Ponytail

Ponytail

A ponytail is a hairstyle in which some, most, or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip, or other similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. It gets its name from its resemblance to the undocked tail of a horse or pony. Ponytails are most commonly gathered at the middle of the back of the head or the base of the neck. Depending on fashions, they may also be worn at the side of the head (which is sometimes considered formal) which is worn over one ear, or on the very top of the head (allowing the hair to fall down the back or one side of the head).

History[edit | edit source]

While the ponytail hairstyle has been popular with women for many years, ponytails worn by men are generally associated with short hair styles and 'long hairs'. In Europe in the second half of the 18th century, most men wore their hair long and tied back with a ribbon into what we would now describe as a ponytail, although it was sometimes gathered into a silk bag rather than allowed to hang freely. At that time, it was commonly known by the French word for "tail", queue. It continued as the mandatory hairstyle for men in all European armies until the early 19th century, after most civilians had stopped wearing queues. The British Army was the first to dispense with it, and by the end of the Napoleonic Wars most armies had changed their regulations to make short hair compulsory.

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

Ponytails are a popular hairstyle for many characters in books, movies, and television shows. They are often associated with characters who are athletic, energetic, or youthful. Some notable characters with ponytails include Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider video game series, and the character of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series, who wears her hair in a distinctive side ponytail.

References[edit | edit source]

Ponytail Resources
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