Burgundy hair is having a moment, and for good reason—this rich, jewel-toned shade has a way of elevating any look while bringing out warmth and radiance in darker complexions. But here’s the thing: not all burgundy ponytail styles work equally well for everyone. The way a burgundy shade sits against deeper skin tones, the texture and structure that flatters your face shape, and the specific styling details that make the color pop—these all matter far more than simply choosing the color and calling it done.
If you’ve been drawn to the idea of a burgundy ponytail but weren’t sure which style would work best for you, you’re in the right place. Dark skin tones have a natural advantage when it comes to bold hair colors. The deeper your complexion, the more a burgundy shade can truly shine—whether you’re going for a muted wine tone or something with more copper and red undertones. The key is finding a style that works with your hair texture, face shape, and personal aesthetic while letting that gorgeous burgundy color do its thing.
Over the years, burgundy has proven itself to be one of the most versatile and flattering hair colors for darker skin tones. From sleek and polished looks to textured and voluminous styles, burgundy works across the full spectrum of ponytail possibilities. The styles that follow aren’t just pretty pictures—they’re real, achievable looks that you can take to a stylist or recreate at home, each with the specific details that make them work on deeper complexions.
1. The Sleek Low Burgundy Ponytail
This is the foundation of every great hair wardrobe. A sleek low ponytail in burgundy creates an understated elegance that feels both polished and effortless, and it’s especially striking on dark skin tones because of the clean contrast between your complexion and the rich color. The key to making this work is achieving truly smooth hair without frizz—which means your prep work matters as much as the final style.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
The clean lines of a sleek ponytail let the burgundy color be the hero without any visual distraction. On deeper skin tones, burgundy reads with incredible clarity and depth. There’s no competition from texture or flyaways, so your skin’s natural luminosity shines through, and the color looks richer and more saturated. The contrast between your complexion and the burgundy creates a frame around your face that’s inherently flattering.
How to Create This Look
Start with damp hair and apply a smoothing serum or leave-in conditioner throughout. Blow-dry with a paddle brush, working in sections and keeping tension on each section as you go. Once your hair is completely dry, apply a lightweight edge control product around your hairline and smooth your hair back into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Use a fine-tooth comb to smooth any flyaways, then secure with a clear elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the base of the ponytail to hide the elastic for a finished look.
Best For
This style works beautifully for everyday wear, professional settings, or any time you want an elegant but low-key look. It pairs perfectly with minimal jewelry and lets your skin and hair color speak for themselves.
2. The Textured High Ponytail with Soft Curls
A high ponytail with textured curls is where burgundy really gets to show off its personality. This style works with your natural hair texture rather than against it, and on dark skin tones, the combination of volume and rich color is genuinely striking. The height of the ponytail draws attention upward toward your face, and the curled ends add movement and softness that feels both playful and polished.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
Textured curls in burgundy create dimension that catches light differently than sleek hair does. On deeper complexions, this dimension is a major asset—it makes the color appear even richer and more multi-tonal. The volume of a high ponytail, combined with curled ends, creates a silhouette that’s visually interesting and elegant. Dark skin tones with warm undertones particularly benefit because the burgundy color will have subtle warm reflections throughout the curls.
How to Create This Look
Gather your hair into a high ponytail and secure it firmly with an elastic. If you’re working with naturally curly hair, you can enhance your existing curl pattern by using a curl-defining cream and diffuser-drying. If your hair is straight or wavy, section the ponytail and use a curling iron to create soft curls, working in 1-inch sections and curling away from your face. Gently separate the curls with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to create a more voluminous, textured effect rather than tight, uniform ringlets.
Best For
This style is perfect for events, date nights, or any time you want to feel confident and glamorous. The movement and texture make it feel special without being over-the-top.
3. The Side-Swept Burgundy Ponytail
A side-swept ponytail offers the perfect balance between playful and polished. Instead of pulling your hair straight back, you’re gathering it to one side, which creates an asymmetrical silhouette that’s inherently interesting. This style allows more of your face to be visible while still keeping your hair neatly pulled back, making it ideal if you want to show off both your face and your color.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
The asymmetry of a side-swept ponytail actually flatters most face shapes beautifully on darker complexions. By sweeping to one side, you’re creating visual interest that complements the richness of burgundy color. The drape of the ponytail over one shoulder creates a gentle frame around your face, and on deeper skin tones with warm undertones, this creates a very flattering effect. The burgundy will catch light as it falls, making the color seem to glow.
How to Create This Look
Create a deep side part by combing your hair to one side. Brush all of your hair toward the side you’ve chosen and gather it into a ponytail, positioning it lower and more to the side than a traditional side ponytail would be. You can add a slight twist or braid on the opposite side of your head before gathering the ponytail for extra visual interest. Secure with an elastic and leave one or two face-framing pieces loose if desired.
Best For
This style works well for casual outings, work, or any time you want a softer, less severe look than a centered ponytail. It’s also excellent for showing off face jewelry or makeup.
4. The Bubble Ponytail with Burgundy Highlights
A bubble ponytail is a modern, trendy style that creates visually distinct sections along the length of your ponytail by using multiple elastics. On dark skin tones, burgundy in this style creates a striking effect because each “bubble” is clearly defined and showcases the color beautifully. This style works especially well if you have lighter burgundy highlights throughout your hair rather than a solid burgundy color.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
The segmented nature of a bubble ponytail means the burgundy color is visible in distinct sections, which actually makes the color appear more vibrant on deeper complexions. Each bubble catches light individually, creating more dimension. If you have highlights or a balayage with burgundy tones, this style is perfect for showing off the color placement.
How to Create This Look
Pull your hair into a high or mid-height ponytail and secure it with an elastic. About 2 to 3 inches below the first elastic, add another elastic around the ponytail. Gently pull the hair between the two elastics upward and outward to create a “bubble” effect. Repeat this process down the length of your ponytail, spacing the elastics 2 to 3 inches apart. You can soften the bubbles by gently tugging on each section to make it fuller and less tightly defined.
Best For
This style is perfect for fashion-forward looks, creative environments, or any time you want something that feels current and interesting. It’s particularly great for showing off color work like highlights or a color-melted effect.
5. The Low Bun Ponytail Hybrid
A low bun ponytail hybrid sits somewhere between a ponytail and a bun—it has the ease of a ponytail with the elegance of a bun. You’re creating a gathered ponytail and then loosely coiling it at the base, creating a relaxed, undone look that feels sophisticated. On dark skin tones, this style is beautifully flattering because it shows off your face completely while the burgundy color frames it softly.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
The softness of this style paired with the richness of burgundy creates a very balanced look on deeper complexions. Because the style is intentionally undone and relaxed, it doesn’t feel severe or harsh—instead, it feels effortlessly elegant. The burgundy is visible in soft waves around the gathered section, creating color without overwhelming your complexion.
How to Create This Look
Gather your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck, positioning it slightly lower than a traditional low ponytail. Instead of leaving it as a ponytail, gently twist the ponytail and coil it around the base, securing it with bobby pins as you go. Leave it slightly loose and undone rather than twisting it tightly. You can pull a few pieces around your face to frame it, or leave it clean and simple.
Best For
This is an excellent everyday style that works for work, casual outings, or any time you want something that feels polished but not overdone. It’s also great for days when your hair needs a break from the strain of being in a tight style.
6. The Braided Burgundy Ponytail
A braided ponytail adds texture and visual interest while showcasing your burgundy color throughout. Whether you’re doing a simple three-strand braid, a Dutch braid that sits on top of your hair, or a more intricate style, braiding allows you to display more of the burgundy color than a simple ponytail would. On dark skin tones, the texture of a braid creates beautiful dimension.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
Braids create natural highlights and shadows within the hair, which makes color appear more dimensional. On deeper complexions, this dimensionality is a major asset—it prevents the burgundy from appearing flat or one-dimensional. A braided ponytail also shows more hair surface, which means more of your burgundy color is visible and contributes to the overall visual impact.
How to Create This Look
The simplest approach is to gather your hair into a high or mid-level ponytail, then braid the ponytail itself. Start at the base of the ponytail and create a simple three-strand braid, working all the way down to the ends. Secure the braid with a small elastic. For a more dramatic effect, you can create a Dutch braid down the back of your head and incorporate all your hair into it, rather than doing the braid after the ponytail is gathered. This style takes more practice but creates a more unified look.
Best For
This style is perfect for active days, workouts, or any time you want a style that looks intentional and put-together. It’s also great for keeping hair secure when you’re doing anything that requires movement.
7. The Sleek Slicked-Back High Ponytail
A slicked-back high ponytail is pure drama. This style pulls your hair tightly away from your face and secures it high on your head, creating a bold, confident silhouette. On dark skin tones, this style is exceptionally flattering because it puts all the focus on your face and features while the burgundy color creates a striking halo effect around your head.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
The intensity of a slicked-back style is perfectly complemented by the richness of burgundy on deeper complexions. Because nothing is softening the line between your face and the hair, your features are showcased beautifully. The high placement of the ponytail creates height and visual interest. Dark skin tones with warm or cool undertones both work beautifully with this style—the key is choosing a burgundy shade that matches your undertones.
How to Create This Look
Apply a strong-hold gel or edge control product to damp hair, working it through with your fingers. Use a fine-tooth comb to slick the hair back smoothly, creating clean lines. Gather all your hair at the crown into a tight, high ponytail and secure it with a strong elastic. Smooth any flyaways with more edge control. You can wrap a small section of hair around the base of the ponytail to hide the elastic and create a polished finish.
Best For
This look is perfect for making a statement, special events, fashion-forward occasions, or any time you want to feel bold and confident. It’s also excellent for active days when you want your hair completely out of your face.
8. The Voluminous Blow-Out Ponytail
A voluminous blow-out ponytail combines the ease of a ponytail with the glamour of a full blow-out. Your hair is gathered into a ponytail, but it maintains the fullness and movement of freshly blown-out hair. This creates a romantic, undone-but-make-it-look-polished vibe that works beautifully on dark skin tones, especially if your hair has natural waves or curls that you’re enhancing.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
Volume and movement in burgundy hair create multiple opportunities for light to interact with the color, making it appear deeper and richer on darker complexions. The softness of a voluminous style paired with the boldness of burgundy is an elegant combination. This style shows off the texture of your hair while keeping it contained, which works beautifully across all hair types.
How to Create This Look
Blow-dry your hair with a round brush or blow-dryer and paddle brush to create volume at the roots and smooth the mid-lengths and ends. You want soft waves or gentle curves rather than completely straight hair. Once your hair is dry, gather it into a ponytail at the crown or mid-height, but don’t pull it too tightly—you want to maintain the volume. Secure with an elastic and gently pull a few pieces around your face to frame it. You can use a curling iron to add soft waves to the ponytail itself if desired.
Best For
This style is perfect for date nights, special events, or any time you want to feel glamorous. It works well for events where you want to feel dressed up but not overly formal.
9. The Colored Ponytail with Colored Tips
If you want maximum color impact, consider a style where your ponytail is entirely a different shade of burgundy or complementary color from your roots. For instance, you could have darker burgundy roots that fade into a brighter, lighter burgundy or even a burgundy-copper blend at the ends of your ponytail. On dark skin tones, this creates a striking color-blocking effect that’s modern and visually interesting.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
Color transitions and gradients are particularly striking on deeper complexions because of the natural contrast between your skin tone and the multiple shades. A darker burgundy root with lighter tips creates dimension and makes the ponytail feel like a separate, more dramatic element. This style is perfect if you want to experiment with color without committing to an all-over change.
How to Create This Look
This style typically requires professional color work, as it involves either different color applications throughout your hair or the use of colored extensions. Talk to a colorist about a rooted burgundy look where the roots are darker and the ponytail section is lighter or a different tone. Alternatively, you can add colored extensions in a complementary shade to your natural burgundy. Secure your natural hair into a ponytail, then add the colored extensions to create the contrast effect.
Best For
This is perfect for anyone who loves color and wants to experiment with different tones. It’s also great for making a bold fashion statement or creating something truly unique and personalized.
10. The Textured Twist-Out Ponytail
A twist-out ponytail celebrates your natural texture by creating defined, textured waves or curls throughout your hair, then gathering it into a ponytail. This style is all about showcasing both your hair texture and your burgundy color. On dark skin tones, this creates a look that feels authentically you while letting the color shine.
Why It Works for Dark Skin Tones
Textured twist-outs create natural highlights and shadows that make color appear more dimensional and rich. On deeper complexions, this is a major advantage—it prevents the color from appearing flat. A twist-out ponytail celebrates natural texture and the beauty of your hair type, while the burgundy color adds a fashion-forward element. The combination is both empowering and beautiful.
How to Create This Look
On damp hair, apply a curl-defining cream or gel to medium-sized sections. Twist each section tightly, working from the roots to the ends. Allow the twists to dry completely—either air-dry or use a diffuser on a low setting. Once your hair is fully dry, gently unravel the twists to create defined, textured waves. Gather your hair into a high or mid-level ponytail and secure it with an elastic. The texture will maintain the twist-out pattern while being contained in the ponytail.
Best For
This style is perfect for celebrating your natural texture while adding a modern, colorful twist. It works beautifully for everyday wear, creative environments, or any setting where you want to feel confident in your natural hair.
Final Thoughts
Burgundy is one of the most transformative colors you can choose, and on dark skin tones, it’s absolutely spectacular. The key to finding the right style for you is thinking about what makes you feel confident and comfortable. Whether you’re drawn to sleek and polished styles like the low ponytail or something more textured and voluminous, there’s a burgundy ponytail style that’s perfect for your aesthetic.
The beauty of working with burgundy on deeper complexions is that the color does a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Your natural skin tone provides the perfect backdrop for this jewel-toned shade, making it appear richer and more saturated than it might on lighter complexions. Pair that with a style that feels authentically you, and you’ve got something truly special.
Remember that the best style is the one you’ll actually wear and feel amazing in. Take these ideas as inspiration, but don’t hesitate to adapt them to match your hair type, face shape, and personal style. Whether you’re going for understated elegance or bold drama, a burgundy ponytail in the right style will have you feeling confident and looking absolutely stunning.
