A hair loop tool (often called a Topsy Tail) is a simple plastic stick with a large loop at one end that lets you pull hair back through a ponytail to create a twisted, flipped effect in seconds. The basic technique takes about 30 seconds once you get the hang of it, and the same tool can create everything from a simple flipped ponytail to layered updos and faux braids.
The Basic Flip: Step by Step
Start by pulling your hair into a ponytail and securing it with a hair elastic. How high or low you place the ponytail determines the final look, but a low ponytail at the nape of your neck is the easiest place to start while you’re learning.
Hold the tool with the loop end pointing up. Slide the pointed end down through the center of your ponytail, directly behind the elastic, so the loop sticks out above the elastic and the pointed end comes out below it. Now gather your entire ponytail and thread it up through the loop. Pull the tool firmly downward through the hair until the ponytail flips through itself and the loop comes out the bottom. Tug gently on the ends of your hair to tighten the twist against the elastic.
The result is a neat inward roll that looks like a French twist or a professionally styled flip. The whole thing holds because the hair wraps around the elastic, locking it in place.
Getting a Clean Result
A few small details make the difference between a polished flip and a messy tangle. Before you start, brush or comb your hair so there are no knots. Tangles catch on the loop and create uneven twists. If your hair is freshly washed and slippery, a light mist of texturizing spray or dry shampoo gives the tool something to grip.
Use a thin, snag-free elastic rather than a thick fabric scrunchie. The tool needs to slide behind the elastic, and bulky ties make that difficult. When you insert the tool, keep it as close to the elastic as possible. If there’s too much gap between the elastic and where the loop sits, the flip will be loose and floppy rather than tight against your head.
For thick or coarse hair, the key is not forcing all your hair through at once. Pull the tool through with steady, even pressure rather than quick yanks. If the loop feels like it’s straining, try sectioning your ponytail in half: thread the front half through first, then reinsert the tool and pull the back half through. You can also look for a larger-sized tool. Standard loop tools measure roughly 19.5 cm long, but oversized versions with wider loops exist specifically for high-density hair.
Five Styles Beyond the Basic Flip
Once you can do a single flip, the tool opens up a surprising number of styles by repeating or combining that same motion.
- Half-up Topsy Tail: Gather the top half of your hair into a high ponytail and flip it. Leave the bottom half loose. This works well for medium-length hair that isn’t long enough for a full updo.
- Side Topsy Tail: Pull a section of hair from one side of your head into a ponytail near your temple, then flip it. This creates an asymmetrical twist that looks more intricate than it is.
- Stacked flips: Make a low ponytail and flip it. Then gather a new section of hair just below the first flip, combine it with the tail from the first ponytail, elastic it, and flip again. Repeat two or three times down the back of your head. The result resembles a layered braid.
- Faux French twist: Do a stacked flip (three or four flips running down the back of your head), then tuck the remaining tail up underneath the lowest flip and pin it. This creates an elegant updo that holds well for formal events.
- Low twisted bun: Do a single flip on a low ponytail, then wrap the remaining tail around itself at the base and pin it into a bun. The initial flip adds a decorative twist above the bun that a plain bun doesn’t have.
Tips for Fine and Short Hair
Fine hair actually works well with the loop tool because it threads through easily, but the flips can look flat. Loosely pulling at the twisted section with your fingers after the flip (sometimes called “pancaking”) adds volume and makes the style look fuller. Bobby pins at the base of the twist help anchor it if your hair is too silky to hold on its own.
Hair needs to be long enough to form a ponytail for the tool to work. Shoulder length is generally the minimum. If you have layers, shorter pieces may slip out of the flip. Pinning those stray pieces back into the twist, or using a little hairspray before you start, keeps everything contained.
Protecting Your Hair From Damage
The flipping motion puts tension on your hair at the elastic, which is fine occasionally but worth thinking about if you use the tool daily. Traction alopecia, a type of hair loss caused by repeated strain on hair follicles, can develop in anyone who wears tightly pulled styles for long periods. The risk increases when tight styling is combined with chemical treatments like relaxers or color processing.
If you notice soreness at your scalp after using the tool, the style is too tight. Loosen the elastic before flipping, or position the ponytail lower where there’s less natural tension. Alternating the location of your ponytail from day to day distributes the stress across different follicles rather than concentrating it in one spot. Early-stage traction damage reverses on its own once the tension stops, but prolonged pulling can destroy follicles permanently, so paying attention to discomfort matters.
Choosing a smooth, coated elastic and pulling the tool through gently rather than forcing it also reduces breakage at the twist point. If you hear snapping sounds while pulling the tool through, slow down and check for tangles before continuing.