Dua Lipa's hair stylist has a volumising ponytail hack we all need to try

As much as we love them, Hollywood hair hacks generally have to be taken with a hefty pinch of salt.

In a nutshell, they tend to actually be far from easy (despite being billed as it), useless without the help of A-list-level extensions/assistance, or simply for styles that we like to look at but may not necessarily try. Shoutout to the mesmerising but confusing butterfly ponytail on that one.

Every so often, however, we're blessed with one that we can and will legitimately incorporate into our everyday lives. And this is one of those sacred times.

Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton (who counts everyone from Dua Lipa and Katy Perry to Kim Kardashian and J.Lo among his expertly coiffed clients) just took to TikTok to share a trick that is actually (get this) practical. Yes indeed, the hack behind Hollywood's most glorious high ponies has at last been revealed.

It's about time, too; we love a ponytail, but it's safe to say the gravity-defying, gorgeously voluminous versions we see gracing the 'gram are far from the lifeless, sub-par ponies we're seen wearing. And that simply will not do.

So what's the secret? Well, it's a hair tie. Yes, you read that right. And while we know you're probably thinking "who has ever tied a ponytail without a hair tie?!", allow us to clarify: Appleton's trick involves tying a second elastic to take the look to the next level.

"First of all, put your hair in a high ponytail, and then all you need to do to change the pony game is put one elastic one inch above the previous ponytail," he explained via the video. "Squeeze it in and it's almost like scaffolding for the hair; it holds it in place. I did a little hair wrap [to polish the look] and as you can see, you get so much volume."

That tiny addition allows you to have much more control over your pony's shape (as well as the lift-factor); full, fluffy fountain ponies are now possible and that is no small feat!

Want to see Appleton's genius hair hack in action? Here it is in all its simple but game-changing glory.

That's not Appleton's only elastic-aided ponytail trick, though; he has one other clever pony-plumping hack up his sleeve. It's slightly more fiddly than the first, but still super easy in the scheme of things. Like, so easy that it still only calls for two hair elastics.

"You're gonna need two elastics," Appleton confirmed via his TikTok. "All you do is split the hair into two, pull the top half up into a high ponytail and secure it with your elastic. Then you split the underneath into two and you pull it on top of the previous ponytail. What this is gonna do is basically make you look like you've got double the amount of hair that you've got. It's great for anyone with fine hair, and it just makes your ponytail look really full and glam," he explained. 

Whether you try this one solo, or combine the two together to create the ultimate pony is completely your call; here's to Lipa-level ponytails from this point forward.

Main image credit: @chrisappleton1

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