Although she didn’t win the CMA Award for Best Female Vocalist of the Year for what would have been the 7th year in a row (the honor went to Carrie Underwood), Miranda Lambert won best ponytail of the night here at Stylish HQ. It was everything you’d want a ponytail to be — positioned high enough to be chic, not cheerleader-like, with the perfect amount of bedhead tousle.
The “Vice” singer, in a plunging Georges Hobeika dress, was escorted down the carpet by musician boyfriend Anderson East and Instagrammed, “I had a great time … with my sweet love by my side! I’m a lucky girl!” Even though she wore her hair down for her performance, her ponytail took center stage for the night.
The last time we swooned this hard over a pony was Kate Hudson’s at the AMFAR gala in 2012 (above), and in anticipation of another 4-year pony drought, we asked Lambert’s hairstylist Johnny Lavoy for his top tips.
From left: PRO Beauty Tools Professional 1875W IONIC AC Motor Dryer ($40, target.com), PRO Beauty Tools XL Ionic Ceramic Thermal Brush ($13, target.com), PRO Beauty Tools 1 1 1/4-inch Professional Iridescent Curling Iron ($28, walmart.com), Kevin Murphy Doo.Over ($29, kevinmurphy.com.au), Elnett Satin Hairspray Strong Hold ($7, ulta.com)
To get the “youthful and effortless” look, Lavoy, who also works with Ariana Grande, says he first pumped up volume around the crown with a hairdryer and ceramic round brush. He spiraled 2-inch pieces around a 1 1/4-inch curling iron, then gathered hair into a high ponytail, “leaving front pieces out to frame the face for a soft, feminine feel,” Lavoy tells Stylish. Using fingers, he gently loosened and teased pieces at the top and sprayed a texturizing mist allover, concentrating on the tail. He secured the style with a strong hold hairspray.
