How to do a braided ponytail, step by step
- Brush your hair, gather it into a ponytail at the back of your head, and tie it.
- Divide the ponytail into three equal sections.
- Cross the left section over the middle, then the right over the middle, and keep alternating down to the ends.
- Tie off the end of the braid.
- Wrap a thin strand of hair around the base elastic to hide it.
The video builds the ponytail from a top section and two lower ones before braiding. That's the two-base ponytail, explained on its own page, and worth using if a single base sags.
Why it slips past the waist
Below the waist a loose ponytail tangles against your back and your clothes, and every tangle tugs at the base. A braid keeps the length together, so there's less swinging weight working the elastic loose.
What you need
For the end of the braid: small and clear, so it disappears into the hair.
For the base, where the hold matters.
Optional, over the base. Satin slips, so it sits over the spiral tie rather than replacing it.
Steps checked against: How to Do a Braided Ponytail (Teleties, checked 2026-10-13); Easy Braided Ponytail Hairstyle Tutorial (Hair Romance, on Cut Out + Keep, checked 2026-10-13).