The History of the Ponytail

Few hairstyles are more iconic than the ponytail, but you may be surprised to learn that this seemingly simple hairstyle has quite a lot of history! The ponytail got its start among Manchu men in ancient China — they grew the hair on top of their heads long and often braided it while leaving the front shaved. (Later, the style was enforced upon Han Chinese men during the Manchu conquest of China; the punishment for not complying was execution.) It’s also thought to have roots in Ancient Greece; frescoes in Crete depict women wearing ponytails set high on the backs of their heads. In the 18th century, it became the mandatory style for European soldiers and was known as a “queue” (the French word for “tail”). At the time, the style was considered very masculine and was heavily associated with the military. Women began to wear ponytails in the early 20th century; at the time, the style was thought of as informal and was typically reserved for young girls. However, when stars like Sandra Dee began to wear the style in the 1950s, it became more popular. Notably, the hairdo took on the “good girl” reputation of the stars who wore it. The first-ever Barbie debuted with a ponytail around this same time and furthered the popularity of the hairstyle. In the 1960s, the high ponytail was popularized in I Dream of Jeannie. Still, the ponytail wasn't considered “cool” until Brigitte Bardot began to wear it. In the 1990s, Madonna introduced the world to the “power pony” and Janet Jackson introduced the world to the box-braid pony, which is still popular today. The late 2010s saw many celebs sporting slick, pulled-back ponytails as well as softer, mid-height versions. Today, the ponytail continues to be a popular choice. In fact, as it is practical, pretty, and versatile all at once, it's safe to say that the ponytail has become a true classic that’s always in style.