Pony Up

This season's newest ponytail is slick, sleek and sophisticated

Mastered the messy braid? Now, change gears for a more polished, but equally trendy, look: a sleek ponytail. Celebrities galore—Beyoncé, Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few—have been spotted on the red carpet and around town sporting ponytails so sleek they almost appear wet. And whether worn high or low, these shine-infused hairstyles help create a seamless look. We asked Marc Mena, senior stylist at Warren-Tricomi Salon in New York City, to explain the best way to re-create and wear this celebrity style.

Creating the Look
The nice thing about up-dos like a sleek ponytail is that you can achieve the look with either clean or dirty hair. First, Mena suggests flat-ironing the ends of your hair, which will help create a super-straight and sleek look. Then, rub a small amount of light-hold hair gel or pomade between your hands and rub it through your hair to slick it back. Mena likes Redken Water Wax 03 Shine Defining Pomade. Once you've added shine and eliminated frizz and flyaways, pull your strands into an elastic band—high or low, front and center, or with a part to the side, the placement is your choice. If you have any shorter strands, such as bangs or layers that

may come out of the ponytail, secure them with bobby pins, which are designed to blend into your hair so they won't spoil this slick look. Finally, spritz a non-aerosol hairspray such as TRESemme Smooth Iron Style & Hold Spray around your hairline and scalp to keep everything in place.

How Sleek Can You Go?
"The ponytail is a versatile look that anyone can pull off," says Mena. But when wearing it super-sleek, you have to be comfortable with it. "The sleek ponytail is for a very confident person because it pulls all the hair back from your face, leaving nothing hidden," he says. You can also add extra shine with a glossing spray like ULTA Ultimate Finish Silkening Shine Spray.

When to Wear It
Ponytails are fitting for just about any situation, day or night, but the sleek aspect of this style is especially suited for a fancy evening out. Pair a sleek ponytail with heels and a dress for a night on the town or black-tie event. It's also an understated hairstyle that pairs well with embellished or detailed dresses so as not to overwhelm the look.