5 Messy Long Hair Ponytails and When to Wear Them

Ponytails and long hair go hand-in-hand. You cannot go wrong with a sleek, slick, barbie ponytail when you want depth, but when it comes to texture, movement, and fun, the messy ponytail is where to turn.

Because you can leave bangs out, it works for all face shapes. And unlike the sleek versions, you can have volume and depth by teasing your hair. It's easy to add pops of color by using scrunchies and spiral hair ties instead of elastic. It works great for sports because the pops of color can match team colors.

If you’re ready to style a messy ponytail that keeps long hair off your shoulders so they can breathe, and secured if you’re playing sports, here are five of our favorites and how to do them. Please note that if you want to leave bangs out for face framing, do that before starting the ponytail or braiding sections.

Side Braided Messy Ponytail

This is a more advanced level hairstyle, but it is the ultimate in texture for the side ponytail family. It’s the perfect vacation, school, or everyday look. You get the look of a French braid combined with the casual elegance of a messy pony, and a show stopping hairstyle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HairByRachel | Rachel Sarff (@_hairbyrachel_)

1. Start by sectioning off the back of your hair and hold it in a ponytail with a hair tie leaving sections from the front and side.
2. Part the front section down the middle and off to the sides with a rat tail comb or your fingers.
3. Begin a standard French braid by taking three small sections from the front by crossing the right strand over the middle, and then the left over the right.
4. Add a section of hair from the section behind and add it into the weaving pattern, then repeat on the left until you have a three strand French braid down the side of your head.  Secure it with a tiny hair tie or bobby pin.
5. Now do the other side if you want braids on both, or keep the look asymmetrical by only doing one.
6. Remove the ponytail from step one and pull back both sides of the hair into the nape of your neck and combine into a single ponytail. This lets the braid sit against your head.
7. Tease the braid so it has the thickness and look you’d like, and style the ponytail to your liking.

Curly Hair, Voluminous Messy Ponytail

It works for all seasons, looks fab, and there’s really no casual or fun event you cannot enjoy this style at. This is because the flip over the hair tie lets your ponytail slip through a helmet and keeps your hair off your shoulders and behind your head.

1. Curl your hair with a curling iron or if you have time try heatless curls.
2. Carefully brush knots out of your hair without pulling your curls out.
3. Pull your hair back to just below the crown of your head and secure it with a hair tie.
4. Tease a hole between your head and the ponytail, then feed the ponytail through the hole from the inside out over the top. This adds volume and depth.
5. Now style the ponytail to your liking.

Simple Messy High Ponytail

From playing tennis to a lazy day at home, sometimes you just want to set it and forget it. For these moments a simple messy pony is perfect. And it's an easy hairstyle to do for all skill levels.

1. Pull your hair back to the crown of your head.
2. Take a hair tie and feed your hair through until the tie has a firm grip.
3. Run your fingers through your hair to pull any snags through so the ponytail hangs free.

Messy Bubble Braids

For a show stopping style on a first date, at a party, for school, or fun, you cannot go wrong with a messy bubble braided ponytail. The bubbles add texture and flare while the hair ties, hair clips, or scrunchies add pops of color and fabric to carry your looks palette from head to toe.

This style can be done the classic way to the back of your head, or add a vintage flare by doing a side ponytail. There’s really no wrong way as you are the only one that should ever define your style.

1. Pull your hair back to the crown of your head and secure it with a hair tie.
1. You want this to hold strong, so if you want a hair clip or scrunchie, place the hair clip over the hair tie as an adornment, and if the scrunchie is loose, double loop it. 
2. Take about two inches of hair below the base of the ponytail and add another hair fastener like a hair tie, a scrunchie, or a mini claw clip.
1. For larger bubbles, do three or four inches instead of two.
3. Tease the section of hair until it forms a bubble in the shape and size you're looking for.
4. Now repeat these steps to create the rest of the bubbles in the braid until you reach the bottom.
5. Last, tease the bubbles to the desired shape and thickness. You can do alternating sizes, all equal, or whatever look you’re feeling.

There’s a fun variation of this look with long hair. You can make it a half-up half down by sectioning your hair into a top and lower section. Or create the bubble braid on the top half, and then leave the lower portion down. It creates a nice contrast.

Messy Pull Through Braid

The pull through braid looks advanced, and is elegant enough to work for any formal occasion, but it's actually really easy to do. It’s as simple as creating a ponytail multiple times. The trick is getting the right amount of hair for each section so it stays even and forms the look you want.

1. Start by pulling your hair back and take a small section of hair at the upper crown of your head and hold it in a ponytail with a hair tie, then secure it in a hair clip at the top of your head.
2. Now take an equal small section of hair from below the first ponytail on each side and secure them in a ponytail below the top ponytail.
3. Remove the top ponytail from the hair clip and split it in half, then lift the second ponytail through the middle and secure the second ponytail on the top of your head where the first one was secured. The first ponytail should now be split into two strands.
4. Take two more equal sections of hair from the sides of your head and combine them with the two strands so you now have a single ponytail again.
5. Release the top ponytail from the hair clip so you have an upper and lower ponytail, and repeat this same process until you get to the bottom of the ponytail.
6. Secure it with a hair tie.

Messy ponytails can be elegant, they can be casual, and they can be styled with ribbons, claw clips, hair pins, or left plain. There’s no limit when it comes to this look. If you found this style guide helpful, subscribe to the TELETIMES by entering your email below for more just like it.