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How to Do the Curly, Gelled-Back Ponytail

Dec 2, 2011 / By Eleanor Jewell

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Photo: Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

When it comes to the perfect ponytail, extra-strength hair gel is a girl’s best friend, especially if you have flyaway hair. Whether you've got curly or straight hair, you can still do a curly, gelled-back ponytail. It may take a lot of smoothing, but once you get the hang of it, it may become your next go-to hairstyle.

Curly Hair

Squeeze a quarter-size amount of the extra-hold hair gel into your palm. Rub your hands together, coating both palms with the gel.

Rub your hands over your hair, focusing on the top of your hair just above your forehead, the sides of your hair and the locks at the nape of your neck.

Brush all of your hair back with the natural-bristle hairbrush, smoothing with your hand after each brush stroke. Pull your hair back, smoothing with one hand and gathering all of your hair with the other.

Secure your hair with the ponytail holder. Allow the loose curls beyond the holder to flow freely. Coat your palm with the hair gel again and give the top, sides and nape area of your hair one last smoothing.

Straight Hair

Apply the gel to your hair, smoothing with your hands and the hair brush just as you would for the curly hair method. Secure your hair tightly with the ponytail holder.

Plug in the curling iron and turn it on so it will heat up. While you're waiting, give the hair beyond the ponytail holder a quick brushing to remove any knots or snarls.

Wrap 1-inch sections of hair around the curling iron. Continue wrapping the sections until all of the loose hair in your ponytail is curled. Give your ponytail a shake to fluff the curls.

1.Extra-hold hair gel

3.Ponytail holder

2.Natural-bristle hairbrush

4.1/2-inch-barrel curling iron

If you have very thick, naturally curly hair, slick it back while it's wet. Applying gel to wet hair increases the holding power, keeping your flyaways in check.