If you’ve ever wondered why Ariana Grande hasn’t said, “Thank u, next,” to her painful skyscraper ponytail, it’s probably because it’s a trend that’s still so fresh. So much so that Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian are also bringing it back. And it helps that they all have the same man behind all of their fierce ponytails.
Chris Appleton is the reigning ponytail guru of Hollywood and everybody from J.Lo to Kim to Ariana trust him with their updos. The snatched ponytail, as it’s called, got a major revamp in the hands of Appleton, who experimented with its placement and texture. He taught us all to aim high — really high.
“The higher you go, the fiercer it looks. The lower you go, the more professional or serious it looks. It can change the whole shape of your face. It can snatch your face upward and lift your eyes, or it can pull your eyes down,” Appleton told PopSugar in an interview last year.
Here, five hacks for getting closer to the heavens with your high ponytail, à la Ariana Grande.
[Next: Take Your Top Knot to Stylish New Heights with These Celeb-Styled Updos ]
Ariana Grande High Ponytail
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Securing the Base
If you're going really high with your ponytail, it's important to start with a good base. Remember, the base of your ponytail is visible and adding a little texture to it or braiding it can amp up the drama. Image: Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Don't Be Afraid of Heights
Kim Kardashian's iconic waterfall ponytail (also by Chris Appleton) at the People's Choice Awards is ideal if you're not sure about super high ponytails. Keep it simple and don't add too many extensions. A classic high ponytail is a good place to start.
Image: Todd Williamson/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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The Secret Weapon
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The reason Ariana's ponytail stays in shape and doesn't misbehave is because she uses a product called Gorilla Snot Gel. "This is something I use a lot," Appleton told E! Online. "It's called Gorilla Snot. It's a gel. Say I wanted to do a ponytail and I wanted to do something really slick, I'd just put that on the edges. It makes it like rock solid," says Appleton.
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The Right Products
Adding too many products will weigh your ponytail down, but using too few will leaving it lacking in the drama department. Jennifer Yepez, who gave Emily Ratajkowski this sleek high ponytail, revealed to the New York Post that she uses some mousse for volume, a heat protecting spray and an anti-frizz spray to make sure the ponytail comes out right.
Image: Imaxtree
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The Fool-Proof Formula
"I always draw a line from my client’s chin to the crown of the head to find the exact spot to place the pony. Following this line will give the appearance of the ponytail pulling up, accentuating the face profile," Yepez says.
Image: @jennifer_yepez
