Typically, when described as 'perky', one would associate such an adjective with an upbeat personality. "She certainly looked less than her usual perky self," Oxford Languages exemplifies on Google. However, today, we're disposing of the English Dictionary because going forward, all that we associate with 'perky' is Jennifer Lopez's gravity-defying ponytail.
Confused, much? Well, earlier this week, JLo was spotted out and about in California, walking into what seems to be Tracy Anderson's Los Angeles studio gym. And while the sports gear and leggings are what initially gave the singer's antics away, it was her voluminous, full and thick workout hairstyle that had us doing a double take.
Perky AF for a bleak winter's morning but hey, you've gotta applaud the ponytail's positive attitude.
Never did I ever think I'd be gushing over a celeb's treadmill 'do but here we are...
Now, while Jen is undeniably a woman of many talents, it doesn't seem to be within her capacity to defy the laws of the late great Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity. Having said that, her recent short lob haircut is perhaps a justification behind doing so. I mean, the shorter the strands of hair, the more likely they are to fall at such an angle.
So, I guess if you want to recreate Jennifer's ground-breaking perky ponytail, you best get trimmin'! Either that or apply a lot of thickening, volumising, texture-building hair products.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
