Ponytails...

[ToastedTeacakes]

So what's the deal with ponytails?
You hear them referenced when people claim to resist making any effort, as if wearing one somehow signifies a lack of self care or as a last resort on a bad hair day.

I have curly hair which I straighten. It works well and is in decent condition, but since always wearing it tied back or plaited as a child I grew up obsessed with being able to wear it loose and long like the 'normal' kids (who to my eyes always had straight hair, alas).

Thing is, it is mid length now, sort of bra strap length, and I feel that I don't look my best when wearing it down. I've got a fringe growing out and my hair never seems to lie flat or convincingly 'chic' whenever I wear it loose. But I'm still fighting to achieve this, which is kind of daft, isn't it?
Thing is, when I toss it into a loose, messy ponytail my face instantly lights up, looks prettier (for wont of a better word!), younger, and my over all look seems more pulled together - yet this contrasts with how we generally perceive ponytails, and..... yes I am overthinking this!

What are your thoughts on this, and for those of you who don't have naturally pin straight hair, how are you most comfortable wearing it?

I'd love to stick my hair up, but I have long thick chunks that grow down my neck, that I'm very conscious of looking odd.

Startail Now I wish my neck wasn't so bare and that there was a bit more growing there!

I've been thinking about curly/frizzy/wavy hair, especially the porous type like my own, which looks so sleek and soft once straightened (either with hairdryer or ghd's), only to be completely rearranged once the first glorious hour has worn off. The environment really 'shapes' this type of hair, we are completely at the mercy of the elements. And not just the weather, either...my hair can alter dramatically from wash to wash, as if every attempt to deal with it is a gamble.

Wearing it tied up today.
Will regret this once outdoors and unable to stick my woolly hat on!

My ponytail is definitely lack of effort. But my hair is incredibly boring and I have no idea how to do anything better

I alternate hair down (the days I wash it) and hair tied up, usually pony but sometimes lazy bun (i.e. pony not completely pulled through!).

My hair is dead straight, thick and barely shoulder length. Have tried the tutorials but my hair is either too short or so heavy it just falls out

I hate hair spray etc. which I suppose might be the answer, but I know from my wedding etc. that I'd need to use a whole can for my hair to stay in place!

Mine is of the porous, wavy, frizzy variety. I have tried endless styling products to no avail, without fail they make it greasy/lanky looking, I think they must work better on properly straight or curly hair. I do choose my shampoo and conditioner carefully and it makes a big difference but still not great. If I do straighten it it looks good so long as I only do it gently and leave the ends slightly curled, gives it a swoosh, but it takes ages. Same for BBH.

Baaartimaeus, I do the 'pony not quite pulled through' also! Like a floppy bun.

WhoKnows, I use Kerastase and have don for years now. It's the only product I can work with. The green range is great if hair is a bit brittle and damaged, then back to the orange range for heat protection once hair is manageable again. It isn't a miracle solution by any stretch, but it is the best I've found for my own hair. Oddly, the much hailed 'miracle oil' by the same brand does nothing for me (the crazy expensive one which gets almost 100% super reviews on the internet).

I did find that the less product I pile on after washing the better. I was previously using both Kerastase heat protector and a Bumble&Bumble styling cream...AND the failed miracle oil. My hair was stupidly overloaded. Just the protector cream is enough - with a round brush, aiming dryer downwards, etc.