How to Make Pigtails Look Chic

Think about it: When was the last time you gave pigtails a chance? If you thought they were a hairstyle only suitable for kids, well, you were wrong! It turns out there are a few pigtail styles out there that are tres chic. Yep, you read that right! Just because you’re not in elementary school anymore doesn’t mean you can’t rock double ponies. To show you how to rev up the schoolgirl style for an age-appropriate look, below we share five pretty pigtail-inspired hairstyles.

1. Messy Pigtails

You might be thinking that plain pigtails are a tad too simple for you these days, but with a little teasing and concealing, you can make them look super-fashionable.

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Part hair however you want. Down the middle or off to the side—either will work.

Step 2: Braid hair three stitches on each side. Divide each side of your hair into three even sections and weave three traditional braid stitches starting at the nape of your neck.

Step 3: Tie pigtails off. Secure your braids using clear elastics.

Step 4: Tease pigtails. Using a fine tooth comb, hold your pigtails at the ends and comb them upwards to create a textured, slightly disheveled look.

Step 5: Conceal hair ties. Take a small section of hair from each pigtail to wrap around your elastic and pin on the underside of your pigtail.

2. Double Dutch Braids

Turn your traditional braids on their head for an inverted look that’s anything but juvenile.

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Apply style cream to damp hair. Grab a tube of the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Undone Style Cream and evenly massage a dime-size of the cream into damp hair before letting it air dry.

Step 2: Part hair down the middle. Using a rat tail comb, part your hair straight down the center of your head from your hairline all the way down to the nape of your neck.

Step 3: Dutch braid each side down to the nape of your neck. Grab a small section of hair at your hairline and braid it underhand, gathering new pieces as you go, all the way down to the nape of your neck. Repeat the same process on the other side of your head.

Step 4: Flip your ends to create teardrop buns. Flip the rest of your strands up into a teardrop bun with the ends fanning out for an edgy finish to a classic milkmaid-inspired look.

Step 5: Pancake your braids. Finish by gently tugging at your braids to give them more volume at each wave.

3. Long Fishtail Pigtails

If boho is your go-to fashion statement, look no further than these messy, long fishtail pigtails to tie your look together.

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Part your hair down the middle. Easy, peasy.

Step 2: Begin your fishtail at your part on each side. Starting at your hairline, fishtail your hair towards the back of your head, grabbing new pieces of hair as you go.

Step 3: Braid to the ends. Continue the fishtailing process until you get all the way to your ends and tie your braids off with clear mini elastics. Take a small section of hair from each braid to wrap around the hair tie for a more natural-looking, tool-free look.

Step 4: Pancake your braids. Meaning gently tug them apart, starting at the bottom, working your way all the way to your hairline. Get ready for gorgeous, blogger-worthy braids, y’all!

Step 5: Embrace your flyaways. Before grabbing a can of hairspray and patting your flyaways into place, just let them hang free. The beauty of this natural look is embracing a rolled-around hairstyle that’s part hippie, part fashionista.

4. Pigtail Space Buns

Instead of choosing your regular go-to ‘do, why not switch it up with this fun, space bun look?

Get the look by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Part your hair into four sections. Down the middle and top and bottom layers, to be exact.

Step 2: Flip your hair and begin braiding. To keep your hairstyle neat and fuss-free, it’s a good idea to clip one full side (the one you’re not working with) out of the way, as well as the top half of the side you are working with. Once you have everything clipped, flip your head over and Dutch braid from the nape of your neck up to the crown of your head, tie it off with a clear mini elastic, and move on to the other underside.

Step 3: Tease your top sections of hair. For an extra-voluminous ‘do, tease the underside of your top sections of hair for just enough lift to give your look some height.

Step 4: Combine your top and bottom sections on each side. Using a hair-colored elastic, combine your Dutch braided underside with the teased top portion to create one gorgeous pigtail on each side of your head.

Step 5: Tease your pigtails. Using a fine tooth comb, hold your pigtails straight in the air and tease your pigtails from the ends down to the hair tie.

Step 6: Wrap and pin your buns. Twist your teased strands around the base of each pigtail and pin them in place to complete your pretty new ‘do.