15 Cute Boho Braids Ponytail Hairstyles for Medium Hair

Medium hair, roughly collarbone to just past the shoulders, sits in an awkward spot for braids. It is long enough to plait and tie back, but short enough that the layers around your neck and face tend to slip out within an hour. The looks below are chosen with that in mind, and each one says where the short pieces will poke out and how to deal with them.

Boho braid ponytails work because the braid does the decorating and the ponytail does the holding. You get texture, a little looseness at the edges, and a style that survives a commute, a workout, or a day outdoors. Most need only clear elastics, a texture spray, and 5 to 20 minutes.

1. Dutch Braid Into a Messy Low Ponytail

A single Dutch braid starts at the crown and runs back into a low ponytail that you pull loose on purpose. It suits straight to wavy hair of medium thickness, since the raised braid adds height and the loosened pony hides thin ends. It does not suit hair with very short layers around the nape, because those pieces escape the braid and hang as stray wisps.

Spray a texture spray through dry hair first so the sections grip, then braid for about 10 minutes and secure the pony with a clear elastic. Tug the braid edges outward with your fingertips for 30 seconds to get the messy look. It holds for one day and stays presentable into a second if you sleep with the pony in a loose silk scrunchie.

2. Side Fishtail Ponytail

Here the ponytail sits low on one side and the length is worked into a fishtail braid that lies over your shoulder. It suits straight and slightly wavy hair that is at least collarbone length, because a fishtail needs enough length to cross itself several times. If your hair stops above the collarbone, you will end up with two inches of braid and a lot of loose ends.

Plan on 10 to 15 minutes, mostly for the small cross-over sections, and use two thin clear elastics, one at the base and one at the tip. Fishtails grip best on second-day hair, so a light dusting of dry shampoo helps. It lasts a day, and you can re-tighten the base elastic by the afternoon if it slides.

3. Bubble Braid Ponytail

A bubble braid is a ponytail divided into sections with elastics, with each section pulled outward to form puffy rounds. It suits straight, fine, or thin hair best, since the puffing makes a medium-length pony look thicker. It does not suit very curly hair, where the elastic sections get lost in the curl pattern and the bubbles do not read clearly.

Use 4 to 6 clear elastics spaced about an inch and a half apart, and pull each section gently from the top down rather than from the sides. The whole ponytail takes about 8 minutes. Snip the elastics out with small scissors when you take it down, because pulling them can snap fine strands, and the style lasts a single day.

4. Twin Braids Into a Low Ponytail

Two small braids start at the temples, run back along each side, and join the rest of your hair in a low ponytail. It suits anyone with a longer forehead or an oval face, because the braids frame the sides without adding height on top. It is less kind to hair with a lot of short layers at the front, which will slip out of the braids within a few hours.

Start each braid with a regular three-strand plait and tie it off, then gather everything at the nape and snap a clear elastic around it. It takes about 12 minutes. Smooth a pea-sized amount of styling cream along the hairline before braiding to flatten the baby hairs, and expect the style to last one full day.

5. Braided Crown Into a High Ponytail

A thin braid wraps around the crown like a headband, and the rest of the hair is gathered into a high ponytail above it. It suits straight or wavy hair that is collarbone length or longer, since the braid needs to travel around your head before it can be pinned. Hair shorter than your shoulders will not reach all the way around, so skip this one if your cut is a long bob.

Plan on 15 to 20 minutes and have 4 to 6 bobby pins ready to anchor the braid end under the ponytail. Spritz texture spray along the crown so the pins hold in place. It keeps well for a day, but a high ponytail pulls on the scalp if you leave it in overnight, so take it down at bedtime.

6. Braid-Wrapped Ponytail

Instead of wrapping the elastic with a plain strand, you take a thin braid from under the ponytail and wind it around the base. It suits thick or medium-density hair, because you need a spare section to braid without leaving the ponytail looking thin. It does not suit very fine hair, since taking out that braid section leaves little behind.

Braid a section about the width of your thumb, wrap it two or three times around the elastic, and pin the end under the wrap with a single bobby pin. This takes 5 to 7 minutes and hides the elastic entirely. It lasts one day, and the pin is the first thing to loosen, so check it after a few hours.

7. Pull-Through Braid Ponytail

This style splits a ponytail into sections with elastics, then pulls the hair through itself to form a chunky, ropy braid. It suits medium to thick straight or wavy hair, because the pull-through technique needs enough hair to look full at each loop. Very fine hair collapses into a thin cord and loses the effect.

You need 3 to 4 clear elastics and about 10 minutes. Divide the ponytail, split each section in two, and thread the hair below up through the gap above each elastic. A quick pass of flexible-hold hairspray keeps it neat for a day, though the style does not survive sleep well.

8. Half-Up Boho Braid With a Low Ponytail

The top half of your hair is braided back, and the braid meets the lower half at a low ponytail. It suits wavy and curly hair well, because the loose lower section keeps your natural texture visible. It also forgives short layers better than most styles here, since the shorter pieces stay in the lower ponytail rather than needing to be braided.

The braid takes about 6 minutes and the ponytail another 2. Use one clear elastic and a light curl cream on the lower section to keep frizz under control. Expect the style to last a day, and up to two if you wrap the ponytail in a silk scarf overnight.

9. Rope Twist Ponytail

Two strands twisted around each other make a rope that runs from the crown into the ponytail. It is the quickest option on the list and suits almost any texture, including coils, since twisting is gentler than braiding and works with the natural curl. It does not suit hair that is slippery or freshly washed, because the twists will unwind.

Spray a little texture spray before you start and expect it to take about 5 minutes. Twist each strand in the same direction, then wrap the two strands around each other in the opposite direction so the rope locks in place. Use one elastic at the end and plan on a day of wear.

10. Ponytail With Braided Face-Framing Strands

A regular low ponytail, with two thin braids left hanging at the front. It suits anyone growing out bangs or short front layers, since the braids give those pieces a reason to be there. It also helps round faces, because the vertical lines of the braids lengthen the look of the face.

Each braid takes about 2 minutes and needs a tiny clear elastic. Make them with sections no wider than a pencil, or they look heavy. Front pieces shorter than chin length will not hold a braid, so tuck them behind your ear instead. It lasts a day.

11. Lace Braid Side Ponytail

A lace braid picks up loose hair along one side of the head and carries it into a ponytail that sits over the opposite shoulder. It suits medium to long straight or wavy hair, and it is a clean option when the sides of your head are growing out. It is difficult to do on yourself if you have never practiced a French braid, so expect a few attempts.

Budget 15 to 20 minutes the first time, and 10 once you have the motion down. A comb with a pointed handle helps you pick up even sections. Smooth the braid with a drop of hair oil to cut flyaways, and expect it to last a day.

12. Scarf-Woven Braid Ponytail

A thin silk scarf is woven into a braid as one of the strands, then tied off in a bow at the end of the ponytail. It suits straight, wavy, or loosely curled hair, and it hides ends that are uneven or need a trim. It does not suit very coarse or dry hair, because the scarf can snag on rough strands.

Pick a scarf about 36 inches long and 2 inches wide, and fold it in half over the elastic at the base of the ponytail. It takes about 12 minutes. The style stays in for a day, and the scarf picks up hair oils, so wash it after every few wears.

13. Textured Ponytail With Mini Braids

Several skinny braids are scattered through a loose, crimped ponytail. It suits wavy and thick hair, and it is a good use of leftover waves from a night of braiding. It does not suit fine hair, as the mini braids look sparse and the ponytail loses body.

Make 4 to 5 mini braids, each the width of a pencil, and leave them in for at least an hour to set a kink. It takes about 15 minutes, with a texture spray applied to the rest of the ponytail. The shape lasts a day and a half, and the mini braids can stay in overnight.

14. Curly Boho Ponytail With Front Braids

Curls are gathered into a loose ponytail, and two small braids at the front hold the hairline in place. It suits curly Type 2 and Type 3 hair, because the braids keep the front neat while the ponytail shows off the curls. Tight Type 4 coils at collarbone length may shrink too much for the braids to be visible, so a stretched style or twist-out first would help.

Work a leave-in conditioner and curl cream through damp hair, braid the front sections while it is still damp, and let everything air-dry or diffuse for about 20 minutes. Use a soft scrunchie, not a thin elastic, at the ponytail. The style lasts two to three days if you refresh with a water mist each morning.

15. Low Braided Ponytail With Dried Flowers

A loose three-strand braid sits at the nape with small dried flowers tucked into the weave. It suits straight and wavy hair at collarbone length or longer, for a wedding, a festival, or any day you want something softer. It does not suit anyone sensitive to pollen, and the flowers are fragile enough that they will not survive much movement.

Braid loosely for about 10 minutes, then push the flower stems into the braid or fix them with small bobby pins. Choose dried or preserved flowers, such as baby's breath or statice, and avoid fresh ones, which wilt within hours. The braid lasts a day, but the flowers are usually good for only one wear.