Hair & Nails

The perfect tail is how you get it

(and he looks just like Hailey Bieber's)

By
Collage of women with high tails and slick back hairstyles in the style of Hailey Bieber.

Making a nice high ponytail is like a date with someone you've ghosted three times: it can be heavenly, or you end up with a limp, sad bun and a hefty dose of self-pity. Such a perfect Hailey Bieber ponytail is simply an art that not everyone possesses naturally. But hey, sometimes you just want to try something nice without spending hours in the bathroom – and not end up with your hairdryer in the toilet out of frustration. Just a look that appears effortless, as if you have a private team of hairstylists. Yes: it’s really possible. In twenty minutes, with just a hair tie and a blow-dry brush, you’ll look like the slick back queen herself before you know it.

Step 1: divide your hair.

Yes, you have to face it: you can't just comb everything back, throw in a ponytail, and go. If you want the perfect ponytail, you need to put in a bit more effort. So you start by evenly dividing your hair. Grab a tail comb (you know, that thin comb with a strong piece at the bottom) and use it to create your part. By sliding along here, you ensure that all your hair is even.

2. The secret to the perfect slick back ponytail

Okay, so we’re going to slick it back, but why does this specific ‘method’ work to keep your hair looking nice? That’s because of a secret: we’re going to make two ponytails. This way, you can center the slick back to the side, and it stays in place longer than if you try to shove everything into one ponytail. How do you do that? Like this: Clip the right section of your hair with a clip and focus all your attention on the left side. Spray it wet – and I don’t mean soaking wet as if you just swam a marathon, but towel-dry.

Oh, and important: don’t use crazy wax, just a small handful of leave-in conditioner and a light gel cream. Start with the leave-in that you distribute through the right side of your hair with your fingers. Once this is well distributed, do the same with the gel cream. Then make a high ponytail with a slightly thinner hair tie. Do this first with your hands at the level you want. Then brush with a brush made of real animal hair (instead of plastic). This ensures that your hair stays in place really well. Do the same on the other side and then you’re done. No, just kidding. Although this is already a nice hairstyle, you came for one ponytail. Not two little ones, so we’re going to combine these two.

Step 3: from two ponytails to a seamless look

Actually, this is very simple: you take the two ponytails together and wrap a thicker hair tie around them. Pull it tight, but leave a little space at your scalp.

Step 4: make a ‘double’ ponytail

Pull the ponytail through the hole that’s still at the front. You can easily do this by sticking your fingers straight into this hole and pulling the ponytail through. This way, you don’t have to push hard. Pull the ponytail tight again. How much time did this take? Five minutes? Well, then you already have a nice high ponytail in five minutes.

Step 5: style the finishing touches

But yes, you’re not here for a nice ponytail. You want a perfect ponytail. You can do this by styling the ponytail with your round brush. Start by pulling the entire ponytail from the bottom to the top: this makes it nice and tight and sleek. This ensures that you can see the shine of those products well. Then you’re going to brush the ends of the entire ponytail upwards. You do this by holding the blow-dry brush at the bottom and rolling the ends up a little. You wanted the Hailey Bieber swoop? Then you’ll get the Hailey Bieber swoop. And please: don’t grab all your hair together to try that movement. Take it section by section. Work in small sections, otherwise you won’t get a bouncy, thick ponytail. Finally, spray some hairspray in and you’re ready for the day. This isn’t something you have time for every morning, but that’s okay – because yes, it’s not healthy for your hair to comb it back so tightly day in and day out. And no, don’t do it on freshly washed hair, because then it’s at its weakest. Do this on the third day after washing, so your hair is already a bit sticky and stays in place even better.

There you go, now you know how to make the perfect high ponytail. Perfect for any special occasion or just for the office. Because why should we limit special things to a certain day? You can always be there. Style them.