Tail Spin

Ponytails have never been so popular--or so chic. From the runway to the red carpet, the sporty do got a high-glamour makeover for summer. Here are some simple styling tips and the pretty hair accessories you want right now.

On the Up & Up
A pony placed high on the head is a stylish way to ride out the heat and
humidity--not to mention give cheekbones an instant lift.

Step 1: To achieve a super-sleek look, dampen hair with a frizz-fighting spray and slick it back using a boar-bristle brush. Or for a softer take, Kate Beckinsale's stylist, Adir Abergel, suggests applying volumizer to the roots and teasing them gently.
Step 2: Gather hair up high (at the back of the crown) and secure with a thick elastic to prevent sagging.
Step 3: For an elegant finish, run a flatiron over the tail, or use a curling iron to coax it into a soft twist.

Wave Rider
Flouncy and flirty, the new low pony lets you embrace tousled texture and still look perfectly polished.

Step 1: Add body and bounce by applying a volumizer to damp hair, then blow-dry using a medium round brush.
Step 2: Concentrating on the mid-shaft down, wrap 2-inch sections of hair around a 1-inch-barrel curling iron. Once the waves have set and cooled, tease them lightly from roots to ends.
Step 3: For extra lift, Kate Hudson's stylist, David Babaii, says to muss roots with your fingertips and gather hair from the central part of the crown into a small elastic.
Step 4: Sweep loose hair into a low ponytail and wrap a few strands around the base to hide the rubber band.

It's a Wrap
With a colorful head scarf you can tame stubborn flyaways, mask roots and protect hair from the sun--all while looking like you've just returned from an exotic globe trot.

Step 1: Give hair hold--without the helmet effect--by misting it with texturizing spray from roots to ends. "You want your hair to appear as if you've just stepped out of the ocean and casually pulled it back into a ponytail," says hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, who created the Polynesian-inspired looks at the Diane von Furstenberg show.
Step 2: Gather dampened locks into a mid-height ponytail and rub a lightweight defining cream over the tail for a beachy finish.
Step 3: Fold your scarf into a 3-inch-wide strip and wrap it around your head so that the edge hits right at your hairline (if you have bangs, push the scarf back 2 inches so that hair swoops across your forehead). Tie the scarf into a knot and "let the ends hang down the back for a carefree, sexy look," says Fekkai.

Ponytail Dont's?
Yes!! Pigtails and braids are fine for the under 15 set, but a little too "adorable" for adult women. You'll wind up looking cheap or like you're trying too hard..or just plain silly. No matter how young you feel or think you look, leave the pigtails and braids to your daughters.


On that note...