9 Ways To Wear Your Hair In Pigtails As An Adult

Pigtails are making a comeback — but have no fear — these aren't the pigtails we wore as kids. Remember those? The severe middle part, the high, tight ponytails laying perfectly symmetrical on our heads? And out comes a shudder.

The nostalgic hair trend has gotten a reboot, thankfully, with styles that are more adult-appropriate. Some versions of the vamped-up pigtail are sophisticated, while others are playful since the hairstyle is inherently a youthful one. Pigtails are surprisingly easy to create and are a very wearable look. They work well with a hat, so you can rock them all year long, even in the winter. If you're going for a workout, running errands, or glamming things up, there's a way to work your hair into pigtails. We're getting style inspo from gorgeous braids, fishtails, loose pigtails, curly looks, and half-up pieces. We're working with a pretty liberal definition of pigtails! But the more wiggle room we give the style, the more looks we're finding, and they're all adorable.

The most traditional styling of pigtails includes a middle part and securing hair up in two symmetrical sections with elastic bands. This is the OG look, so we're starting here. Part hair down the middle and smooth out the hair using a styling gel. Comb the hair towards the back of the crown of your head and hold both sections with elastics. For added movement, curl the ends of your pigtails and finish off with hairspray. 

Half-up, half-down pigtails are one of the easiest ways to style this trend without going for full-on pigtails. Part your hair down the middle and instead of combing up the entire section, just comb the top portion of the hair back and secure with an elastic. For added oomph, leave out a few face-framing pieces and curl them with a curling wand. Polish off with a spritz of hair spray, but don't worry too much about combing down baby hairs. The look is more undone and dreamy. 

Two puffs are a great way to style natural hair if you want to create a play on pigtails. Part the hair down the middle, then apply a conditioning cream like the Ampro Shine 'n Jam Conditioning Gel and comb it through. Smooth the hair with a brush and secure each puff with an elastic. If you want to add the decorative front braids, keep out two small sections of hair and finish off by braiding them.

Channel a romantic energy with half-up, half-down pigtails secured with pink ribbon. It's an easy way to check off the ballet core aesthetic, too, since pastel pink ribbons add such a feminine touch. Part hair down the middle and loosely pull up the top section into two small pigtails. There's no need to be overly fussy with this look. Part of the appeal is that it's carefree, perfect for the curly-haired girlies out there.

Ultra-sleek pigtails are a grownup way to perfect the look. To achieve sleek, shiny hair, start with a straightening balm, like Paul Mitchell's Straight Works Hair Gel, and apply it to clean, damp hair. Using a paddle brush, blow dry your hair in sections, pulling hair taught and directing the nozzle downwards. Once dry, follow with a flat iron to get extra-perfect hair. Finish by applying a small amount of hair oil, like Proclaim's Glossing Polish. Once your hair has reached absolute perfection, follow the standard routine for pigtails: part hair down the middle, comb each section up toward the back of the crown, and secure it with elastics. 

Show off long, natural curls with two low pigtails. Slick hair down and smooth out roots and baby hairs with a baby hair brush. Comb the hair back toward the nape of the neck and secure each section with an elastic. Low pigtails offer a fun twist on where you part your hair, so instead of the traditional middle part, try a side part. Finish with sleek, styled edges, which make for a gorgeous finish around the face. Bonus points for some vivid, red lipstick. 

Playing with pigtails can be a very unfussy process. Start with beach waves, if you're after a cool-girl vibe. "If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, a salt spray will just help to enhance that and make the most of your natural texture, cutting down on drying time," hairstylist Paul Windle told Glamour, on how to nail loose volume. Without over-combing, pull two small sections and secure to the side of the crown with elastics. The direction of the pigtails, since they're emerging from the side of the head rather than the back of the crown, creates a quirky finish. Style some '90s hair pieces framing the face for a very shaggy look. 

We love heavily accessorized looks, especially when it comes to the pigtail trend. Give hair some extra hold by applying a gel, like the Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel. Using your fingers, part your hair and comb it down. Braid it using a simple braid technique, and secure with elastics. Then comes the fun part. Secure face-framing pieces with colorful bobby pins and tie the ends with white ribbons.

Bubble pigtails give maximum impact with minimum effort. Start by slicking the hair down with a styling cream or gel. Part it down the middle and comb each side of the head, aiming hair back towards the nape of the neck. Secure the two sections with elastics. Using mini rubber bands for the bubbles, tie off small sections, anywhere from two to four inches apart, until you reach the end of the pigtails. Give each bubble a gentle tug to enhance the volume.