Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Faith Ward finally dropped a ponytail tutorial
Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia from the age of 10, 22 year old Faith Ward, is one of just a handful of dancers from down under to ever make the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders team.
But Ward's origins aren't the only thing that differentiates her from her teammates — the rookie has also managed to catch the Internet's attention with her signature hair style.
@flexi_faith So incredibly honoured 😭🩷🇦🇺🇳🇿 @Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders ♬ Down Under (do you come from a land down under) - Men At Work
Why does Faith Ward wear a ponytail?
Ward's iconic face-snatching ponytail managed to survive training camp makeovers, despite the fact that most Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' hair is usually styled into a bouncy blow out come game day. But just because the cheerleaders are expected to follow very strict uniform rules, doesn't mean they all have to look the same.
Case in point? Second year DCC, Ava Lahey, went viral for sporting straight strands in season two of Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
"They said they loved it straight, sleek and blonde, and I was so happy. It just feels so me, and now, it's my signature look," Lahey explained via Instagram. "It's all about looking your best and standing out while still fitting the DCC image — wearing my hair straight is what makes me feel and look my best."
In fact, according to Ward the ponytail was actually DCC Director, Kelli Finglass', idea after she saw the dancer's hair pulled back in a head shot and compared her to Ariana Grande.
"About two weeks into training camp they asked me to tie my hair up, and I kind of just left it that way," Ward explained in an Instagram video.
However, even signature styles take a while to master; something that Ward learnt after she successfully made the team and got a mini makeover.
"We added some long extensions and went a little bit blonder," Ward continued, saying that her hair was a bit too dark underneath for Finglass' liking.
How to get DCC Faith Ward's signature ponytail
"The moment you've all been waiting for: my ponytail tutorial," joked Ward in a recent TikTok. "I've been holding off filming this video, because it has definitely been a trial and error process, but I think I've finally got it down pat, and I'm gonna show you guys how I achieve my ponytail."
1/ She blow dries her hair smooth
The cheerleader rakes Bondi Boost's Rapid Repair Bond Builder and Finishing Oil ($36 from Bondi Boost) through her mid-lengths and ends with her fingers to add shine and protect her hair while using the Everlast Airstyler System ($224.25 from Bondi Boost)
"This has six different attachments, but today we're gonna be using the round brush, because I'm now having a straight ponytail," she explained. "I use this to add volume obviously, straighten it a little bit, and flick out the ends."
2/ She adds extensions for length and volume
Then she swaps to the smaller round brush to smooth out her ponytail extensions, before she clips them in. She parts her hair in the middle, and then she sections off the top half of her hair and clips it up, while her mum helps her to add a track of hair extensions into her hair.
3/ She ties her hair into two ponytails first
"I brush it all through, add some gel to slick the side," Ward explained. "I do two ponytails; so I do one underneath with the extension in it, and then I flip [my hair] upside down [to] tie that one up."
"The key to making it stay while doing all this physical activity is doing this method," she advised.
4/ She uses multiple hair ties to secure her ponytail
For the second ponytail, Ward makes sure her middle part is perfect, then she adds another handful of hair gel, and slicks her strands back with a smoothing brush like evo's Conrad Boar Bristle Paddle Brush ($45 from Adore Beauty). When she ties the second ponytail up, she loops in the first, and makes sure it's firmly fastened with a final third hair tie.
"Yes, [it's] probably giving me a little bit of headache, but like it is what it is," she joked.
5/ She smooths and straightens her hair for a polished finish
To finish she smooths any frizz with Bondi Boost's Flyaway Wand ($19.50 from Bondi Boost): "This just locks down those final flyaways. I'm honestly obsessed with it. I also take it with me on the go."
Then she runs the ghd Original Hair Straightener ($295 from Adore Beauty) through her ponytail to blend her extensions with her natural hair, and adds a bit more of the Bondi Boost Finishing Oil ($36 from Bondi Boost) for a shine boost.
"And that's the end result — I do tease [my hair] on game day as well, but that's the [basic] tutorial," she said in the video.
@flexi_faith Highly anticipated ponytail routine 👱🏼♀️ Using @BondiBoost for free shipping on your next order use code “FLEXI_FAITH” #tutorial #fyp #dccfaith #ponytail ♬ original sound - Faith Ward
Main image credit: @flexi_faith
Ward's not the only celeb breaking the Internet with her viral updo. This is how to master Bella Hadid's signature slick bun.

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).