A ponytail doesn’t just have to be a hairstyle you can wear to the gym. This versatile updo can be worn for anything from meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time to that important job interview you’ve been preparing for over the last few days. One of the reasons why we love ponytail hairstyles so much is that they’re so easy to create – it’s the perfect style for when you want to look put-together but don’t have much time to spare – but they’re still utterly chic. That being said, recently the high and tight look has overtaken low and loose as the coolest way to wear them.

Want to take your ponytail to the next level, making sure it’s bump-free every time? Below, find our guide on how to do a sleek ponytail so that it looks perfect every time. Read on:

Step 1: Determine where you want to place your ponytail

The first step to creating the perfect ponytail is placement. Where you decide to place your ponytail will determine how you should go about creating your updo. Learning how to do a high ponytail that’s level with your temples or above can give your hair more bounce. Low ponytails have less movement but look sleek and modern.

Step 2: Brush your hair the right way

This may sound silly, but there is a right way to brush your hair when it comes to mastering how to make ponytail hairstyle. If you want to help keep frizzy hair and bumps from making an appearance, brush your hair in the direction of your ponytail.

Step 3: Add texture

Adding texture to your hair can create a more voluminous look. After all, nobody wants a flat ponytail, right? Spray a volumising hair spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT High Lift Creation Spray, onto your hair and use your fingers to muss your hair up a little. If you want to create even more texture, backcomb your hair after spritzing on hairspray. You can also blow-dry your hair working in the direction of the ponytail for that texture. This will make the pony smooth and snatched. The Ghd Air hairdryer gives a super-fast dry, and the Colour Wow Speed Blow Dry also helps to cut down on drying time.

Step 4: Create your ponytail

Gather all of your hair and pull it into your ponytail. If you see any bumps forming, even after you brushed away tangles earlier, take a round brush and roll it sideways over the bumps to smooth them back. Once you’re happy with how smooth your pony looks, take a hair elastic, and secure it. Wrap the elastic around enough times so that your hairstyle won’t fall throughout the day.

Step 5: Help tame flyaways

Flyaways can completely ruin your ‘do. Now, let us just say, this hair hack might sound super-weird, but it actually works! Take a toothbrush (one that hasn’t been used, of course) and spritz it with hair spray, such as the Schwarzkopf Got2b High Insta Hold High Hold Hairspray. Then use the toothbrush to brush down and tame those pesky flyaways. You can also apply some light gel around the hairline to clean away any flyaways like the Aussie Instant Freeze Hair Gel.

Bonus step: Hide your elastic

This step may not be 100 per cent required, but it certainly will take your ponytail to the next level. If you don’t want your hair elastic to detract from your look, take a small piece of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around the hair tie to keep it hidden. Use a bobby pin to hold that strand in place on the underside of your pony, and no one will know it’s there.