Adult pigtails - YouLookFab Forum

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Adult pigtails

Maya

Veteran

Do you think pigtails are ever acceptable on adults? I don't mean like this:

http://blog.timesunion.com/kri.....gtails.jpg

Nor do I mean creepy Lolita style.

But a more subdued style, where the 'tails are low and more towards the back of the head. I'm asking because I have such a love-hate relationship with this style. It looks good on me, but I'm afraid it might be inappropriate, or it might just end up making me look even younger, in a bad way. I like the fullness it gives when compared to just a boring ponytail. Can it be done? With a more grownup outfit maybe?

33 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

rae

(website)

Veteran

I like them! I think I prefer them a little bit messy:

http://2threads.com/article/to.....for-summer

http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Hai.....auty-Trend

http://styleandfocuspr.blogspo.....amour.html

kellygirl

Veteran

I think it's fine on the under 30's or so. I don't really appreciate the look on my peers (but I usually see this look combined with some sort of railroad conductor hat, Juicy sweatpants and lots of diamontes.)

Heather

Veteran

Didn't you post a pic of AH in a cute little pigtail do that you loved? I thought that look was perfect for you. Can't find that thread....

taylor

Veteran

I call them piggies and I love them on babies/toddlers with little bits of hair...so cute:)
Adults can wear them...they just don't look as cute:)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

oh dear, @ Kelly.

It's a slippery slope. It can be done with retro sass and arty flare, but with effort. I just don't know if its worth the effort.

Maya

Veteran

Yes Hbaber! But I never could manage to get enough volume no matter what, and that was sort of key to the look. Plus my hair just isn't sleek enough.

But Angie! I would argue that this (arty, retro) is the essence of my style, no? :p What are the variables? I guess it has to be very neat and clean and everything else has to be more sophisticated than I usually wear...?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

AH is wearing a hair piece. It's that simple. My late Mum did too - just like that.

Steph

Veteran

I do wear pigtails when I am going somewhere very casual. I do it with a baseball cap at sporting events, and I wear them on their own as well. There are many photos of me on vacation in pigtails.

For me, the appeal is twofold. First off, they are a really convenient way to keep my hair out of the way and off of my neck. Since I don't like the way I look in ponytails, pigtails make sense for me.

I also feel like my face is kind of unbalanced and I feel like pigtails are actually a flattering hair choice for me because it balances things out. I honestly feel like I look prettier with pigtails than without.

I do sometimes wonder if they just look too juvenile, but I think (I hope!) I pull it off. I am usually pretty confident in my fashion choices (I'm not even apologetic about those that are reviled on YLF). This is the one instance where I do feel torn.

cheryl

Veteran

I absolutely love them, in fact i am wearing pigtails in the WIW i posted tonight. Mine are like you posted though lol. I think hair, makeup and fashion should be fun and an expression of who you are so if you like them and they make you happy go for it but i am 45 years old and still wear pigtails and light up shoes. I'm all about fun and lifes simple pleasures

I probably wear them once a month or so and i never fail to get at least a few compliments every time i do. Seems people love pigtails.

MsMary

Veteran

I'm saying "not after you graduate from college," or unless you are in a VERY, uh, CREATIVE profession...

Heather

Veteran

Right, right. I recall various suggestions for crown volume, etc. Hmmm.

Have you done your own experimentation and discovered a look you like? I think you can totally pull it off with the right outfit.

Maya

Veteran

I like the look with a moto jacket, simple blouse, jeans, and yes, heels. Nothing too girly, nothing too young-looking (which is how I usually dress, but I can't go quite that far off the deep end).

And of course my favorite hat! I love hats.

Yes, there was definitely a hair rat or donut in AH' hair. Since I center part my hair, I have a hard time getting it to lie properly over a hairpiece. It just naturally divides down the middle. And of course I do not have a professional doing it.

FoolOfATook

I vote nay. I can't think of one instance IRL where I thought they looked good or appropriate.

Alecia

Veteran

I like them for a very laid back look. LIke under a straw hat at the beach. But I'm not sure how I feel about them for everyday wear.

Sheila

Veteran

Sorry, but I keep thinking of Suzanne Somers on Three's Company...I think the ditzy blond character she played turned me off to adults with pigtails.

Marley

Veteran

I like - and think you could easily pull off this look Maya!

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, it's a close call. I'm going to test drive them tomorrow and see how it goes. What I'm going for is essentially the look of a very full ponytail, so you don't know right off that they are pigtails when looking at me from the front. And if I keep it really neat, and keep the rest of the outfit a couple of years older and more classic than I usually dress, I think I might be able to pull it off.

It would take a lot to make me look like a ditzy blonde...so no worries there...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I've only worn them when snowboarding to keep my hair contained while also dealing with a hood and hat. Maybe in a boho, straw hat, gauzey skirt kind of way they could work but overall I'm not a fan on anyone over school age.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I sometimes do very low pigtails when I'm going to yoga class -- my hair is usually of a length that makes it difficult to pull it all back, but it's too long to just let hang loose. The pigtails keep my hair out of the way but don't create an uncomfortable bump in the back of my head during savasana, the way a ponytail does.

My husband always remarks that he likes my hair like that. I think it actually looks good with my face shape, etc., but at 45, I will only wear it like that for workouts and the like.

Renee

I am 31 and I wear pigtails at times. I have dark hair that falls and inch or two below my shoulders that I usually straighten and I also think it looks good with my face. I wear them low, sometimes in braids. People think I am younger than I am regardless. I'm sure the pigtails only make me look younger, but I don't care. I do often wonder how old is too old to be wearing them. For me they are just convenient though. Like Steph above pigtails are my go-to hair for a sporting event, especially if I will be wearing a ball cap (which I would only wear at a sporting event or function). I cannot wear one without them. I like them with winter knit hats as well. It is just an easy way to get my hair out of my face while still having something to frame my face. I think they suit me and don't make me look juvenile in a bad way, but I don't know how others view me with them. Seems those that are against it (not here, but in general) are very against it.

Kate

Veteran

I think they can be done right, especially with shorter hair.

Examples:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com.....75d201.jpg
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/.....0B0D811297

Elly

Veteran

Braided pigtails have more leverage. I almost wore mine in braids today, but I have a horrible time doing something coordinated. I saw a gorgeous women in her 30s today who was wearing braids and looked very appropriate. I look balding in true pigtails (because I end up with a very long section of hair that is about a nickel in size or smaller) always have.

Laura B.

I love the look of pigtails!

like this:
http://www.keikolynn.com/2010/.....kitty.html

or braided: center part, using texturizer, starting at the chin and braided loosely, leaving a long tail at the end. Select, loose face framing pieces are always a bonus.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I like them and think they can work on nearly any aged woman done properly. I also like braids, esp fishtail braids.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Funny, I automatically thought we were talking braided lol. Guess I don't wear traditional pigtails ever then. Just low braids when skiing. I do think where they are placed makes a huge difference in how young looking they are. Low and back are best bets!

Niki Lea

Veteran

This is one of those looks that normally makes me think "mutton dressed like a lamb". But there's always an exception to every rule and I think it could work depending on the person. Pigtails are usually a boho/hippy look where I live. I also think they're fine at the gym - anything goes at the gym.

Cilleena

Veteran

I think they would be adorable on you Maya! I can see occasions where I would wear them, although I haven't thought about wearing pigtails since I was 7. I might have to try the low pigtails some this summer at the lake. It gets wicked windy and then on the boat, it would help to keep the hair out of my mouth. But, then we wear weird, goofy stuff on the boat...DH wears bright yellow crocs. It seems to me to be a very beachy, water, fun in the sun kind of look. I'm 40 years old and I don't think I could get away with wearing them anywhere else.

Diana

Veteran

I like a low, loose pigtail look and I used to wear it on occasion when my hair was longer. I think the trick is to keep everything else kind of low-key and not too twee.

Obviously, it is not a super professional look and might make you look younger than you are, but I think pigtails are perfectly appropriate on grown women in the right context.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Kate, that second link isn't working for me, but the first picture is a pretty accurate representation of my yoga/workout hair. These days my hair's a little longer, so I can actually pull it back in a single ponytail and stick it through the hole on my running hat (baseball-cap style).

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