Pony Cuffs Are the 2025 Met Gala's Low-Maintenance Hair Trend

lorde at the met gala — (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Lorde
Sha'Carri Richardson
Megan Thee Stallion
Mindy Kaling
Shop the Pony Cuff Trend

The Met Gala is a notoriously high-maintenance event. Preparation is not for the weak (or the poor), as celebrities and fashion fixtures shell out thousands of dollars to get their skin in check (Met Gala facials are next-level), nails done, bodies massaged—you get the point. So when a more low-key hairstyle started to dominate the 2025 Met Gala red carpet, I paid attention.

Pony cuffs—you know, the little silver, gold, glitzy bands and beads adorned atop traditional rubber bands—started to show up on more than three celebrities, and it's worth reporting on. While the hairstyle can be dressed up for the red carpet (look to Lorde, Mindy Kaling, and Megan Thee Stallion for proof), it's also beyond easy to DIY and a fabulous summer hairstyle.

It's customizable first and foremost, lending itself to a single-statement pony cuff or a bubble pony situation. You can splurge on a luxe gold option (I'm obsessed with Lelet NY) or stalk the pages of Amazon for budget options. It's my go-to for a beach day hairstyle, but if anyone wants to invite me to a red carpet in the near future—I promise, I can make it work.

Need inspiration on how to wear the pony cuff look? Scroll ahead for ideas, straight from the Met Gala 2025 red carpet.

Lorde

pony cuff met gala red carpet — Lorde at the 2025 Met Gala.

Sha'Carri Richardson

Megan Thee Stallion

Mindy Kaling

Shop the Pony Cuff Trend

Lelet Ny

Crystal Dome Ponytail Cuff

Molain

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Ettika

Bow Organica Hair Tie

Jordan Road

Double Hair Cuff in 14k Gold

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Samantha Holender is the Senior Beauty Editor at Marie Claire, where she reports on the best new launches, dives into the science behind skincare, and shares the breakdown on the latest and greatest trends in the beauty space. She's studied up on every ingredient you'll find on INCI list and is constantly in search of the world's glowiest makeup products. She's constantly tracking the biggest nail and hair trends to pop up in the beauty space, going backstage during fashion weeks, tracking celebrity looks, and constantly talking to celebrity hair stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists. Prior to joining the team, she worked as Us Weekly’s Beauty and Style Editor, where she stayed on the pulse of pop culture and broke down celebrity beauty routines, hair transformations, and red carpet looks. Her words have also appeared on Popsugar, Makeup.com, Skincare.com, Delish.com, and Philadelphia Wedding. Samantha also serves as a board member for the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). She first joined the organization in 2018, when she worked as an editorial intern at Food Network Magazine and Pioneer Woman Magazine. Samantha has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. While at GWU, she was a founding member of the school’s HerCampus chapter and served as its President for four years. When she’s not deep in the beauty closet or swatching eyeshadows, you can find her obsessing over Real Housewives and all things Bravo. Keep up with her on Instagram @samholender.