Claudia Winkleman's ponytail puts the fringe first

Claudia Winkleman has worn her dark hair swept into a high ponytail on The Celebrity Traitors, leaving her familiar full fringe in place. The change is in the silhouette: instead of lengths sitting around her shoulders, the hair is gathered back, giving the front section a more distinct outline.

For our Hairlines & Edges edit, the useful detail is that contrast. A ponytail need not mean scraping every strand away from the face. Keeping a deliberate section loose at the front allows the sides to look tidy without making an entirely exposed hairline the centre of the style.

What happened

Winkleman's ponytail sat high towards the crown, with the sides swept back and her dark fringe still prominent. She wore it with knitwear and a skirt: a combination that makes this feel like a practical dressing idea rather than a hairstyle reserved for an evening event.

The wardrobe context matters here. Sinead McKeefry styles Winkleman for the series, whose outfits include substantial knitwear, pleated skirts and high-collared outerwear. Taking the lengths off the shoulders gives those shapes room. It is a useful consideration when your own hair catches beneath a coat collar or bunches against a chunky jumper.

We rate the separation between the two parts of the hairstyle. The fringe supplies the familiar face-framing shape; the gathered lengths change the profile. You can borrow that principle without copying the exact height, colour or finish. A slightly lower fastening will give a different result while retaining the distinction between front and back.

There is also a worthwhile comparison with the Princess of Wales' softer high ponytail. Rather than treating every high ponytail as the same hairstyle, look at what happens around the temples, where the fastening sits and how much movement remains at the front.

The background

A fringe changes the balance

A full fringe creates a visible horizontal shape across the forehead, while a high ponytail draws the eye upwards and backwards. Those contrasting directions are what make the combination distinctive. The effect comes from arranging the hair, not from changing the face itself.

For a home version, isolate the fringe before gathering anything else. Use a comb to find the section you normally wear forward, then keep it separate with a clip. Pulling all your hair back and fishing the fringe out afterwards can disturb the sides and catch longer strands that belong in the ponytail.

Work with the way your fringe already falls. If it separates naturally, forcing it into a solid curtain may require more daily styling than you want. Our guide to fringes for women over 50 and what to ask for at the salon explores the practical questions behind choosing a shape, rather than treating age as a haircut instruction.

Swept-back hair shows different roots

A change of direction can reveal colour you rarely notice with your hair down. Grey strands around the temples or along the sides may become more visible when the surrounding hair is brushed backwards. That does not mean your colour suddenly needs redoing; you are simply seeing a different section.

If you want temporary coverage, choose it for the area you intend to conceal. A root powder offers controlled placement on small patches of exposed roots. A root spray can cover a broader section, but needs careful positioning and protection for clothing. Follow the product's directions and keep applications away from the eyes and face.

Shade selection deserves the same care as placement. Match the roots you want to blend with, rather than automatically choosing the colour of lighter ends. A concealer that is too dark can create an obvious block beside the skin. Build coverage gradually, checking the edge rather than aiming for a completely opaque finish.