Fall 2012 trend report: Betting on the ponies

Ponies in progress backstage at Diesel Black Gold Fall 2012/Image: Charles Sykes for RedkenWhether it's high and mod-squad inspired, roughed up and sexy, or sleek and sophisticated the ponytail has an eternally chic quality. Partially due to the ponytail's inherent ease of execution (lets face it, if the hair is long enough it can be banded back quickly) and partially due to its instant-face lift abilities this is one look that shows up season after season in a variety of forms. 

Sleek and roughed up at BROOD Fall 2012/Image:S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Fall 2012 was no exception. We saw ponies puffed up to Amy Winehouse heights at Diesel Black Gold, and then slicked down to a proper school girl silhouette at Marc by Marc Jacobs,  while breakthrough brand BROOD did a combination of both ideas with a sleek in the front, wild in the back ponytail to match their architecturally interesting collection. At the same time, Ports 1961 featured soft flowing ponytails with plenty of pieces framing the face for an easy "I just did this myself" look that was both glamorous and intrinsically laid back, and Tess Giberson featured wrapped ponytails that accentuated the artfully designed pieces for which Giberson is famous.

Ports 1961 Fall 2012/image: Charles Sykes for Redken

So how were all these twist on tails created, and how can you do them at home? We consulted the experts starting with Guido Palau, Creative Consultant for  Redken who was tapped to do many of the major shows such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ports 1961, and Diesel Black Gold. 

Diesel: “This style is very tomboyish and I wanted it to appear to be anything but perfect. The girl I had in mind when I created it had certainly done it herself, and is into rock ‘n’ roll- I thought of how Kate Moss might style her hair when she wears jeans. The height at the crown is what really adds a nice dimension, giving it a 60’s feel.” --Guido Palau

To get the look, simply saturate damp hair with Redken  Full Frame 07 All-Over Volumizing Mousse. Then air or rough blow dry to remove the most moisture possible. Create a deep but natural left part, using fingers instead of a comb. Pull hair into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and secure with an elastic, and then loosen hair at the crown for height. Finish with a generous amount of  Redken Forceful 23 Super-Strength Finishing Spray for added hold and texture.

Tess Giberson Fall 2012/Image S.Whittle for Style Wylde

Ports 1961: “As the clothes are very dramatic and modern, we want the girl to be modern and not reference any other era. We don’t want it to be romantic, we just want it just to be cool. That cool comes from the nonchalance of the hair, the ease of the hair. If you’re wearing clothes like Ports that are very stylized, you need to give that offset so it’s very important we provide offset with very easy hair.”-- Guido Palau

To get the look start by:

Lightly blow-dry hair with Redken  Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion, not blowing it stick straight, not leaving it wavy; just easy and light. Then create a messy center part. Next, twist hair into a low knot and leave it to air dry to give the hair structure. Then, once dry, take out the knot and create a very low ponytail, securing it with an elastic.

Next we went to  James Percis of Bumble and bumble who created organically undone ponytails for the art-inspired Tess Giberson collection.

To get the look start by making  a straight, middle part. Next, create two vertical sections on the front of your head starting behind the ear toward the temple. Backcomb lightly to create more texture and gather into a low ponytail. Finally flip the end of the ponytail up and secure with an elastic. (For full step by step directions plus product listing for this look go here.)

BROOD Fall 2012/Image:S. Whittle for Style Wylde

Now on to Sabrina Michaels of Bumble and bumble, who was tapped to create an awe-inspiring ponytail for the hyper-buzzed about BROOD Fall 2012 collection. To achieve the grungy, dirty, almost wind-blown back shape Michaels wetted hair with Bumble and bumble Thickening Hairspray then blow-dried the hair straight back. In vertical sections she flat ironed and back combed hair to give massive volume, before slicking the front back close to the scalp for a walking through a wind tunnel look. (For a complete tutorial and product listing go here.)

Sleek ponytail backstage at Marc By Marc Jacobs Fall 2012/image; Charles Sykes for Redken

Last, but certainly not least, we return to master stylist Guido Palau, who perfected the sleek ponytail for none other than master designer Marc Jacobs for the Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2012  runway. “The clothes at the Marc by Marc Jacobs collection today have a lot of volume, so we wanted to create a small head to compliment the clothing. The hair itself is a nod to minimalism, very clean, fresh and young.”-Guido Palau

To get the look at home start by applying Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion to damp hair and blow-dry straight. Next, create a deep left side part and with your fingers, pull the hair into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and tuck behind the ears. Finally apply Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk to the ponytail for lasting smoothness and a sleek finished look.

Which ponytail take is your favorite? Will you be trying these twists on the classic 'do? Let us know in the comments!