[4]
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- Always tease from the back side of the hair section, otherwise it will be visible.
- If you want to add a center or off-center part to your ponytail, do not backcomb the first 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of your hair.^{[5]
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5
Mist your hair with hairspray again, if needed. This really depends on how much volume you want in your hair. If you want a bouffant-like bump on your head, then you should mist the teased sections with some hairspray. If you don't want the bouffant-like bump, you can skip this part.^{[6]
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6
Gently smooth your hair back into a ponytail. Pull it back tighter at the sides, and looser at the top so that you don't flatten out the teasing. Use your hands or a brush (if you are careful) to smooth back the teased part. Secure the ponytail with a hair tie.^{[7]
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- If you did not tease the front part of your hair, exclude this from your ponytail.^{[8]
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7
Part and sweep back the front part of your hair, if you left it out earlier. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb to part the loose, un-teased hair. A center part would look wonderful, but you can create an off-center part too. Sweep each side of the part back towards the ponytail and secure with bobby pins.^{[9]
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- If your hair is very long, you may have to add it to the ponytail, and secure it with another hair tie.
- If you gathered all of your hair into the ponytail, skip this step.
8
Fluff out your ponytail for extra volume. You can do this simply by splitting the ponytail in half, and gently tugging on each part. Lightly mist your hair with hairspray again to set the style.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making an Extra-Poofy Ponytail

1
Start with tangle-free hair. Even though you will be creating a voluminous ponytail, you still want it to look neat. Brush or comb through your hair to get rid of any knots or tangles.
2
Gather your hair into a half-up, half-down bun. Begin making a half-up, half-down ponytail, at ear-level and up. Instead of wrapping a hair tie around it, twist it into a loose bun and secure it with a clip.^{[10]
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- Don't worry about making the bun perfect; you'll come back to it.
- Keep the horizontal part neat and clean. Use the handle of a rat-tail comb if you have to.
3
Create a ponytail just below half-up, half-down bun. Gather all of the loose hair from the bottom layer. Pull it into a mid-high ponytail, as close to the horizontal part as you can. Secure the ponytail with a hair tie.
- Use a hair tie that matches your hair color, if possible.
4
Split the ponytail in half horizontally. You can do this with your finger or with the handle of a rat-tail comb. Pull the upper layer away to reveal the bottom.
5
Clamp a mini claw clip over the bottom layer. Open the claw clip up and clamp it over the lower layer of your split ponytail. Try to get it as close to your head as possible. You want the teeth part pointing down, and the handle part pointing up.^{[11]
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- For best results, use a claw clip that is close to your hair color and about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) long.
- This method works best if your hair is past shoulder-length.
6
Let go of the top part of your ponytail. Allow the hair to fall naturally over the claw clip. Adjust it as needed to further hide the claw clip from view. Don't worry if a tiny bit peeks out, however; you still have the hair that's up in the bun!
7
Undo the half-up, half-down bun and tease it. Undo the bun first, then gather hair at the top of your head. It should span from about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) behind your front hairline to the back of your crown, and eyebrow to eyebrow. Tease the hair a few sections as a time.^{[12]
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- You will have loose hair at your front and side hairlines. Do not tease this hair.
8
Gather all of the loose hair and add it to the ponytail. Add all of the teased hair into the ponytail first. Next, smooth the un-teased hair at your hairline into the ponytail to hide the teasing.^{[13]
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9
Secure everything with a hair tie. Add a second hair tie for more support, if needed. Alternatively, you can create a bungee cord with a hair tie and two bobby pins:^{[14]
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- Slide two bobby pins onto a hair tie, one on each side.
- Slide the first bobby pin through the base of your ponytail.
- Wind the hair tie tightly around the ponytail, like winding thread.
- Slide the second bobby pin through the base of the ponytail as well.
10
Consider adding a second claw clip for even more volume. Use the same technique as before: split the ponytail in half horizontally, then clamp a claw clip over the lower half. Drape the upper layer over the claw clip.^{[15]
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11
Set the style with a light misting of hairspray. Choose something specifically designed for adding volume so that it does not weigh your ponytail down.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Finding Quick Solutions

1
Pull your ponytail apart for instant volume. Split your ponytail in half so that you have a left side and a right side. Gently tug on both sides at the same time until you feel the hair tie scoot closer to your head. Let go of your ponytail and check it out.
- If you need more volume, repeat the process, but split it horizontally so that you have a top and bottom section.
2
Tease your ponytail in more than one section. Create a basic ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Divide your ponytail into three horizontal sections. Backcomb each section, then smooth your ponytail down, if needed.^{[16]
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- Lightly mist the teased sections with volumizing hairspray for even more poof.^{[17]
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3
Add a mini claw clip. Do a basic ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Split it in half horizontally. Close a mini claw clip over the base of the bottom section, then drape the upper section back on top.^{[18]
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- Be sure to use claw clip close to your own hair color.
4
Use two hair ties if your ponytail is drooping. If you have thick hair, your ponytail may look limp due to all that extra weight.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Start by doing a regular ponytail and securing it with a hair tie. Wrap a second hair tie around the first one; it's okay if it extends onto the ponytail itself.^{[20]
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5
Prop a limp ponytail up with bobby pins. Slide two bobby pins under the base of your ponytail making an X. Have the left bobby pin point to the right, and the right one point to the left. This will create a support for the ponytail to rest on and give it some lift.^{[21]
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- Use a third bobby pin, if needed.^{[22]
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6
Stack two ponytails on top of each other. Split your hair in half horizontally. Pull the upper half into a half-up, half-down ponytail and secure it with a hair tie. Add the bottom layer of your hair to the ponytail, and secure everything with another hair tie.^{[23]
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- Tease the hair at the crown of your head first for extra volume.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I hydrate my hair?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

I suggest using a really hydrating shampoo and conditioner that will put hydration back into your hair. To control frizz in dry hair, try combing your hair in the shower after you condition as the water is still running over it. When you get out of the shower, dry your hair with an old t-shirt or a microfiber towel and add a control cream.
Question

Why is my hair so frizzy?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Shampoo and conditioner that contain a lot of sulfates and parabens can really dry out your hair. Often times these products contain an aggressive cleanser that will break down and dry out the hair. Consider using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner instead. It's best to refrain from washing your hair every day. If you can, you should also avoid heat styling as much as possible.
Question

My hair is really thick and long and I can't get it all in a high ponytail. It keeps sagging down in spite of all the tricks that are provided in the article. What should I do?

Myleigha Thiel

Community Answer

Put some dry shampoo in your hair, then add some hairspray and put your hair in a ponytail.