Ponytails are here to stay

Forget braids and buns. A high ponytail looks best this season.
If there is one defining hair look for the season, it is the ponytail. Today, the style that is as simple as sweeping hair off the face and tying it up in a rubber band is now the most happening hairdo of the year. Going by the number of celebs wearing ponytails at the Golden Globes, namely Amanda Peet, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicole Richie and others, the trend is a hit among the A-listers too.
The ideal ponytail requires hair with some volume and the more sleek and shiny it is, the better it looks. “Wearing a ponytail for an important social event is the big thing now, as opposed to the updos and braids of the past,” say trend watchers. “Wearing your hair in a neat and sporty ponytail is one way to look sophisticated this year. It also makes a woman look much younger than she is.”
The other summer hair trends include the bob, the updo, the braid and the fringe. Says salon owner and former Miss India title holder Rekha Hande, “It is the season of layered cuts but most women still go in for the poker straight hair look. What is interesting this year is the number of hair accessories that are available in stores now. Even a simple ponytail can get a touch of glamour just by varying the kinds of grips, clips and accessories that you wear with it.”
Sporting a ponytail for an important occasion is however, not as simple as it looks. If the hair is worn loosely, with several wisps flying around, the look is far too casual for a serious event. For a formal occasion, it is important to straighten the hair, slick it back and keep it in place with some serum. Hair can also be teased to go higher and then pulled up into neat ponytail or swept to the side and tied up.
Many designers also prefer the ponytail look on their models because the curve of their neck gets a beautiful definition and the neckline of the garment is clearly visible too.
It looks like ponytails will rein in the top slot on the style charts this summer.