These days, balancing out our office, gym anddating life looks can be a challenge. While pint-sized cosmetics and hacks that let you use your makeup kit essentials in multiple ways keep you covered in that department, there’s not too much out there that shows girls easy ways to transform their hair throughout the day. We’re filling that hole here with step-by-step styling tips on how to take your ponytail from office to gym to date seamlessly. Scroll through to see the totable tools, products, accessories and know-how you need to completely revamp your locks on-the-go.
Office Ponytail
Bun It Up for the Gym
Ok, ok! Yes, technically speaking this is NOT a ponytail, it’s a bun. But so what! Here’s why you want to do this style: Ponytails during a workout can get in the way, not to mention can pick up the sweat from your neck and shoulders. which does not make going out after very easy. Adding a few braids to your ponytail and wrapping them up into a bun will make your post-workout hair prep a game changer, because the humidity and heat your head gives off during a workout will make your braids set your hair into waves, the perfect base for your date night look!
Take out your sophisticated ponytail and use a resetting spray like Bumble and bumble Tonic Lotion ($20) to help break down any product in your hair with the vitamins and tea tree oil that are infused into it. Not to mention, it smells ridiculously amazing!
Step 1: Pull Out Your Office Pony + Prep Hair
Pull all of your hair up into a high ponytail. It’s better if you don’t pull your hair too tight or comb through. It will help later when you pull out the bun and braids. Put a bunch of braids into your ponytail, all varying in size. You don’t need to put elastics at the ends, just braid and go.
Step 2: Place Hair In a High Ponytail + Add Braids
Take all of the small braids and twist together to start making a bun. Once your hair is all wrapped up to make a bun, use another elastic to secure it in place.
Step 3: Twist Up + Secure It
Get Date Ready
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All those little braids have been heated and cooled off by now, and as you take them out, you can see they are ready to get you on your way to the perfect date-night hair. It’s okay if your hair is a little messy at this point — in fact, it will help. Spray your roots all the way to your ends with a dry shampoo — my new favorite for special occasions (because it is kind of expensive): Dry Bar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Spray ($26). It leaves your hair fresh and clean-feeling like a dry shampoo, it absorbs any oils or moisture (like sweat), has UV protection and, oh yeah, it smells like cotton candy! Once it’s in your hair, use your fingers to shake through your hair to blend.
Step 1: Pull Out Your Braided Bun, Dry Shampoo + Fluff
Use a rat tail comb to add body and texture to your roots by back-coming thin sections of hair.
Step 2: Add Body
Pull your hair in to a mid-height ponytail and use a piece of the hair from the ponytail to wrap around the elastic to disguise it. Pin that in place with bobby pins.
Step 3: Add Pony + Wrap
Real talk: carrying a curling iron can be a little much, but a flat iron is doable, especially if you get one of these BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Irons ($30), a cute full-powered travel-sized iron to keep in your bag. Use your flat iron to put a bunch of waves in your pony to help add texture to your already slightly waved hair from the braids. Bust out your fine-tooth comb again and gently backcomb your curls to blend them together. This will give your hair a fuller, more polished look.
Step 4: Wave It + Tease It
Step 5: Pucker UP!
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What are your favorite products that you would use in this case? I would love to try more of YOUR recommendations! Let me know in the comments section below!
