This $8 Ponytail Will Rock Your World

Looking for something dumb to lift your spirits in this, the window of time in which we are forced to wait until December’s holiday cheer bubbles up from every orifice and children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile is in full effect?

Then bust out your wallet and spend a lousy $8 on this fake-ass ponytail that isn’t so heavy it kills your scalp, doesn’t look horrifically fake (or maybe it does, who cares), actually stays put in your hair, and causes wild spasms of delight every time you swish it around like a Royal Lipizzaner Stallion.

All you do to wear it is put your real hair in a ponytail and tie this contraption around it—that’s it. (It does help a bit to cover the seam where fake pony meets real with a piece of ribbon or a decorative hair elastic, but it’s really not necessary.) I wore mine to a wedding where a gaggle of girls cornered me in the bathroom and demanded to know if it was my real hair. “Babes”, I said, “Nobody’s hair really looks like this!” We wound up staying out together until 4:30 the next morning.

This crazy thing comes in 19 colors—12 of them actually found in nature. I went for a two-toned one that sorta matched my real hair and also added in a bit of trendy pink fringe. You can wear your fake pony long and flowing, braid it like Elsa in Frozen, or even put it up in a bun. It can tend to get tangled easily (as does ANY long hair, really), so be sure to tote a small natural-bristled brush in your bag when you go out. (I swear by this tiny Sephora one.)

The faux ponytail comes with one hair comb attached, and while it would work perfectly fine for the average person, I am prone to excessive prancing and hair swishing—so I sewed two extra combs on either side of it for a little extra stability. (You could also sew in wig clips to add even more hold.)

The lace backing on my fake ponytail did need a little steaming when I first used it to get out the fold marks so it could lay properly against my real ponytail. Obviously you can’t use an iron on fake hair (as it’s technically made of plastic), unless you are using the steam setting on this fancy Rowenta one that I love. (I just used my Jiffy E-Steam, the best small-sized hand steamer money can buy—no doubt about it.)

And here’s a real pro tip straight from the fancy hairstylists I work with on set every day: Rub any type of hair (even a fake ponytail) with a dryer sheet to cut down on static and flyaways, and always finish fake hair styling with a light overall misting of hairspray. (I use this Moroccan Oil hairspray on my fake pony, as it’s a light and doesn’t build up or get crusty.)

You can also (carefully) wash, condition, and air-dry this faux ponytail anytime it needs some TLC— so Rapunzel, eat your heart out.

I am the author of ‘How to Get Dressed: A Costume Designer’s Secrets for Making Your Clothes Look, Fit, and Feel Amazing’.

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