Ponytails are the perfect style to help beat summer’s suffocating heat by keeping your hair up off your neck. And these days, a ponytail can come in many different forms.

Tousled

This one looks like you’re not trying to hard, but can still handle a dressy as well as casual look.  Use a dry shampoo to add texture at the roots, tease lightly with a brush, then gather hair into a medium high ponytail.  Movement is key, so if you have stick-straight hair, curl a few strands before pulling your hair back.

Bumped Up

Sometimes a slicked-back ponytail can appear a bit harsh. The bumped up ponytail’s looser volume gives you a softer look. if you aren’t blessed with a think mane, you can add a clip in extension at the crown for added fullness. Start with unwashed hair, or apply finishing cream to washed hair before blow-drying it smooth. Take the top section of hair, from temple to temple, and clip; gather the rest into a medium-high ponytail and secure with an elastic. Unclip the top section, spritz it with volumizing spray, and tease with a brush. Pull that section back and fasten it atop the ponytail with another elastic.

Cuffed

There’s something instantly chic-ifying about a simple curved metal piece sitting over your ponytail band. There’s also something slightly tough about it, like it’s a piece of mini-armor for your hair. And all you need to pull it off is a band with a cuff attached—just wrap it around your hair and twist the decoration around until it sits directly on top.

Ponytails are a summer standby, and there’s a ridiculously plethora of simple ways to take it to the next-level.  How are YOU wearing your ponytail this summer?