How to do the two-base high ponytail, step by step
- Brush out the knots, then gather the top half of your hair into a smooth ponytail with its base just below the back of your crown.
- Split the hair underneath into two equal sections.
- Bring each section up either side of the first ponytail.
- Tie the two sections together over the first ponytail with a second hair tie, so they cover the first band.
- If your shortest layers won't reach, start the first ponytail a little lower.
Why it slips past the waist
One elastic around a hip-length ponytail holds all of it from one point, so it sags and drags at the hairline by the afternoon. Two bases share the weight, and the outer one rests on the inner one like a shelf.
What you need
A coil tie for the second base: it grips a thick ponytail without leaving a dent, though it looks like an old phone cord on your wrist.
A small clear band for the first ponytail, which ends up hidden anyway.
Brush out first. Knots in the underneath sections show up as bumps when you bring them up.
Steps checked against: This viral ponytail hack stops long hair weighing down your style (@amberrosespeak, via Stylist (Morgan Fargo, 17 Jan 2022), checked 2026-10-13); This Celeb Hairstylist's Hack Will Make Your Ponytail Look Thicker (celebrity hairstylist Appleton, via Makeup.com (Caitlyn Martyn, 8 Apr 2022), checked 2026-10-13).