20 Cool Ways to Spruce Up Your Ponytail

Slick back your hair and pile it high on your head, à la AnnaLynne McCord. Finish by wrapping a piece of hair around the elastic for a more polished look.

Zooey Deschanel's bangs make her ponytail cute, but what really sets it apart are the curls and flips. Pump up an otherwise ordinary ponytail by simply curling the ends in the back.

Leave it to Coco Rocha to pull off this notoriously difficult style with ease. To give yourself added edge, pair your gelled-down, side-parted ponytail with a sexy red lip look and heavily contoured eyes.

Nina Dobrev pulled off the mussed-up bedhead ponytail with ease. Learn how to get the exact look with tips from the stylist who created it.

Give your typical ponytail a sleek makeover like Erin Wasson's. Keep the top tight against your head, tie the ponytail in the middle, and then straighten the hanging hair to perfection.

Jessica Biel took her ponytail to new heights by adding a touch of volume. To nab this retro look, tease the top section of your hair before smoothing it back into your ponytail updo.

A ponytail can be the optimal way to showcase a bold makeup look. Take Tika Sumpter, for instance, who used her slicked-back style to accentuate her big, full eyebrows, one of the breakout looks for Fall.

For a more formal spin on your ponytail, do as Kate Beckinsale does. Tease your hair at the crown, keep a few pieces of hair tucked behind your ears, and curl your loose strands with a wide-barrel iron.

Think you can't pull off a ponytail because of your cropped style? Think again. Olivia Munn shows that teeny ponytails can still be stylish.

Selma Blair pulls off the "I just threw my hair up" look with ease. To add instant polish, simply spritz on a shine serum for extra glow.

Growing out your bangs? Dianna Agron's style is perfect for you, then. Roll, twist, and pin your fringe in the front, and don't worry if a couple wispy strands fall free.

Eva Longoria channeled her inner '50s gal with this retro-inspired ponytail. To copy her vintage-y look, tease your roots for volume, then spritz your hands with hair spray and smooth them over your bouffant to keep flyaways at bay.

A middle part is an unexpected take on the typical ponytail, and Malin Akerman shows how to keep it classy.

For the long-haired ladies of the world, Jessica Stam shows how to pull off an Elvira-esque ponytail. Slick your hair as high on your head as possible, keep it pin-straight, and allow it to fan around the rest of your head.

If you have a bold makeup look you want to show off (like Mandy Moore's bright pink lipstick), then keep your ponytail simply swept. And for added flair, twist a larger section of hair around the base of the updo for even more height.