Ladies, how do you achieve a sleek ponytail?

[JBunnie]

This past Saturday I tried to do a curly top knot but I failed miserably. I couldn't get my hair to lay flat and my curls were not thick enough to make a good knot. I'm pretty sure I needed to let my hair dry all the way so my curls would be fully formed and thicker, that way my knot would have been to my liking.

What I'm really concerned about is how do I make my hair as smooth as possible so it can lay flat on my head. When I did it on Saturday I showered with my hair uncovered to let the steam moisturize my hair a little and loosen up my curls. When I got out I sprayed my hair with water and combed some leave in. I then combed all my hair into a ponytail and rubbed oil across the top, sides and back of my head to smooth. I wrapped a scarf around my head like a headband to keep everything flat, but when I got to my destination and took my scarf off my hair still wasn't smooth.

I will admit that there wasn't a lot of time between me doing my hair and getting to my destination, so when I took my scarf off my hair wasn't fully dry and I think that affected my hair laying flat as I wanted it to.

What products/methods do you all use to smooth your hair into a sleek ponytail?

 

[LucieLoo12]

I use ecostyler and Let's Jam


I do the scarf method where I apply the gel and jam and tie it down overnight and in the morning it's completely flat. It don't usually take that long either. I have done the scarf method for 30 mins and it laid down. Just make sure it's a silk scarf. It's all about the right products. I apply it to my hair when its a little damp, if it's too dry it wont work that well.

Ecostyler is like $3 and the Jam is like $4....cheap but good stuff

 

[JJamiah]

I don't air dry. I get under the dryer let it dry 80% then I blow dry 10% to get it straight. I put the pony hook on and use Edge Control. Sleek and slick every time.

 

[JBunnie]

So I cowashed my hair quickly before work and applied gel and a scarf and the results were so much better!!! I didn't have time to blow dry but I will do so on Friday, I'm confident doing so will yield the results I'm looking for. I also decided I'm going to set the ponytail itself in several small perm rods to get more defined, plump curls for the knot (or I might not knot it all depending on what the curls look like) and using the blow dryer will aid my whole drying process all together I'm super excited now! Thank you ladies so much!


Just 2 more questions:

Fruit of the earth aloe vera gel, is that good for the hold I'm looking for or should I stick with the harder hold gels like ecostyler/let's jam?

And since I will be using light/non direct heat should I change what I seal with? I usually seal with 100% aloe vera juice but since heat is getting involved I'm wondering if I should seal with something a tad stronger like pure argan oil or an argan oil treatment with silicone in it.

 

[candy626]

I have to use pomade/gel and a scarf but if I sweat the tiniest bit my baby hairs start to curl up. In the summer I don't even try to wear a sleek ponytail without a headband.

 

[candy626]

I also read using hairspray on your edges and in the front section of your ponytail will help keep it sleek (after it's been combed and brushed into place). I think I'm going to try that next time to see if it makes a difference.

 

[alive]

This past Saturday I tried to do a curly top knot but I failed miserably. I couldn't get my hair to lay flat and my curls were not thick enough to make a good knot. I'm pretty sure I needed to let my hair dry all the way so my curls would be fully formed and thicker, that way my knot would have been to my liking.

What I'm really concerned about is how do I make my hair as smooth as possible so it can lay flat on my head. When I did it on Saturday I showered with my hair uncovered to let the steam moisturize my hair a little and loosen up my curls. When I got out I sprayed my hair with water and combed some leave in. I then combed all my hair into a ponytail and rubbed oil across the top, sides and back of my head to smooth. I wrapped a scarf around my head like a headband to keep everything flat, but when I got to my destination and took my scarf off my hair still wasn't smooth.

I will admit that there wasn't a lot of time between me doing my hair and getting to my destination, so when I took my scarf off my hair wasn't fully dry and I think that affected my hair laying flat as I wanted it to.

What products/methods do you all use to smooth your hair into a sleek ponytail?

thank you for asking this! i've been having the same issue. it also doesn't help that i don't like putting gel in my hair