I was having coffee with a friend last week, and we were talking about how lazy we'd gotten with our hairstyles throughout the winter. For me, having my ears exposed when the weather was in the single digits never sounded appealing. Now that it's warming up, there are no more excuses for slapping a hat on every day. It's spring, guys, and I'm making more of an effort to dress up my locks. Here's a simple way to fancy up a ponytail (simple is my favorite!): 
Step One: Gather up a ponytail, but separate a section of hair on each side in the front and leave that loose.
Step Two: Take a section of hair on your left side of the head and separate it into a top layer and a bottom layer. Take the top layer in your left hand. 
Step Three: Cross the section of hair over to the right side of your head, above the ponytail. Use a bobby pin to pin in place.
Step Four: Take the top section of hair on the right side of your head and cross over the left section. See that little tail hanging out of your first section? Grab that as you are crossing the right section of hair over. Pin in place. 
Step Five: Take your remaining section of hair on the left side and cross that over to the right. Don't forget to grab that little tail and incorporate it into your section before you pin. Pin in place just over your ponytail elastic.
Step Six: Take your remaining section of hair on the right (and that little leftover tail, if you have one) and cross it over to the left side. Pin in place. 
Steps Seven & Eight: If you have a short tail hanging out of your last crossover piece, you can just pin it under the ponytail. If you have a long tail remaining, grab a section from each side of your ponytail and wrap around the elastic. Pin in place. Once you are done you should have a fancy ponytail! 
Once you get the hang of this look, it's really only a five-step hairstyle! Create the pony, criss, cross, criss, cross! I love the simple hairstyles that keep me motivated to actually "fix" my hair! xo. Katie
Credits // Author and Photography: Katie Shelton. Photos edited with Celeste from the Fresh Collection
109 Comments
beautiful! thank you for this tutorial, definitely going to try this! xx
i have red hair and normally hate it but yours looks lovely 🙂 http://thewanderlusthasgotme.blogspot.co.uk
nice post
http://www.interestedtips.blogspot.com
this is uber cute…. and the tutorial was really easy to follow. I practiced it last night and got it pretty quickly. woke up this morning and did it up really quickly and have been wearing it all day! 🙂 love it!
I do alot of bridal hair and I think my clients will love this.!
That is SO cute! I wish I had long hair now…
It seems so easy and nice that I’m gonna try it!
ciao 🙂
Chiara
http://www.chiaweb.it
SO pretty and simple… must go do my hair now, bye!
This is utterly gorgeous ! And actually looks simple enough to replicate by myself.
Nice, simple and chic: I’m doing this tomorrow morning!
ELL x
What a great design! Im going to give it a try but have a feeling my hair is probably way too thick, thanks for the inspiration! Cathy Pieroz Ray White Alexandra Hills
This looks absolutely amazing! I love that it’s such a simple twist on the usual everyday ponytail. I was in japan recently over the winter, and decided one day that it was a good idea to tie my hair back, leaving my ears exposed. Needless to day I thought they were going to freeze off, and well and truly learnt my lesson. Typical Australian, hahaha.
http://www.lioninthewild.com
such BEAUTIFUL hair, and a cute style, too!
This will be my Monday hair style 🙂
Thanks for idea 🙂
Greetings from Ireland! I’ve hair that is half way down my back and I never style it. I’m going to try this!!
Such a cute look, and with practice it looks like it might work for school.. Thank you ABM!
http://www.teacupsandtrilogies.blogspot.com
Very nice! Thanks for the tip, definitely have to try! 🙂
Wow, this hairstyle is stunning! It’s so beautiful that I just decided I will try to do this hairstyle for so long until it looks decent.
I mean it look s simple but my hair is so hard to arrange. I’m curious how this will work out!
So pretty! Thanks for the great idea!
http://howtomakehome.blogspot.com
I am in love with this and will be trying asap!! Thank you for sharing!!
XO,
Christina
I am in love with this and will be trying asap!! Thank you for sharing!!
XO,
Christina
http://www.poshpair.com
Absolutely love this and will be trying asap!! Thank you for sharing!!
XO,
Christina
http://www.poshpair.com
Wow so fast and so stylish!
Today I’ll try to tie my hair like this.
Beautiful colour hair and a very simple but pretty idea..oh to be able to grown hair that long, but now I am too old and to be honest if I grew my hair out it would look like an afro gone mad! Not you understand that I don’t like afro’s cause I do but my hair doesnt curl…it just sorta grows out from the side of my head more like a helmet really!
Looks great! I’m definitely going to try this out!
I actually think I could do this one! SO excited!
I just got really excited because I think I could actually pull this off!!
Oh this reminds me of Blair’s hair from Gossip Girl! I’ve been trying to do this to my hair but the crosses just falls off.
_emsalazar
themiasalazar { life | thoughts | pictures }
This looks great so simple to do. Thank you for sharing.
http://lusciouslivingtoday.com/
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Very cute! Still simple but just the right amount of added style! Totally going to try this!
xo
Christa
http://www.gardeniasandmint.wordpress.com
so cute !!
http://wethinkthereforewecreate.blogspot.com
Looks gorgeous! Will have to give it a go 🙂
love this! your hair is SO pretty!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Easy but so pretty. 🙂
I just love this it’s beautiful and her hair colour :’) If only I had the skills to do this as I am rubbish when it comes to hair styles 🙁
http://www.krystelcouture.com ♥
Katie, I gave this a try today. I need to practice it a bit–didn’t turn out as smooth as yours…Practice makes perfect though right!?
Katie, I was wondering….did you take the photos too? How do you do that? I know you don’t have a remote in your hands–maybe a self timer with a bunch of bursts. Anyway, I saw that you were credited for the pics too, so I was curious how you do it.
I’m going to be practicing this look!
Love,
Ann
I love it! but I have short hair, so I think in my hair is not possible! 🙁
xxx
Strawberry Blonde
I love simple but dressed up ponytails like this. Great for work because it’s easy and out of your face, but still looks like you made effort when you got ready!
LOVE this hair style!
Absolutely loved this style. I tried it out today and wore it all day long without any pieces falling out. I’ve got similar length of hair, although mine is a bit straighter – next time I’ll try to do a loose curl before I style it. It worked great on 2nd day hair.
sarasmusicstudio.com
Can’t wait to try this. It looks super quick and cute.
xox Logan
http://ourzeal.blogspot.com
This is so pretty. Simple and elegant. I love it. Can’t wait to try.
http://thelastcleantshirt.com/2014/03/31/postcard-from-mexico/
Lovely! I will try this tommorow! :)Thanks!
ANDREA
Amazing!!!
Wow!
this is the most amazing ponytail i have ever seen!
Gorgeous pony! I can’t wait to try this out this week because I’d be lying if I didn’t say my hairstyles were pretty lazy lately.
xoxo
Taylor
I will do this for tomorrow Love it!!!!!!
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Love
Milee
Lovely but a little bit complicated with my curly-messy hair. I’ll try it anyway
Can’t wait to try this! I do the sock bun for weeks at a time in the summer, it’s time for something new!
This looks so simple and chic. Could you guys also post videos of such styles? 🙂
would have loved a video for this
Great with some hair-inspiration!
I love this!! I would even do this as a side-pony for a boho look!
This is THE cutest! I think even i could manage to do this one and pretty my hairs up for spring.
Thanks for sharing Katie 🙂
Gorgeous! I must try this the next time I go out! X
http://native-feathers.blogspot.ie/
That’s kind of fun.. I think I will show my daughter. My hair is not long enough 🙁
I love this! So simple but effective 🙂
theexpertofnothing.blogspot.com
This looks really fabulous and easy to make!
http://fashion-soup.com/
Beautiful! I will try it! Thank you!
WEAR EAT LOVE
http://weareatlove.com
This is so lovely!
And a lot easier than it looks!
http://www.accordingtoellie.co.uk
xx
Love this – so simple but it looks really effective!
Eve & Faye x
Sugar Spun Sisters – A blog about cosmetics, clothes & coeliac disease
Oh what a great hairstyle! I will try it today 🙂
It looks very effortless and chic. Love it!
This is super cute. Thanks for the tutorial
Looks great and easy enough! Will try this one!
Looks really simple and chic! <3 Gonna try this out soon 😀
http://itsme-hanie.blogspot.com
Fabulous style! Will definitely give it a go as loving easy, simple, gorgeous hair on the go.
Kx
This looks really pretty!!
http://www.sweetcandydreamer.com
Such a cute hairstyle, and you make it look so easy!
So simple but still so pretty! Your hair is gorgeous
I’ve seen styles like this before and have always wanted to know how to do it–so thank you for the tutorial! I love that your tutorials are not only well-written and photographed, but are also easy and simple and perfect for the everyday girl like me, too. 🙂
love, love, love this! simple and so sweet
love, love, love this. simple and so sweet
So pretty and relatively simple! Thanks for sharing!
♥
Krystal | http://www.moorekrystal.wordpress.com
Amazing!! Love it 😀
Simple, easy and very pretty!
So pretty and simple. Will definitely try this one out. xxx
perfect Katie!
you are the best!!!xxx
Oh I love this! Kinda looks like a messy fishtail braid but so much easier! Xx
there is literally no way i could achieve this, but hot damn its cute!
xoxo,
The Quintessentials
This hairdo is really cool and so very pretty. Will give it a try 🙂
This is just so pretty!
I wish I was any good at doing my own hair. I love your fiery red hair, btw. 🙂
I am in love with! I’m going to a party tonight so it’s the perfect time to try it. Thank you!
It’d be super amazing to include a video tutorial with this picture tutorial 🙂
Oooh, this is pretty! I have long hair and always struggle with cute ways to put it up.
Danielle
http://www.smittenwithsunday.blogspot.com
Such a simple tutorial. Will definitely need to try. Jealous of your gorgeous red hair!
So pretty! My arms get so tired when I try practicing new hairstyles haha
This is so simple yet cool! I can’t get over Katie’s hair colour. Thanks!
http://www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
Ooh! I Love it! I think I will try this tomorrow. I can never get my “bump” that poofy though!
I’m all for some simple but effective hair styles! My hair is MASSIVE and long so getting lazy happens more than I’d like! Definitely adding this to dos to do!
This is MEGA cute. Great for long hair, especially on the second day when you just don’t want to wash it…
Looks simple enough! Your beautiful photos make it look so easy but stunning!
I am so bad at doing my hair, but this looks fairly easy!
I love your hair tutorials but…I have short hair
http://www.modaonlinegelolasvintage.com
i´m definitely wearing this tomorrow!
This is so beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial x
Very nice! Quick and easy hairstyle, I will definitely try it out! I have long hair and I should try to style it more often!
This ponytail looks so simple yet romantic! Love your hair color by the way!
http://everydayingrace.blogspot.ca/
Oh, looks adorable. One of those times when I wish I had long hair again… =/
Lovely!!!
Your hair looks so healthy and pretty. Can I ask what products you use. I have different type, curly and frizzy, but always looking for ways to make it healthier.
Looks really cool!!! But I dont think I would be able to do that!
littlebeautybloge.blogspot.com
Elizabeth x
Simple and fresh! I love it
http://nolongergrey.wordpress.com/
Great!!! Love it!!
XOXO
Sandl
Really love this, been starting to want to do more things with my hair <3
http://muccycloud.blogspot.co.uk
What a great hairstyle!
http://www.whatsashawears.com
Great tutorial I love this hairstyle, it’s so spring-ish 🙂 Too bad I have short hair.
http://ladykfashionparty.blogspot.com
It looks really pretty ^^
Looks easy enough!!! Such a pretty look, too. I love up do’s that are just the right amount of messy. xoxo
3girls1apple.com
This is amazing! I am in the process of growing out my hair and cannot wait until I can do fun ponytails like this.
GORgeous. *lets hair grow*