How to Keep a Ponytail in All Day

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When you're headed to the gym or the grocery store, it's convenient and quick to throw your hair into a ponytail. If you plan to leave home for the whole day, though, your ponytail might not stay in place as long as you'd like. Ponytails have a bad habit of drooping, falling or coming undone a few hours after you've put up your hair. With the right products and technique, you can keep your ponytail in place all day.

Step 1

Dampen your hair with water before putting it into a ponytail. If you've just showered, let your hair dry until it's damp.

Step 2

Rub a volumizing product into your hair from the roots to the ends. This gives your hair a boost and keeps it from falling flat.

Step 3

Apply mousse, dry shampoo or a few spritzes of hairspray to your hair to give it some texture. Work the product through with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.

Step 4

Blow-dry your hair if it's still wet or damp. Don't put your hair in a ponytail until it's dry.

Step 5

Pull your hair behind your head. Hold your hair in one hand, and then pull it up toward the crown of your head.

Step 6

Brush your hair with a boar-hair paddle brush. This will help smooth it down and eliminate frizz.

Step 7

Tilt your head back slightly; brush smooth the hair on the nape of your neck. This keeps your ponytail from sagging.

Step 8

Secure the ponytail with a slip-resistant elastic hair tie. The elastic grips your hair and helps keep the ponytail in place.

Step 9

Brush the ponytail with a tail comb to get rid of bumps and uneven spots.

Step 10

Spray the finished ponytail with light- or medium-hold hairspray. This helps your hair stay smooth all day.