The High-Slung Ponytail Trend Brought Major Drama to the Emmys Red Carpet

They're truly spectacular.

By
Kara Jillian Brown
A photo of Kara Jillian Brown, Beauty Editor of InStyle
Kara Jillian Brown
Kara Jillian Brown is the Beauty Editor of InStyle. She began her career at Well+Good, where she spent five years evolving from Editorial Intern, to News Writer, to Beauty Writer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English rhetoric from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in health and science journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. She is also a certified fitness instructor and teaches barre in Brooklyn.
InStyle's editorial guidelines
Published on January 15, 2024 @ 09:29PM
Photo:

Getty Images

The beauty looks at the Emmys were all about drama. The bouffants were voluminous, the blow-outs sleek, and the updos high. We, particularly, can't get enough of the show-stopping ponytails. We saw elevated takes on the classic look with lots of length and body.

"The ponytail is sleek, it's easy, it's chic — but I want some drama," says Tym Wallace, the hairstylist behind Taraji P. Henson's down-to-there pony. "So the drama is the length. That's the added surprise."

This is a stark contrast to the Golden Globes red carpet where the short-and-sweet bob haircut reigned supreme. Ahead, see all the dramatic ponytails that took center stage at the January 2024 Emmy Awards.

01 of 05

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson at the Emmy Awards

Getty Images

Wallace styled Henson's ponytail using a mix of hair products from the star's own hair-care line, TPH by Taraji, and L'Oréal. To add dramatic length, Wallace added extensions from Hidden Crown sleeked out with the ghd Chronos flat iron.

02 of 05

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross at the Emmy Awards

Getty Images

Tracee Ellis Ross sported a 1960s-inspired high ponytail, with her lengths swept up and away from her face and the ends of the ponytail flipped under.

03 of 05

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox at the Emmy Awards

Getty Images

Laverne Cox, who hosted the E! News Emmy's red carpet, wore a powerful ponytail. Created by hairstylist Kiyah Wright, the look featured Cox's rooted blonde hair snatched back into a sleek, high ponytail that cascaded down in pretty loose waves.

04 of 05

Zuri Hall

Zuri Hall at the Emmy Awards

Getty Images

Zuri Hall's look features a side part with sleek scalloped edges that give way to an voluminous curly pony tail that fades from Hall's natural brunette to a warm caramel hue. The look was created by hairstylist David Robert using extensions from Glam Seamless.

05 of 05

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis at the Emmy Awards

Getty Images

Yellow Jacket's Juliette Lewis donned a high ponytail with a braided detail at the base of the updo. The look was created by hairstylist Paul Norton.

Related Articles
Selena Gomez at Emmy Awards
All the Best Beauty Looks From the 2024 Emmys
Golden Globes Red Carpet Gallery
Golden Globes 2024 Red Carpet: All the Most Exciting Looks and Fashion Moments
2024 Golden Globes
All the Best Beauty Looks From the 2024 Golden Globes
Laura Harrier with a classic haircut.
20 Classic Haircuts That Never Go Out of Style
Easy braided hairstyles
33 Easy Braided Hairstyles That Make a Stylish Statement
Rowan Blanchard with a pixie haircut.
The Best Haircuts for Your Face Shape, According to Stylists
Lori Harvey with face-framing tendrils.
16 Easy Ways to Rock the Y2K Hair Tendrils Trend
Lil' Kim at the VMA's
How Hip-Hop's '90s and Y2K Beauty Trends Helped Shape Its Legacy
rihanna flipped ponytail
30 Sleek and Stylish Flip Hairstyles for Inspiration
Jenna Ortega and Megan Thee Stallion with face-framing layers haircut
30 Haircuts With Face-Framing Layers for Inspiration
Hairstyles for Women Over 40
The 35 Best Hairstyles for Women Over 40, According to Celebrities
Miley Cyrus and Zendaya wear '70s hairstyles
20 '70s Hairstyles That Feel Chic and Modern
Camila Cabello, Dakota Johnson, Halle Berry, and Kaley Cuoco all with hairstyles with curtain bangs
10 Ways to Style Curtain Bangs, According to Celebrities
Two Black women smiling at one another with braided hairstyles
20 Black Braided Hairstyles Ideas
Composite of three celebrities with natural hairstyles
20 Time-Saving Natural Hairstyles
Slicked Back Hair Looks
The 20 Best Ways to Wear Slicked-Back Hair