How to Get the Perfect Slicked-Back Ponytail Every Time

A slicked-back ponytail is simple if you have the right products, tools and know-how. Whether you want to capture those clean girl aesthetic vibes or just want something new to try with your hair, we’ve got you covered.  A Sleek Ponytail Is the Base of all Clean Girl Hairstyles Ever heard of the clean girl aesthetic? These girlies are put together, professional and glowing. You could say it’s because of their dewy foundation, nude lips or love for neutrals, but their hair has a lot to do with it — it always looks freshly brushed and there’s no one strand out of place. If you want to learn how to do clean girl hairstyles, you’ll first need to master the slicked-back ponytail. Whether you want to put your hair in a braid, a bun or a half updo, the base of almost every style is a sleek pony.  What You’ll Need for the Perfect Slicked-Back Ponytail  Products are key for achieving the perfect slicked-back ponytail. While you can technically make yours look sleek without them, they definitely complete the look. Whether you have straight or curly hair determines which ones you’ll need.  Hair Products and Tools for Curly Hair You’ll want a round detangling brush, a soft brush and an edge brush to manage your curls and get flyaways to cooperate. We recommend a fine and wide-tooth rat tail comb to simplify parting and sectioning. Also, you’ll need a spray bottle, a hair dryer, hair ties and hair clips.  Products-wise, you’ll generally want hair gel, freeze spray, edge control and finishing spray. While you don’t necessarily need styling glues or sprays, they’ll help you get that slicked-back look. Naturally, you can use products to highlight your loose curls or coils in your ponytail.  Hair Products and Tools for Straight Hair  A detangling brush, a boar hair brush and a fine-tooth rat tail comb will help you section and mold your hair into a tight, sleep ponytail. Depending on how long and thick your hair is, you might also need multiple bobby pins, hair ties and clips.  Straight-haired girlies generally only need a few products to slick back their hair. Hair wax, oil, shine serum, spray and leave-in conditioner are all good choices. If you want to use more than one — like argan oil and a hair wax stick, for example — go right ahead.  How to Get a Slicked-Back Ponytail in Four Steps or Less Getting a slicked-back ponytail is more complex than a regular messy ponytail, but still pretty easy. Generally, there are five steps you need to follow — we’ll get into hair type specifics later. 1. Divide your hair into sections. The best way to achieve a sleek ponytail is to divide your hair into sections — one in the back where you want your ponytail height to be, one on each side of your face and one on each side of your middle part. While you should generally have at least five, you might need less or more depending on your hair’s thickness and length. 2. Detangle your hair. Getting your ponytail to stay slicked in place requires a lot of tugging and brushing, so you want to detangle your hair before starting. Go over each section of your hair with a round or flat detangling brush to remove any knots or tangles.  3. Brush your sections back. We recommend tilting your head up slightly to get gravity’s help when brushing your hair back. It can be a big help for when you’re trying to get a middle part to look good when pulled back. Use your soft brush to slowly coax every strand into place, following closely behind with your hand to smooth down any flyaways caused by movement or static. Be careful with how taut you make your ponytail — you can damage your hair and even recede your hairline if you tug on it too much. We recommend using deep conditioning treatments or giving yourself a break with a loose pony every once in a while. 4. Smooth any flyaways. The key to a slicked-back ponytail is uniformity — you don’t want a single strand sticking out of place. You want to make your hair as flat as possible to achieve the sleek look you’re going for. Use bobby pins, finishing spray, edge control and hair clips to tame any flyaways or loose baby hairs that won’t cooperate.  Tips and Tutorials for Sleek Curly Hair Ponytails Naturally, slicking down natural, curly hair takes a good amount of time, effort and patience. If you want to tame your locks, you’ll probably have to use plenty of gel and spray. While we’ve seen plenty of beauty influencers swearing by freeze hairspray, you can definitely find a tutorial that sticks to spritz and minimal glue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUzMdfpjVfo Jaelah Majette, a vlogger who’s well known for documenting her natural hair journey, can give you step-by-step instructions in her voiceover video on how to detangle, section and slick your curly hair. She has a combination of products — styling gel and freeze spray— she swears by that’ll make the whole process much more manageable.  Tips and Tutorials for Sleek Ponytails With Bangs You can still achieve a killer slicked-back ponytail with bangs. Whether you want to hold them in place with hairspray, leave them out, curl them or make them stand out is up to you. If you have long hair, consider 60s-inspired swoop bangs for a classic take on the clean girl aesthetic.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cja4Oqyv7wE The fashion and beauty influencer Sagonia Lazarof can take you through the steps to get a perfect sleek ponytail with swoop bangs. You’ll need hairspray, a soft brush, a styling comb, hair ties, bobby pins and a straightener to follow her tutorial.  Tips and Tutorials for Sleek Straight Hair Ponytails You’ll want to try this hairstyle after going a few days without washing your hair to make it easier to style. Consider going for a middle part to simplify sectioning and brushing — you’ll deal with fewer bumps and snags this way.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEeHzNpQDhk Sloan Byrd, a popular influencer and beauty vlogger, recommends using leave-in conditioner and hair oil to make your hair easier to tame and give it that sleek look. Once she introduces the products and tools she uses, it takes her just over five minutes to finish her look — making it the perfect go-to style when you want to capture the clean girl aesthetic but are in a rush.  Capture That Clean Girl Aesthetic With a Slicked-Back Ponytail Once you’ve put your hair in a slicked-back ponytail a few times, it’ll become second nature to you — you’ll probably be able to get it up and looking great in a few minutes, tops. At that point, you can branch out to other clean girl hairstyles like braids, buns and updos.

While pickleball used to be a sport for senior living establishments, it’s becoming increasingly popular among people of all ages. However, just because it's easily accessible by many doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.  Are you feeling nervous about trying out a new sport? Fear not — discover everything you need to know about pickleball, including beginner-friendly tips to jumpstart your game correctly. What is Pickleball? Pickleball is a paddle sport that fuses elements of badminton, ping-pong and tennis. The beauty of this sport lies in its accessibility — it’s a game appropriate for all skill levels and ages. It was first created in Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965 by three fathers — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum — in a quest to give their children a new activity to play. The sport rose to prominence among baby boomers in more recent years. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, pickleball experienced an unexpected surge. Since the pandemic prevented people from playing contact sports, people explored pickleball as a way to stay active while socially distancing. In 2022, more than 26.5 million people played pickleball, and around 14% of Americans played the sport at least once. In 2023, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) recognized pickleball as the Fastest Growing Sport in America. Unlike golf which requires expensive gear, pickleball requires only a good paddle and a plastic ball that costs less than $200.  What Makes the Sport Popular? There are many reasons why pickleball has risen in popularity in recent years. Here are some of the main reasons: 1. It’s Easy to Learn The sport’s rules are very similar to ping-pong, making it easy for beginners to learn to play pickleball. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player who wants to dabble in a new sport, pickleball offers something new for everyone. 2. It’s a Social Activity Pickleball happens on a court smaller than a tennis court, which allows people to hold conversations while playing. The gameplay also allows players to strategize and bond with family, friends and even strangers who will soon become friends. Pickleball makes it easy to spend quality time with loved ones and newfound friends on the court. 3. It Encourages You to Be Active Pickleball is a mind-body exercise requiring you to practice and hone skills such as focus, balance, reflexes, hand-eye coordination and agility. It is an excellent alternative to tennis for older individuals with physical limitations, including knee or hip problems. 4. It’s a Perfect Recreational Activity Many communities are repurposing tennis courts and indoor areas for pickleball tournaments to meet the rising demand. Check out the old tennis courts near you and inquire about new programs offering pickleball tournaments in your area.  How to Get Started Start your pickleball journey with a friend to play with you. The sport is usually played in doubles, but it can be played with two people on separate sides of the net. Invite a family member or friend interested in playing and reserve your slot on the court where an experienced player can coach you.  Next, gather the essential equipment, including: A good pair of rubber shoes Pickleball paddle Pickleball A place to play If you're unsure about investing in equipment, a place offering private lessons often provides these tools. Once you have the gear, familiarize yourself with the play zone. It’s usually the size of a badminton court, with a net height of 36 inches at the sideline and 34 inches at the center. It’s comprised of the following sections: Right service area: The square to the right Left service area: The space next to the right service area Kitchen or non-volley zone: This refers to the court’s center area, where no player can hit volleys. Non-volley lines appear on the side. Baselines: Straight lines at the end of service areas. You should stand behind the baseline on your side of the court to start the game. Sidelines: Lines on the sides of service areas. Centerlines: Lines dividing right and left service areas. 5 Rules and Tips to Remember Now that you have the equipment and know the court setup, it’s time to learn the basics of how to learn pickleball. 1. Begin With a Serve Like tennis, each rally begins with a serve. The player on the right-hand block of the court usually serves first to the diagonally opposite court, where the ball must land. Otherwise, the point goes to the opposing team. 2. Use Underhand Motion If you’ve played tennis, you know it requires moving your arm into an upward arc to strike the ball. In pickleball, less force and arm motion are required. Here, you must use an underhand stroke or backhand below your waist. You can explore other serving methods once you’ve mastered this beginner-friendly technique. Check out this quick tutorial from Wayne Dollard, founder of LevelUp Pickleball Camps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnxI1XTKC9k&t=19s 3. Don’t Volley in the Kitchen Avoid hitting balls inside the kitchen or having any part of your body inside. This is a rule because the closer you are to the net, the bigger your advantage. You can easily hit the ball with a downward smash, increasing your chances of scoring a point. If this is the case, pickleball will be less challenging. 4. Less is More One of the most common beginner mistakes is too much movement in paddle motion and footwork. Big swings and added steps aren’t usually essential to the game. An important skill for pickleball is consistency — the less motion you have, the more consistent you’ll be at hitting the ball accurately. 5. Learn More Rules You can review the official pickleball rulebook and familiarize yourself with the rules. You can also check the U.S.A. Pickleball’s website for video tutorials so you can feel more confident before stepping onto the court.  Ready to Play Pickleball? Pickleball provides health benefits and fun, so it's no wonder it’s one of the most progressive sports in the country. With these tips, you are now ready to enjoy the sport with your family and friends. Grab a ball, paddle and a friend today!

Imagine yourself stuck at your relative's house with your dysfunctional family or rushing to meet a deadline at work. Who wouldn't feel overwhelmed under those circumstances? A five-minute meditation for beginners is what you need to learn to nurture your mind, body and spirit instantly.  Of course, meditation can be daunting if you have little practice. Those with endless thoughts popping into their heads may struggle to focus. This guide will help you understand the importance of brief meditations throughout your day and how to quickly and effectively dive into one when needed. Short and Sweet: What Is a Five-Minute Meditation? A five-minute meditation is just what it sounds like — a relaxation technique to feel less stressed in five minutes. It's also an excellent way for beginners to build up to a more extended meditation practice.  According to a 2022 study, 10-minute meditations daily for 10 days were enough to reduce depression and anxiety during the height of COVID-19. A five-minute meditation is halfway there, or you can meditate for five minutes twice daily for effective results.  Like longer meditations, there are several approaches to rapid relaxation, including the following: Guided meditation: Structured five-minute meditations for beginners through classes, online resources and mobile apps Mantra meditation: Repetition of a word or phrase to help you focus during meditation Body scan: Awareness of different parts of your body and recognition of tension and tightness Visualization: Imagining yourself somewhere relaxing, such as a beach or lush forest  You can feel refreshed and renewed in just five minutes, regardless of the type of meditation you enjoy doing.  The Benefits of a Five-Minute Meditation Decades-worth of research has shown the positive effects of meditation on your mind and body. Some of the benefits include things such as: Reduced feelings of depression and anxiety Better sleep Improved memory and cognitive function Promotes weight loss efforts and weight management Decreased blood pressure Greater concentration and attention span Enhanced creativity and imagination Stronger immunity — eight days of meditation activates the immune system Reduces emotional reactivity Decrease pain and discomfort Although you'll feel many positive effects after meditating, it could take time for meditation to produce other health outcomes. Meditation creates new neural pathways, similar to cutting branches away as you venture through a dense forest.  Putting it into Practice: A Simple Five-Minute Meditation for Beginners Don't fret if you're unsure how to begin a five-minute meditation — there's nothing to it. Here are a few straightforward pointers for putting it into practice.  Get Comfortable Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair — some prefer leaning against something for back support or using pillows to prop themselves up. You'll want to change your position anyway if you feel discomfort or a pinch in your body. Comfort is critical during a meditation session of any length. If you have pain anywhere, it could be a significant distraction from achieving relaxation. Count Your Breaths Imagine your mind as a ship on the high seas — then let your breath be your anchor. Breathing is essential to meditation, allowing you to calm yourself within those five minutes rapidly.  Inhale slowly and deeply, paying attention to the air filling your belly. Hold your breath for three or four seconds before slowly exhaling. Continue breathing exercises as your body releases tension, staying present by counting breaths.   Become Body Aware Close your eyes and draw your attention to your toes, mentally telling them to relax. Then, move up to your ankles, calves, thighs, pelvis and up to your head. As you do this, you'll notice and release areas of tension.  The brain has more control over your body than you realize. When you think of relaxation within a specific body part, you can create it. Often, you can best achieve body awareness through body scans.  Just avoid rushing through your five-minute meditation. If you feel tightness anywhere in your body, acknowledge it and continue to move up and down.  Visualize Calm Suppose your riding public transportation through a bustling city — a perfect time to close your eyes for five minutes and meditate. Rather than getting wrapped up in the chaos, visualize yourself on a remote beach or walking through lush woods. Perhaps you can taste the salty air or hear birds chirping in the canopies.  One of the more challenging aspects of a five-minute meditation for beginners is maintaining control of your thoughts. If you're new to meditation, quieting a busy mind can be difficult. Acknowledging your thoughts as they appear helps you build control and eliminate them, freeing up your mind space for greater concentration. Return to the Present Avoid pulling yourself out of a meditative state suddenly. Instead, let your eyes flicker open and remain seated and quiet for one or two minutes longer.  The end of your meditation session should be when you grow an awareness of your surroundings again. You'll want to continue to count your breaths — slow and long. When you feel ready, ease your way to a standing position and gently stretch your body. Beginners Tips for Effective Meditation A five-minute meditation is an easy way to achieve zen while on the move — a moment of calm and quiet to center and ground your mind and body. Although anyone can practice meditation wherever they are, beginners may have difficulty getting into a rhythm. The following tips will help you form a smooth practice: Set a timer: If five minutes is all you have to meditate — or you can bring yourself to do — setting a timer can eliminate the need to check the time. Find your best position: A seated position isn't the only way to meditate. Those with back problems or joint aches might prefer lying on their backs or standing up. Beat distractions: Put your devices away and make sure you do your five-minute meditation where it's quietest to avoid distractions. Utilize meditation resources: Download meditation apps and use guided meditations to shape your practice for structure as you begin. A meditation class is an excellent way to get community support, too.  Consistency is key: Try to take five minutes out of each day to meditate — then increase to five minutes twice daily or extend your usual practice. Meditate in the morning: Studies show you have a greater chance of sticking with meditation when you practice in the morning. Add movement: Walking meditations and gentle swaying can enhance your practice and concentration. Begin Five-Minute Meditation for Moments of Calm Stress can occur at any time of day for various reasons. Learn to cope with everyday pressures and the unknown with five-minute meditations. It'll help you to relax and achieve better health and well-being.

Have you ever been to a barbecue with your family, and enticing lawn games litter the grass, sparking the mildest healthy competition? Badminton, horseshoes, boccie and more have been backyard staples, but have you ever wanted to learn how to play cornhole? This deceptively simple game requires precision and enthusiasm. The best part — anyone can learn it. Figure out the details and show off at your next event. How to Set Up the Game Let’s start with a list of cornhole equipment you’ll need to have the perfect game: Eight 6x6-inch bean bags that weigh around one pound, and four go to each side. Try to make each team’s bean bags different colors. Two cornhole boards measuring 2x4 feet and the six-inch hole is nine inches from the board’s top. At least two players, or more if you want to play a team match. A way to keep score. Now, it’s time to put the pieces in place. Find a flat piece of ground to make the game as fair as possible. The boards should be 27 feet apart, opposing each other. The best part about cornhole is that is really all there is to get the game prepped. Now, it’s time to get into positions. Rules for How to Play Cornhole You will stay at your board the entire time in a two-player game. There will be one representative from each team at each board in four-player team games. Grab your bean bags and get ready. Let’s learn to play cornhole. Do a coin toss or play rock-paper-scissors to see which side can draw first blood. Everyone that is throwing must remain in permitted zones, otherwise it’s considered a foul throw. At no point can you pass the front of the board. Where else can you stand and throw? Depending on your throwing strategy, feel free to move three feet to either side of your board. If you have a powerful arm, you can stand three feet behind the back of the board, too.  One person will throw into the opposing board, attempting to land their bag in the hole or on the board. Each side will alternate until they use all bags.Are there rules for your throwing style? Can you throw overhand in cornhole? According to regulation play, underhand throwing is the only kind of throw permitted. However, feel free to create house rules to allow overhand and even the side tossing. If you want to get better and more precise at the game, consider only using underhand techniques. How Do You Score Cornhole Games? The objective is to be the first side that reach 21 points. If you’re skilled enough to land a bag in the opposing hole, you gain a sweet three points. Any bags sitting on top of the board at the end of the round are only worth one. However, if you’re strategic and use additional throws to push or slide more bags into the hole, those pushed bags are also worth three points — as if you got them in the hole the first time.  Anything that lands off the board and into the grass is worth nothing when scoring. A bag also will not count if you throw it, it hits the ground, and continues rolling onto the board. In cornhole terms, this is called a “dead bag.” It must hit the board first and stay there to count. Now, you don’t just simply add the scores of the bags. Cornhole uses elimination scoring. Here is an example. If one Team 1 scores three points and Team 2 scores four, Team 2 wins the inning. However, you take this score, subtract the losing side’s points from the total, and that is added to the winning team’s overall. So, in this round, Team 2 ends with one point and Team 1 with zero. The winning team is the first to launch the following round. What happens if you go over 21 in cornhole? The American Cornhole Association says nothing. The first to 21 wins the game. However, others play slightly differently. Some games attempt to have the winning score to be exactly 21. If you go over the number, the in-lead team will have their score reduced. Some universities bring the score down to 15 or even 13 as a penalty for their imprecision. How Do You Get Better at Cornhole? Here are a few tips to help everyone have the best game they can. First, try orienting the boards so that the sun doesn’t hit any player in the eyes. Additionally, if the wind is too strong, it might cause frustration when bean bags don’t go where you intend. Consider rescheduling or waiting for strong winds to dissipate. Get a good stretch in before playing or pushing your body. You’d be surprised at the amount of exertion you’ll use trying to win a game of cornhole. Another way to step up your game is to focus on distance instead of height. Lobbing bean bags high into the air will reduce speed, and it might hinder overall accuracy. This is combined with proper grip. Figure out a way to hold the bean bag that feels most comfortable for you, but some encourage putting a spin on the bag with a flick of the wrist to increase the chance of sliding. Also, try to be decisive. In competitive cornhole games, each opponent only has 20 seconds to throw their bag. Obviously, you don’t have to maintain a strict clock in a friendly game. However, it gives you less time to second-guess your stance and position. As a bonus, feel free to learn some expert cornhole lingo. Here are some of the favorite terms and phrases: Woody, bag in-the-count, or boarder: A bag that lands on the board and not in the hole. Bag in-the-hole, cornhole, or holer: A bag that lands in the hole. Corn on the cob: Getting every bean bag on the board. Nothing but corn: A bag that goes straight into the hole without touching the board. Becoming a Backyard Games Legend Become the best neighborhood cornhole competitor. Show off at wedding receptions and cookouts in equal measure. Learning how to play cornhole thankfully doesn't have a high learning curve, which allows as many people to enjoy it as possible. Always remember to be a good sport and prioritize fun over everything.