Power Ponytails Are Dominating the 2025 Emmys Red Carpet

a split image of two women on a red carpet wearing ponytails — (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Best High Ponytails
The Best Products for Ponytails

The 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards are currently taking place in Los Angeles, and while most of the attendees are gathering in hopes of taking home trophies (and praising the ones who do), the best part of the show happens before it even starts—on the red carpet. All of Hollywood stepped out tonight wearing their very best, but one look at everyone's glam shows that it's already shaping up to be a pretty big night for slick ponytails.

Among other trends like the oft-debated side part, gray hair, and red lips, ponytails are having a big moment at the show tonight. Selena Gomez, who's currently starring in the Emmy-nominated Only Murders in the Building, showed up with her long bob pulled into a super slick ponytail with a Barbie-like flick at the ends. And speaking of Barbie ponytails, The Better Sister's Elizabeth Banks attended the event wearing a super-long and voluminous high ponytail with platinum blonde highlights.

Ponytails have long been a staple on red carpets, and it's not hard to see why. They're pretty simple to accomplish, and they can keep your hair out of your face all night, plus they can be customized to look however you want them to with anything from a flip to a wraparound.

Below, I've rounded up the best ponytails spotted on the red carpet tonight, plus a few products that'll help you achieve the sleekest ponytail ever.

The Best High Ponytails at the 2025 Emmy Awards

a brunette woman wearing a red, high neck gown and posing on a red carpet — Selena Gomez at the 2025 Emmys.

a woman with blonde hair and a high ponytail wearing a black gown in front of a blue background — Elizabeth Banks at the 2025 Emmys.

a woman wearing a high ponytail and a backless gown posing in front of a blue background — Kirsten Bell at the 2025 Emmys.

a woman wearing a silky, burnt orange gown posing in front of a blue background — Britt Lower at the 2025 Emmys.

a brunette woman wearing a long ponytail posing on a red carpet in front of a dark background

a woman with blonde hair wearing a long ponytail and a long, black gown on a red carpet in front of a blue background

The Best Products for Ponytails

Shark Beauty

Flexstyle Air Styling & Drying System

You can't achieve a slick ponytail without sleek hair. A blowout here is key.

BaByliss

Nano Titanium 1” Digital Hair Straightener Flat Iron

Follow your blowout by straightening your hair to get it as glassy as possible. You can also use this to curl or flip parts of your ponytail once it's in place.

Briogeo

Style + Treat™ Hair Styling Sleek Stick

Pick up a styling stick to really push the hair back and seal it in place.

IGK

Frizz and Flyaway Lightweight Gel Hair Taming Wand

A flyaway wand comes in handy for any baby hairs or pieces that are too short to be contained at the base of the ponytail.

Tresemme

Tresemme Extra Hold Hairspray

Finally, spritz your hair with some holding spray to ensure your style stays in place and lasts as long as possible.

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Danielle Jackson is the former senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.