Ah, the ponytail: The no-frills hairstyle we wear to the gym, around the house or running errands. At least that's what it used to be. Unlike the plain Jane ponytails of the past, this summer's ponytail hairstyles are turning heads. Inspired by the runway, the blogosphere and the city streets, we're seeing voluminous texture, woven details and other creative elements that are taking the age-old ponytail to 2016. Here, we present the 25 ponytail tutorials we're most excited about this summer -- from high-fashion styles to quick looks anyone can master.
If you've ever wondered how the heck it's possible that every Hollywood starlet always has amazing hair, it's not just because they're genetically blessed or have a stylist on-call at all times (although that obviously doesn't hurt). The secret behind the celebs' luscious locks -- and all those stunning styles you see on Insta -- is clip-in hair extensions. Trust us, even if they say they're not wearing them, they are. So if you feel like your locks are lacking, extensions offer the perfect solution. Clip 'em in for a night, take them out the next. Voila: Instant versatility.
Unless you happen to be a mermaid (unlikely), Gigi Hadid (if only), or my beloved Golden Retriever, Lucy (ditto), chances are that rocking a long, luscious and meticulously coiffed mane just isn't in the cards during the wretchedly hot and humid months of summer. And though we love what the season's unrelenting sun and warmth does for our mood, social life and yearly outdoor concert quota, we could definitely do without the downright fugly number it does on our blowout. Case in point? From June to August, ponytails become our BFF, MVP, the yin to our yang, if you will.
Sure, a good blowout or fresh cut and color can be a huge mood-booster. But for those of us busy women who are already juggling a million-and-one things on a daily basis, getting to the salon often feels more like a chore than a treat -- which is kind of a problem when it comes to keeping your hair color looking fresh.
There comes a point in every woman's life when she realizes coloring her hair is inevitable. Maybe it's the result of pesky grays that seem to sprout like weeds; maybe it's the result of grown-out roots that are the product of canceling on the stylist one too many times. However, in spite of how badly we may need a hair color touch-up, it isn't always easy to get to the salon.
As much as we love a meticulously contoured complexion, intricate updo or 12-step skin care routine from time to time, we also know how to embrace our inner-lazy girl -- which means keeping our hair, skin and makeup flawless with the least possible effort.
In our list of vital hair products, hairspray is number one. After all, what's the point of creating perfect curls or a gorgeous updo if it just falls flat an hour later? Hairspray prevents our hair from drooping, but that doesn't mean just any old spray will do. In addition to keeping our hairstyles in place, it shouldn't make hair feel crunchy, crispy or sticky.
For anyone with fine or thin hair, the phrase "best hair oil" probably sounds like an oxymoron. We may stock up on dry shampoos to combat greasy roots, but the addition of oil can be an asset to your hair-styling routine. With ingredients like vitamins A, B and E, hair oils are like superfoods for your hair, making hair look healthier immediately while protecting it from future damage caused by the environment and heat and styling tools.
Finding a beauty look that flatters you isn't easy -- if it were, looking at high school yearbook photos wouldn't make you cringe. That's why understanding how to pick a hair color can be such tricky business.
Mermaid beauty is officially here, and it's the perfect way to live out your childhood dreams of living in a fairytale. Whether it's with mermaid-approved packaging (honestly, aquamarine scales make everything better), formulas packed with mermaid-approved ingredients (kelp, anyone?), or even shimmery, shiny mermaid-approved colors, there are tons of ways to pay homage to your favorite mythical creature. Heck, you can even go for mermaid hair -- the opportunities are basically endless.
As hair and beauty technology continues to improve, every step of your routine is rapidly becoming, well, more rapid, not to mention easier. These days, you can even color your hair at home in a mere 10 minutes -- something that would have been unthinkable in decades gone by.
There's no sugar-coating it: Finding your first gray hair can be a mildly traumatizing experience. And though we're all about those women who rock a silver style, we totally get that a very large part of the population would rather conceal those annoying, stubborn grays. So while you really can't control when you start going gray (it's due to a combination of factors including genetics, stress, and hormones), happily, you can control how you deal with it. Ahead, Lucille Javier, a New York City-Based colorist, shares her top tips.
The saying "you always want what you can't have" is never more applicable than to a woman's relationship with her hair. And women with thin, fine hair will always want the kind of thick, voluminous hair that would make Connie Britton throw up her hands and go home.
We heart a good hair salon appointment as much as the next girl. Whether for color, a fresh cut or just a blowout, nothing quite beats the feeling of walking out with strands that could star in a shampoo commercial. But if there's no time (or, let's be real, moolah) to hit up the salon regularly, there's still a lot you can do to score top-notch tresses. Ahead, experts share the best advice for giving your hair salon-worthy love, all in the privacy of your own home.
Every great new hair color involves an investment of time and money -- and smart women know you've got to protect your investments. That's why any clued-in colorist will tell you how you care for your colored or bleached hair affects your results dramatically.
Sometimes, it feels like you have fewer hairstyle options when you have curly hair -- you endlessly scroll through hair tutorials and hairstyle ideas that just don't really apply to you, and it's kind of disheartening. Luckily, though, a deep dive into Instagram and Pinterest (as well as archives of celebs on the red carpet) proves that there are plenty of great looks out there for curly hair as well.
Bedhead. "It" girl. Model-off-duty. The tousled, undone hairstyle that's been all over our Instagram feeds goes by many names, all evocative of its effortlessly sexy vibe. But unless your name is Gigi Hadid, your hair probably doesn't naturally fall in perfectly messy, textured waves -- which is where this hair tutorial comes in.
Blorange: have you heard about the new hair color trend yet? For those unfamiliar with the term, think of it as something akin to a strawberry blonde... on neon pastel steroids. There are many variations and interpretations of the newly popular color, but in essence it combines orange, red and blonde tones for something that's altogether pretty darn extraordinary.
