The Hottest Ponytail Hairstyles for Prom

Stylists love the look of hair wrapped around the elastic. To get this look, skip the nasty fake hair ones you can buy at drugstores and department stores (tacky!) and follow these directions instead:

1. Pull hair back into a ponytail.
2. Pull a pencil-thick piece of hair from the bottom of the pony.
3. Wrap hair around elastic. Leave two inches to pull down through the elastic.
4. Secure with a couple bobby pins.

 Bangs accentuate Winstead's eyes and make her ponytail look more glam.

Side-swept bangs and a curled ponytail make Shah's ponytail stunning here.

Huang's center part and multi-textured ponytail really dress up the classic pony. You'll likely need extensions to reproduce this look.

Jessica Lowndes sports one of the most casual ponytails in this slideshow, but jewelry and rich coloring take it beyond average. 

Kristin Cavallari's long side fringe and loosely knotted ponytail make this look an edgy choice for prom. 

Celotto's bangs and high ponytail combo offer a goth look that complements her black cocktail dress. 

 Sarah Michelle Gellar's slightly teased ponytail makes this style pop on the actress.

Jennifer Morrison's honey blonde locks wrapped around her elastic band give her pony a polished look.

 Katrina Bowden's low, teased pony looks beautiful.

 VIrginia Williams' bouffant completes this look.

 Gisele Bundchen looks stunning with her wavy locks swept into a ponytail.

 Mila Kunis' intricate ponytail, complete with knots and twists, gives her style high glamour.

 Jennifer Lopez's half-braided, half-loose ponytail gives her hairstyle edge and sophistication.

To get this look:

Step 1: Part hair from ear-to-ear into a top and a bottom section.
Step 2: Secure top section with a ponytail holder.
Step 3: Take the point of a rattail comb and put it under the hair, just at the crown. Gently coax hair up until it's just a bit puffed.
Step 4: For more drama, wrap a ribbon or a strip of fabric around hair and fasten with a bobby pin.

This look works best with unwashed hair, which we find most manageable. How to get it:

Step 1: Start with unwashed hair or get the messy look by spraying roots with volumizer and airdrying hair, or blowdrying using your fingers instead of a brush. Scrunch hair as you dry.
Step 2: Part hair slightly off-center (parting in the middle is also trendy). For an extra funky look, create a zig-zag part in your hair with a comb.
Step 3: Rake hair back at the nape of your neck. Fasten the tail lightly so that it sits slightly below the middle of the back of your head.
Step 4: For more fullness, secure four or five bobby pins just above the elastic. This way you get a fuller look. Scrunch the tail once it's in place.

 Ali Landry's mussed hair swept into a low ponytail looks sultry. 

A high, tight ponytail is swingy and totally sexy. It's also wearable at work or at night. If you have a high forehead (like Tyra) you have to be careful with high ponytails -- you don't want to look bald from the front. Your best bets​ are bangs or a side part.

How to get it:

Step 1: Spritz hair with a volumizing spray like Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, then dry hair straight. If you have curly hair, use a diffuser and an anti-frizz product instead of the volumizer.
Step 2: Take a section at the top part of the back of your head and tease hair at the root. This will give you needed volume for the dramatic look.
Step 3: Once hair is sufficiently teased, carefully brush hair back into a pony up high on the back of your head just above your ears. Gently pull hair at the top of the pony out and up for drama.
Step 4: Run a gloss (we like Bumble and Bumble Gloss, see sleek ponytail above) through ponytail, using extra at the ends.
Step 5: If you're going out at night, up the drama ante by securing a gorgeous barrette (we love the ones that look like brooches) near the elastic and on the side of your head. If you use a barrette, keep in mind that it's a piece of jewelry, so be careful not to overdo the look with earrings, necklace, and a bracelet. The less jewelry you wear, the more oomph your pieces have. Check out these gorgeous barrettes and books on how to make your own.