Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Renee Rodriguez
When it comes to my beauty routine, making sure my hair looks good is at the tippy top of my list. I will try any product or shortcut if the outcome will make my hair look better in some way. I've tested out hacks to make my ponytail look fuller [2], I've detoxed my hair [3] and skipped shampoo and products for a week (including dry shampoo), and I've even tried hair slugging [4]. A lot of the time, I find these helpful hair hacks on TikTok, and I have to admit, most of them have worked pretty well for my hair. So when I recently came across a hack from user Bethany Fosbery [5] that promised to create the perfect ponytail for layered hair [6], I knew I had to give it a try.
@bethanyfosbery [7] 2SECOND HACK YOU NEED!😍 #hairhack [8] #hair [9] #hairstyle [10] #beauty [11] #bethanyfosbery [12]
♬ som original - 🫐 [13]
Typically whenever I get my hair cut, I tell the stylist absolutely no (!) layers for a few reasons. First, I think it makes my (already thin) hair look even thinner — but the worst part is the funky-looking ponytails. Whenever I put my layered hair into a high ponytail, which is my style of choice, I always have tiny flyaways sticking out at the top of my head that make it look like I rubbed it with a balloon.
I've told a few stylists about my ponytail woes, and a few have even gone as far as to tell me that they think the hairs at the top sticking up are "cute." Cute? Cute?! Respectfully, I cannot agree.
Still, last summer I did something completely out of character: I got not only layers put in my hair [14], but very subtle curtain bangs [15]. If I thought layers made my hairs stick out, nothing prepared me for the number of strays that would sprout out at the top of my ponytail from curtain bangs.
For months I dealt with the ponytail issues and even transitioned from a high ponytail to a low ponytail so I wouldn't have to constantly deal with my hair sticking up. Since then, my curtain bangs and layers have grown out significantly, but they're still there, so when I came across Fosbery's TikTok hack, I jumped up to try it out immediately.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Renee Rodriguez
All I needed to test the hack was a bottle of hairspray and a toothbrush. To start, I put my hair into a high ponytail as I normally would. From there, I sprayed hairspray on my toothbrush. Next, I brushed down the tiny hairs sticking up until they were lying flat against the rest of the hair in my ponytail. When I looked in a mirror to survey the results, the difference was honestly crazy to see. The hack was so simple that I honestly couldn't believe I had never thought to try it myself.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Renee Rodriguez
Although it didn't completely smooth every single one of my stray hairs, it made a huge difference, and my ponytail looked much more sleek and smooth. I've been using this hack every single time I wear my hair in a ponytail, and I've also been using it to tone down any frizziness I have when I'm wearing it down as well.
This hack has honestly been a game changer for my frizzy, layered hair, and I can't believe how long I went without knowing it. If you've been looking for a way to elevate your ponytail or tame your frizz, definitely give this trick a try.