How can I tie my hair back without looking like a potato?

[AlJalilia]

So my head already looks like a potato. And now in my new job I have to have my hair tied back. I am literally scraping it all back into a low ponytail and I look even more spud-like 😞.

Is there anything I can do to make it look better? Maybe something with the front of my hair, or a fringe or something?

I have a large, fat face and really need your help. Thanks.

A useful trick to add some volume on top is to put the pony tail higher and a tad looser then out a clip crossways underneath the pony tail.
Then push the pony tail up thus creating a slightly higher top and hairspray the top. Hold it in place a few seconds to set.
Use a tail comb to pull out a few tendrils around the face to soften it.
Also, doing the above but stating with the pony tail slightly off centre gives a less boring look, looks a little swept to the side.

I look like I'm wearing a bad wig when I try to do a low ponytail.
Mine is curly, so I do it in a top knot and channel my inner who from Whoville

Don't worry, most people have eyes.

(is that what you meant?)

Just go for a full fringe and have it feathered/chopped into a bit so it does not look too square. Have always had a fringe and am 53 now. Have dead straight hair and did try to grow it out once but a fringe just suits me I guess and does make a person look younger. Am sure you do not look like a potato but none of us look great with hair scraped back to be honest.

Scraped back, low ponytails should be left to the supermodels Agree with PPs it’s all about creating a bit of volume at the back. This doesn’t have to be done any fancy way if you don’t have time you can just loosen it a bit with your fingers around your crown. Then pull out a few loose hangy-downy bits at the front. Takes about 20 seconds once you know what you’re aiming for. If I you have a bit more time then definitely the most flattering thing is to curl hair first. Just makes everything sit better. Curtain fringe could be lovely, but be careful if you do get a curtain fringe that you will probably still need some volume in the ponytail or else it will just be like a halo round your face.

Has anyone seen Michael Cimino's disastrous vanity project and box office mega flop Heaven's Gate? with French actress Isabelle Huppert?

Cimino's backer, United Artists, was vehemently opposed to casting her. As he confesses in his book Final Cut, Steven Bach, one of the studio's senior executives, thought she had a face like a potato.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/a-chameleons-eloquent-gaze-20070710-gdqkuv.html

I look much nicer when I have a central part and French plait down each side. Takes a bit of practice but I think it looks nice when it is not perfect. This sort of thing. It works with quite short hair too.

Try parting the front section and twisting the sides bits back before adding them to the pony tail.

Learn to do french plaits. You can plait the sides and gather both plaits into apiny at the back. Or just french plait the top section of your hair and sweep into a high pony.

Experiment with pull through hairstyles (there are lots of YouTube video's on these), easy chignons or buns.

I do a plait or a twist on each side and then pull them out a bit to loosen them off, plus I have a curtain fringe. Stops too much potato-ness.

Taking eager notes here - I look like Trunchbull with my hair up. Nothing works at all. I honestly cannot fathom how people achieve a slightly messy ponytail.

I look like a gammon with a face drawn on when my hair's tied up.

So I now have a curtain fringe. It's long enough and layered enough to blend with my hair when it's down, but equally provides decent gammon-camouflage when tied up. Messy bun/messy french pleat also work better for me than ponytails or plaits.

Just tried a YouTube French plait tutorial and now I want to cry (and have aching arms).

Sorry OP,I've got nothing useful to add (being a bit of a potato head myself I sympathise) but your description did make me laugh!

So basically you need a way to add volume to the sides and top, without the whole thing falling apart. Reading with interest, as I have the same problem myself.

Sorry nothing helpful to add but your title made me laugh cos I have this problem myself!

I’m signing up for tips as another member of the potato squad.

I got a kind of fringe cut recently, I described it to the hairdresser as curtains! My fringe has a centre part and each half is a bit diagonal. Sorry I can't think of a better description! I think it looks much nicer when my hair is up, less harsh. In fact someone commented that I looked nice today!

@TinaYouFatLard

Just tried a YouTube French plait tutorial and now I want to cry (and have aching arms).

Keep practicing. I gets easier, neater and quicker.

@AlJalilia

What style of fringe would suit a fat, wide face?

I'd say this style

@TinaYouFatLard

Taking eager notes here - I look like Trunchbull with my hair up. Nothing works at all. I honestly cannot fathom how people achieve a slightly messy ponytail.

I came on this thread to say exactly the same thing!! I have some days when I could just about pull off the ‘I just woke up and threw my hair up in a high bun and looking good’ and most days where it’s very Trunchbull-esque. Big fan of dry shampoo.

Try putting two barrettes in the front, one at each side, to sweep up your hair at the front and give a bit of height, then you can ponytail the back. Works for my potato head

It’s having fine thin hair that’s the problem for me, the model above has masses of thick hair it’s so easy to throw it up into a messy bun and look gorgeous without even trying! when you have thin hair there is just nothing to work with it’s so frustrating.

Shamelessly placemarking as I'm a potato head too!

i would probaby use a nice headband, and then loop sections of hair up with hair slides in different places. I have a female delivery driver with longish hair, and she makes bunches, and then clips up the hair at the back,with some slides.