We’ve finally wrapped on another marathon

New York Fashion Week

, and among all of the glamorous

beauty looks

we caught backstage and on the runway, there was one hairstyle that stood out: the power ponytail. This isn’t your average schoolgirl updo; rather, designers and hairstylists channeled a cooler, more fetishized look to the pony, with plenty of equestrian vibes thrown in for good measure.

Photo: Courtesy of Proenza Schouler

Take, first, the whiplike leather-wrapped style at Proenza Schouler. As models sauntered down the catwalk, the stick-straight lines of hair bobbed against their backs almost menacingly. Hair artist

Guido Palau

left an inch of hair at the bottom, which was then flat-ironed using the

Sultra Bombshell Curl, Wave, and Straight Iron

, and—in a nod to the ’80s—used liberal amounts of

Redken Hardwear Gel

and

Triple Pure 32 Hairspray

to create a drenched look at the front. The effect was masculine, but not too harsh, and the equestrian-meets-dominatrix look of the ponytail kept the collection feeling elevated and modern.

Photo: Courtesy of Bevza

At Bevza, Kien Hoang gave us a sleek middle part, using

Oribe Curl Gelee for Shine & Definition

and

Maximista Thickening Spray

on half-inch sections before securing at the nape of the neck. Then, rather than leave the pony loose, his team created a low three-strand braid, securing it with elastic at the bottom. With nary a hair out of place, the braid looked mature, elegant, and sleek—a gorgeous complement to the minimalist collection. It’s the look of a woman who isn’t hiding behind her hair and instead putting her face front and center. It’s also easy to grab on to (wink wink).

Photo: Courtesy of Dion Lee

Dion Lee rounded out the last day of NYFW sending elegant fishtail braids down the runway courtesy of Eugene Souleiman. The hair was swept back, with either a center part or away from the face for a more masculine feeling, and held in place with

Wella EIMI Stay Firm Finishing Hairspray

. The fishtail style gives the braid an upgrade from the traditional three-strand style, for a tougher, sartorial effect. And considering Lee dressed his models in leather garters and architectural harnesses, it’s clear that the editorial dominatrix vibe will be carrying us all the way through fall.

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