Take Note of Julianne Hough's Easy Slicked-Back Ponytail Hack

She didn't just up the ante, she doubled it.

Julianne Hough
(Image credit: Getty)

The slicked-back hairstyle is reigning supreme this year. The only problem with this simple, chic look? Keeping every strand smooth and sleek—pesky flyaways are enemy number one. Thankfully, Julianne Hough has the solution. On Tuesday, November 28, the 35-year-old showed up for her Dancing With the Stars hosting duties wearing her signature blonde locks in a double slicked back ponytail—and not a hair was out of place.

How did she accomplish this, you ask? Well, she actually slicked her hair back in two ways, with both the top and bottom halves of her scalp getting their time to shine. Starting right above her ear, the bottom half of Hough's hair was slicked back at an upward angle. The top section angled downward, with the two meeting up to form the straightened low pony.

A post shared by Julianne Hough

A photo posted by juleshough on

Like many of Hough's DWTS hairdos, the ponytail was crafted by celebrity hairstylist and Nine Zero One salon co-owner Riawna Capri. In a behind-the-scenes Instagram Story, Capri shared exactly how she made the look happen.

"It's that time again," she captioned the clip, which showed the top half of Hough's hair tightly pulled back and secured with styling clips. While that held, Capri worked on the bottom half, putting it in position and adding some hairspray to make sure everything stayed in place. While she didn't add another video, I can only assume the next step was to build the actual ponytail, connecting the sections above Hough's neck.

To round out her look, the professional dancer chose a classic red lip, laminated brows, and a simple, mauve eyeshadow that made her blue eyes pop. Diamond and pearl earrings were the finishing touch, the perfect flair for a simple-yet-stunning hairstyle.

Sophia Vilensky
Freelance Writer

Sophia Vilensky is a Freelance Beauty Writer at Marie Claire with a beauty, wellness, and entertainment journalism portfolio that includes contributions to Byrdie, Bravo, Teen Vogue, and Us Weekly. Growing up in a family of beauticians—and through her own personal studies—she developed an in-depth understanding of aesthetics, cosmetic product formulation, and beauty treatment development and has also held roles as a senior copywriter, content strategist, and proofreader for top beauty and wellness brands. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find her with her hair and makeup actually done. Sophia is based in Minneapolis and is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and minored in cinema studies. During her time at the university, she was the Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Minnesota Daily, earning the 2019 Editor of the Year award for her work. She connected deeply with the Twin Cities arts scene, collaborating with leading beauty professionals, designers, and artists. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, her thesis—a close-reading of Vanderpump Rules—was featured on NPR. When not immersed in writing or testing new products, Sophia enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and exploring the newest woo-woo wellness trends. Keep up with her on Instagram @sophiavilensky.