Why I Tried Pony-O Again
I’ve been trying different hair ties lately, including Gimme, so I had a sense of what works for me going into this. I’ve been seeing Pony-O everywhere, and I finally gave in… for the second time. The first time I tried it was years ago, back when it only came in one version. It wasn’t on Amazon yet, and there weren’t different sizes or strengths to choose from.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a great experience. It didn’t deliver, and the company wouldn’t process my return. I usually save customer service interactions because I like including them in my YouTube reviews, and the fact that I don’t have those messages anymore tells me just how long ago this was.
So in my mind, Pony-O was already a no.
Why I Decided to Try It Again
Lately, I’ve been on a mission to find a hair tie that actually works for long, thick hair. My usual hair ties have been letting me down, so I started looking again.
Pony-O came up. My first reaction was immediate: absolutely not.
But then I kept clicking. I saw they were now on Amazon, and more importantly, they had different options available.
The “Sizes”
I say “sizes” in quotes because they appear to be the same physical size based on the photos. It reads more like strength than size, but I don’t have the other versions to compare. Labeling it as “sizes” can mess with your expectations, which feels like a marketing miss.
There used to be an Extra Large, which sounded like it would’ve been ideal for my long, thick hair, but it wasn’t available. When I checked their website, I found out they don’t make the XL anymore.
Based on the guide on Amazon, I went with Large. Two came in a package for $19.99.
This Isn’t Like a Traditional Hair Tie
This is not a loop-and-wrap situation. You gather your hair, slide it into the Pony-O, flatten it, then bend the sides in to secure it.
The surface feels smooth and soft. The inside has bumps, which I assume are for grip. The internal material is copper, so it bends and holds easily.
There is a technique to it, and you’ll need to try it a few times to feel like you’re doing it correctly. I went through this the first time I ordered it. When I initially contacted them for a refund, they said I probably wasn’t using it correctly and that it takes practice. That response was annoying then, and it’s still annoying now.
To be fair, I really gave it a chance. Most people would’ve stopped after the first try. Unfortunately, even when you do it “right,” it doesn’t stay.
Going In (Second Time Around)
So I decided to give Pony-O another try. If something deserves a second chance, I’ll give it one. I really needed a solution to my hair tie problem.
Here’s what I found.
Hold: No. It absolutely does not hold. It took less than two hours for my ponytail to fall, and I hadn’t even left the house. I was just sitting and working on my blog. I tried tightening it a few times, but it kept sinking. When I saw it in the mirror later, I actually laughed.
Tension: Initially, it felt promising. My ponytail was sitting where I wanted it, and I didn’t feel any pulling. But what’s the point of that if it doesn’t stay? It feels like a positive until you realize it’s not actually doing its job.
Loop Count: Zero. But this isn’t a traditional hair tie, so that doesn’t really mean anything here.
Weight Handling: This is where it completely failed. It held my hair together, but it couldn’t support the weight. My ponytail just slid down like a fireman on a pole.
Durability: It feels durable. The inside is copper, and the outer material seems like it would hold up. But durability doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work.
Removal: Easy. It slid off without tugging or pulling.
Dent / Crease: I don’t personally care about this, but I know people do. It didn’t leave a dent, but it also didn’t stay in long enough to.
All-day Wear Comfort: If it actually worked, I think it would be comfortable. But I couldn’t even wear it long enough to really test that.
Versatility: I could maybe see this working for styled looks, like a half-up situation. But for everyday use, it didn’t do what I needed.
Would I Reach for It Again: No. I’m not even sure what I would use it for. If it can’t hold a basic ponytail, it doesn’t have a place in my life for me.
Wrist Wear: It’s made out of copper, so there’s no stretch. I can fit it on my wrist, but I have baby-like wrists. It sits there like a bangle, and because it’s flexible, it just feels awkward to carry around.
What the Marketing Actually Shows
After my first experience (which was basically the same as this one), I went back and really looked at their marketing. They put a lot of emphasis on watching tutorials.
So I watched them then, and I watched them again now. It’s pretty clear this isn’t for all hair types.
If I had paid closer attention to who they show using this, I wouldn’t have bought it. I only tried it again because I wanted to see if the product had improved.
Conclusion
I don’t reach for this, and that says everything. It requires you to learn how to use it, and it’s not easy to throw on your wrist and carry around. That’s not very Medium Maintenance.
I wanted this to work. The design is different, and I thought maybe that difference would actually solve something. It didn’t.
After multiple attempts over a month, I didn’t even feel comfortable wearing it outside the house. A ponytail is as basic as it gets. If it can’t handle that, I’m out. Hopefully the next hair tie I use doesn’t disappoint.
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