Once upon a time, not too long ago, Kylie Jenner walked outside with her hair in a ponytail and sent the internet into a frenzy. As such, beauty marketers across the world started a race to rebrand this fairly innocuous staple hairstyle into the new and (supposedly) improved “partless slick-back” trend. Surely the standard for a sleek ponytail should really be the hair at Balmain’s spring/summer 2016 show by Sam McKnight, which was high, smooth and finished with a piece of hair wrapped around the elastic hairband (to conceal the inner workings and add a layer of mystery).

As well as Balmain’s show models exemplifying the ultimate show pony, when considering great hair, I often find myself referencing a certain model dog, Samantha. This influencer Afghan hound is the ultra-elegant long-haired, long-nosed, pearlescent canine who sports effortless up-dos and silk scarves, and who proves that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel when you can simply up the ante. So with that, get your hair ties at the ready, because it’s time to look back at some ponytails worth writing about!

Starting with the biggest for maximum impact, Guido Palau’s ponytails on the runway for Versace’s pre-fall 2019 show make pageant girls look like skinheads. Two models turned heads with XXL brunette ponytails adorned with gaudy crystals that fall into the “so wrong it’s right” category. The collection came the season after the 2018 tribute, where Donatella Versace unearthed the greatest hits from her brother Gianni’s archive, and she was evidently still riding the wave for pre-fall 2019.

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You cannot utter the word “ponytail”, much less “big ponytail”, without mentioning singer Ciara. Braided, brushed-out, curly, straight—you name it, she’s worn it (and well!). At the Met Gala in 2019 (the theme was Camp), Ciara sported a ponytail consisting of six Afro wigs worn high on the head, offset by a straight centre part at the front and two silver barrettes. The hair, created by Cesar DeLeon Ramirez, rose high above her head and fell all the way down her back.

Prepare yourself for this band-aid-ripping moment. My hottest ponytail take is that the Blond Ambition pony is not Madonna’s best. IMHO, her best is the voluminous curtain of blonde that sat atop her head whilst she wore the famous blue silk Tom Ford shirt to the 1995 VMAs. In fact, she donned an even better version of this pony in her iconic 1992 book Sex, shot by Steven Meisel in her peak Erotica era. The hair is even longer, and the look is finished with a single pair of hoop earrings. Both bouffant-like ponytails crafted by hairstylist Garren, could be descendants of fellow generational beauty, Sharon Tate, who secured her golden ponytail with a black velvet bow and punctuated it with a perfect flick at the end.

The plastic ring ponytail accessories from Dior spring/summer 2015 (also by the legendary Guido Palau) might be due for a comeback. The natural flow of the hair was interrupted, as if someone had sliced their pony off and then reattached it in a bout of regret. Colour played a huge part in how this style was read: the clear and silver rings felt like a sci-fi dream, whilst the reds, yellows and greens had a more ’60s feel. The link between the ’60s and futuristic interpretations of space is not lost here, and if you weren’t convinced, then the little beehive that accompanied the abstract ponytail serves as proof. Note: remember the red glossy boots that season? Also very ’60s space-age!

Janet Jackson is another ponytail chameleon. She has worn every iteration of the style (it would be rude to her cheekbones not to!). A personal favourite Janet ponytail was her high, braided iteration at the 35th Grammy Awards by celebrity braider Janet Zeitoun. She let her hair and beauty take centre stage, her outfit a crisp white suit with a matching white wrap around her pony to pull the look together. It’s a masterclass in red-carpet styling.