Kate Bosworth's Textured Ponytail Is Equal Parts Pretty and Easy

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By Stephanie Saltzman

Kate Bosworth has pretty much mastered the art of appearing both perfectly put-together and completely low-maintenance at all times. This ponytail is a perfect example: It has an easy, I-just-woke-up-and-did-this-in-five-seconds vibe but also enough polish that it doesn’t look the least bit out of place on the red carpet.

IRL (for those of us whose real lives don’t usually involve red carpets), this ponytail is great because it works with—not against—the slightly fuzzy, lived-in texture you end up with on the second day after a shampoo, and it’s perfect for disguising greasy roots. The (relative) smoothness at the front of the ponytail keeps it looking polished, while the imperfect, windblown texture balances it out and makes it cool.

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To build that type of beachy texture, mist a salt spray over the midlength and ends of hair, scrunching it through with your hands. You can go back through with a curling iron to add a few more defined curls if you want—just be sure to alternate directions so it looks natural. And even if you’re tempted, stay away from any sort of strong-hold hair spray: You don’t want anything about this look to appear helmet-y or even sleek. Part of what makes this ponytail so pretty is that you can tell it’s soft, not stiff. If you’re really worried about frizz or flyaways near your hairline, blast a clean toothbrush with hair spray and use it to tame a few of the most offensive areas.

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The finishing touch (and what makes this ponytail slightly more red-carpet-worthy): Grab a one-inch section of hair from the tail and wrap it around the elastic. Hold it in place by sticking a bobby pin through it and that’s it. DIY-able, gorgeous, and inspired by Kate Bosworth. It doesn’t get much better than that.

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