by Meisha of Braun Sugar
There are two main reasons why many women avoid wearing ponytails and buns. The first reason is thinning of the hairline and breakage. The second is breakage around the ponytail holder. Here are some steps I use to ensure that I don’t encounter either of those problems.
Lazy day bun
1. Do not style tangled hair
One of the worst things you can do is pull tangled hair into a ponytail or bun. You will end up with a rat’s nest that is a headache to detangle. If your hair is dry, lightly finger detangle it before styling. If it is wet, detangle as you normally would after a wash before styling.
2. Do not put soaking wet hair into a bun or ponytail
Hair is at its most fragile state when it is soaking wet. It isn’t a good idea to try to put your soaking wet hair in a bun or ponytail. What you may discover is that you will begin to see breakage along the area that is secured by the ponytail holder. A better idea is to allow the hair to become at least damp before you style it.
3. Make sure dry hair is moisturized before styling
If you want to put your dry hair into a ponytail, make sure it is moisturized. Dry hair is also very prone to breakage. Moisturized hair is more pliable and will be less likely to snap.
4. Do not pull your hair too tightly into a ponytail
No matter how much you may enjoy the sleek ponytail look, you cannot pull your hair too tightly into a ponytail. If you do, it will not be long before your hairline starts to suffer. Secure your hair firmly into a metal free, seamless ponytail holder, an elastic headband, or a banana clip.
If you use a seamless ponytail holder, you may find that there is no need to double or triple wrap it around your hair. They are generally small enough to hold hair in place well with worrying about it falling off your hair.
If you use an elastic headband, you may need to wrap it 2-3 times around your hair for a secure fit. Try wrapping it twice and shake your head a bit. If the headband isn’t moving and your hair isn’t falling out of it then it should be okay. If you run into any of the two issues I just mentioned, wrap it around one more time for a secure fit.
With banana clips, the key is in the size of the clip. The size will depend on the density of your hair. These are my least favorite option and work best on very stretched or straightened hair. If your hair has very high density, you may want to skip these altogether.
5. Use a satin or silk scarf for slick edges
Instead of using a hard bristled brush to try to tame edges, try using a gel, pomade, wax, etc. and a scarf. After applying the product to your edges, immediately put on your scarf and leave it on for at least 5 minutes. If your edges aren’t sleek enough, try a product with a better hold.
6. Protect your ends
If you are wearing a bun, you are tucking your ends and protecting them from the elements. You still need to moisturize them before you tuck them. If you are wearing a ponytail, moisturize your ends, then seal with an oil or butter.
Hopefully these tips will help you wear a ponytail or bun without any damaging effects. These styles can be great as protective styles or when you are having a “lazy hair day”.
Lazy Day Ponytail
Meisha Lake is a 29 year old web/graphic designer from Detroit, currently residing in Tacoma, WA. She started The BraunSugar Blog with the intention of showing that you can grow healthy natural hair without having to devote a lot of time, energy, and money to the cause.
