How to wear a hair bow as an adult

One of my favorite ways to spruce up an otherwise mundane ponytail is with a hair bow. Have you always wanted to try the look but never been sure how? Read on below for my tips on how to wear a hair bow as an adult! 

Lately wearing hair bows in your ponytail has been quite the rage – reference these celebrities and icons who’ve recently been seen wearing hair bows: Duchess Kate; Nicole Kidman at the Golden Globes; or Mandy Moore. It seems like the otherwise preppy accessory, the hair bow, is making a serious come back… and I’m all for it.

I’ve been wearing ribbons in my ponytail since I was in middle school. I’ve always thought they kicked an otherwise boring ponytail, up a notch. I used to keep ribbon remnants in a jar in my bathroom to use, but now, since the trend has become so popular, you can find just about any sort of bow barrette or bow ponytail holder, at a number of stores. Check out my favorites linked below.  Keep it sleek

You might notice that the bow in a ponytail trend looks ultra sophisticated with your hair pulled back in a ponytail. I personally like to keep my ponytail nice and sleek so the hair bow does the talking. Plus, dependent on what kind of hair bow you go for – perhaps a simple black grosgrain ribbon or a colorful, patterned scarf – the hair bow can most certainly be the statement maker of the look. 

Don’t be afraid to play with colors or textures 

I used to stick to simple grosgrain or satin ribbon hair bows, but now as an adult I’ve played with a variety of different texture hair bows in my ponytails. I love wearing my Hermes silk Twilly scarves as a ponytail accessory, they’re definitely vibrant and colorful. I have a few velvet hair bow ties that I absolutely love, they’re sophisticated and the black one is particularly elegant. I also have a denim hair bow that I pull out in the spring and summer (last seen here). Plus the texture is fun to dress up or down depending on my mood.

Don’t reserve the hair bow for just a ponytail

Yes, hair bows are most commonly seen adorning a ponytail, but that doesn’t mean you have to wear yours that way! Don’t be afraid to try different looks. A la Blair Waldorf, you could do a hair bow as a headband, or tie it at the end of a braid for a pretty embellishment. Try the half-up-half-down hairstyle and tie a simple black grosgrain ribbon on it or use a bow clip to adorn a bun or up-do. The sky is the limit! Don’t let the norms keep you inside the hair bow box, just as long as you’re not looking like Minnie Mouse or a 5-year-old girl, your bow is perfect.