Beyond the Ponytail

Top Knot

Twist, wind, done.

By Martin, the dad behind Dad Hair Hero. The steps are the ones in the app.

Full steps in the free app, in Beyond the Ponytail.

Time: About 6 minutes
Steps: 7
Level: Takes some practice
Hair type: Every hair type
Ages: Young children to pre-teens
Hair length: Hair that touches her shoulders, or longer

You'll need wide-tooth comb, detangling brush, snag-free hair elastic, bobby pin, detangler spray, fine-mist water bottle. For curly and coily hair, also leave-in conditioner.

All hair gathered at the very top of her head, twisted into a rope, and wound around its own base to form a bun.

Top Knot, the finished style, curly hair: back view — The same style on curly hair.

Her job

She holds the bobby pins ready for the last step.

What the steps cover

Detangle first
Gather to the very top of her head
Secure with the elastic
Twist the ponytail into a rope
Wind the rope around the base
Secure with a second elastic
Pin any loose ends

The full steps, with a picture for each and what to check before you move on, are in the app, in Beyond the Ponytail, with the curly and coily method where it differs.

Full steps in the app

Beyond the Ponytail is an optional one-time pack of twelve styles in the Dad Hair Hero app. You pay once and they are yours to keep. There is no subscription, and you can see every style in the pack before you decide. Once it is yours, the app does four things this page cannot:

Her hair, not hair in general. Choose Straight, Wavy, Thick, Curly or Coily under "her hair today" and the steps and pictures change to the method for her hair.
A check before every step. Each step ends with what it should look and feel like, so you know it is right before you move on.
Fix It, mid-style. When something is not right, "Something's not right" opens the fix for it without leaving the step.
The diary. Add a photo and a note when you finish, and see what you have done and what to try next.

Free, with six everyday styles and all eight techniques. No account, no ads, no tracking.