When Kylie Jenner watched the New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers on May 6, she probably thought all eyes would be on the navy blue (and what looks like crocodile leather) Hermès Birkin casually sitting on her lap courtside. Little did the reality TV star and beauty brand founder know she would instead spark the hottest—and most debated—hairstyle of the summer: the partless ponytail.
First coined as the “partless slickback” by content creator Hannah Burbach, the partless ponytail is exactly what it sounds like: a ponytail without any defined parting of the hair. Sure, it’s hardly revolutionary; I personally, like many people, have been wearing one for as long as I can remember. But whether you’re team “partless slickback,” team “partless ponytail,” or team “it’s literally just a ponytail,” it doesn’t really matter. It’s the perfect hairstyle for when the temps rise above 80.
And as Burbach states in her video, “It feels so chic. I feel incredible walking around. I will be doing this [hairstyle] from here on out.”
The Controversial Rebrand
Much like the beauty-as-food trends that launched many think pieces on the meaning of blueberry nails, renaming a classic style like the slicked-back ponytail as “a partless slickback” or partless ponytail broke beauty TikTok.
“At this point what are we doing, guys? Are you okay? I want off the ride,” content creator Saron Olkaba says in her TikTok video critiquing the trend. “That’s your run-of-the-mill slicked-back ponytail, babe.”
But there are many reasons why a partless ponytail has been worn by generations of women and continues to dominate trend cycles. This time, especially, experts say people want to go with a more minimal look overall. Iggy Rosales, celebrity hairstylist and one of Jenner’s trusted go-tos, explains that we’re seeing a shift from soft, undone hair to something that feels “sharper, cleaner, and more intentional.”
“It’s clean and modern,” Rosales tells Vogue. “A part immediately creates a direction, while a partless ponytail feels more symmetrical and almost architectural; it puts more focus on the face, the makeup, the jewelry, and the overall silhouette.”
“Clients want anything that feels clean and authentic,” adds celebrity hairstylist and Shark global ambassador Bobby Eliot. “The simplicity of a partless ponytail is timeless.”
Rooney Mara, Kim Kardashian, and Jasmine Tookes are just some of the other celebs experts point to who wear the style often. Jenner was recently seen wearing it again on a brand trip to Turks and Caicos. The partless ponytail is one of the more universal hairstyles that works on anyone for any occasion; it strikes that perfect balance of being striking while also functional.
