Step-by-Step: Architectural Pony

To celebrate the start of New York Fashion Week, we're looking back on some of our favorite styles from past seasons.


Antoinette Beenders, Aveda Global Creative Director, crafted an architectural pony for the Japanese street style-inspired Charles Youssef Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, presented at Milk Studios in New York City. 

Inspired by Japanese street style, Zen gardens and strong female role models, the Charles Youssef Autumn/Winter 2016 collection featured prominent silhouettes with delicate detailing such as hand painted textiles and modernized sashes. A perfect match to the serene, yet striking feel of the collection, Antoinette Beenders, Aveda Global Creative Director, created a loose ponytail with conspicuous elemental features. “Full, thick hair is lightly cinched into the fluent Zen pony,” Beenders said. “It’s modern and strong, but it has soft, feminine details including shine, texture, and pony placement. It helps to tell the whole story of Charles’ beautiful collection.” 

Get the look

Step 1: Prep hair with Thickening Tonic and blow dry to a smooth and voluminous base. 

Step 2: Take a generous amount of Dry Remedy Daily Moisturizing Oil into the palms of the hands and apply throughout the hair to add texture and shine. 

Step 3: Once desired texture and shine is achieved, flip head over to loosely gather hair toward the back of the head. 

Step 4: With hair gathered in hands, use an elastic to secure the ponytail three inches from the base of the head. Flip head back letting the ponytail fall naturally. 

Step 5: Take a 1/2 section of hair near the elastic and wrap it around the ponytail base to hide the elastic. Secure with a pin. 

Step 6: Finish with a light misting of Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray. 

About: Founded in 1978 in Minneapolis, MN, Aveda creates plant-based hair, skin and body products for beauty professionals and consumers. Aveda innovates in botanical technologies, combining the principles of modern science and Ayurveda, the ancient healing art of India, to develop performance-driven hair, skin and body products—made with pure flower and plant essences— that are created with respect for the Earth, and a comprehensive menu of ritual-based treatments for holistic beauty. www.aveda.com