Braided ponytail in South Africa: styles, hairpieces and cost

Kinds of ponytail piece, and what they start at

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Braided ponytails, explained

What a braided ponytail is

A braided ponytail can mean two things, and they cost very differently. It can be a hairstyle: your own hair and braiding hair braided into rows or plaits, then gathered high into a ponytail. Or it can be a hairpiece: a ponytail of braided or loose hair that you attach to a ponytail of your own. This page covers both, plus drawstring ponytails and ponytail braids for kids.

L'Oreal Paris describes the hairstyle side with feed-in braids, where synthetic hair is fed into the braid as you work, and lists a ponytail style among four variations, alongside four braids, two braids and side-swept designs.

The hairstyle, from a salon

Fresha listings we read on 6 Oct 2026 show a Straight Up Ponytail at R950 at one Cape Town City Centre salon, with the listing saying hair is included. It is listed at 4 to 5 hours. In Johannesburg, a Ponytail Styling listing shows R520 for 1 hour 30 minutes, and does not say whether hair is included. Those are two listings, so treat them as examples, not an average.

The American Academy of Dermatology says to wear braids for no longer than 6 to 8 weeks, to keep them short because longer hair is heavier and pulls more, and to loosen them, especially around your hairline. A tight ponytail pulls on the front and sides of the scalp, which is where the British Association of Dermatologists says tight ponytails cause hair loss.

The hairpiece, with a drawstring or a wrap

A drawstring ponytail slides over a ponytail or bun of your own. Alpha Hair Extension's steps are to brush your hair into a tight ponytail or bun, loosen the drawstring, place the net over the bun with the combs under your elastic, then pull the drawstring gently until it feels snug but comfortable. It says this takes under 10 minutes, and warns that you should not pull the drawstring too tightly.

Glamorhair also lists velcro wrap and tie-on ponytails, and Strands of Love lists clip-in ponytails at 80 g. A pony braid works differently. Cosmetic Connection describes Prima Afro Pony Braid Short as a hot water set braid and says one pack is enough for a full afro ponytail.

What the pieces cost

On 6 Oct 2026, a 28 inch synthetic drawstring ponytail was R117 on Takealot, and Prima Afro Pony Braid Short was R155. A 2 piece, 26 inch synthetic ombre braiding ponytail was R169. The Wig Factory's human hair blend ponytails started at R549.01, for a 20 inch straight piece.

Hair City's Brazilian easy draw string ponytail, which its page calls 100% human hair, was R980 at 18 inch. Hair Majesty's double drawn Peruvian ponytail was R1,839 at 18 inch, and The San Hair's 150 g curly ponytails were R1,999 at 20 inch. The table shows every row, with the store and the date.

Human hair or synthetic

A UK retailer's blog (hairextensions.co.uk) says human hair ponytails keep their quality for 4 months or longer with care, while synthetic ones last 1 to 3 months because they tangle and mat more. Human hair can be heat styled and washed like your own, while synthetic pieces come pre-styled, which saves effort but limits what you can change. Its prices are in pounds, so we do not use them here.

Ponytail braids for kids, and school rules

Fresha listings show a wide range of prices for children's braiding. In Cape Town, cornrows on natural hair for kids only is listed at R250 for 1 hour, cornrows with fibre straight back for kids only at R350 for 2 hours, and Kiddies Braids including fibre at R600 for 4 hours. School styles are listed from R150 at another salon. In Johannesburg, a free-hand plait for under 12s is listed at R200 for 1 hour 30 minutes. Check what the price includes.

On school rules, the SAHRC, South Africa's human rights body, said on 20 October 2023 that schools should end any practice that discourages African pupils, or subjects them to disciplinary procedures, for wearing afros, braids or other natural hairstyles. A retailer's blog, Mira Accessories, says most schools now allow braids and natural styles, that hair past the collar must be tied back in one or two neat ponytails or plaits at primary level, and that you should ask the school office if you are not sure. Rules still differ, so read your child's code of conduct.

Protecting the hairline

A study of 1,042 schoolchildren by Khumalo and colleagues found that 78.4 percent of girls had chemically relaxed hair, usually combed back or tied in ponytails, and that traction alopecia affected 17.1 percent of girls, rising from 8.6 percent in the first year of school to 21.7 percent in the last year of high school. Among those with a history of braids, 32.1 percent with braids on relaxed hair had traction alopecia, against 22.9 percent for braids on natural hair, although the difference was not significant.

The American Academy of Dermatology says to avoid frequently wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair, and lists broken hairs around the forehead, a receding hairline, patches where hair is pulled tight, pain, stinging and crusts as warning signs. If the style hurts, ask your stylist to loosen it.

Braided ponytails: questions