The correct answer is the woman in the first picture, on the far left side. She not only pulled  her hair back into an extremely professional ponytail but she curled the hair in the ponytail and slicked down the front of her hair with a smoothing product and hairspray. Smoothing the front of her hair keeps frizz and flyaways at bay. It also maintains the look for longer. Many details last 16+ hours at a time and the less an agent has to redo or fix her hair, the better. The woman on the left has created a FEPG-approved, refined, and classy hairstyle.

As for the woman in the middle of the three pictures, she has her hair loosely tied back but as anyone can see, it looks relaxed, frumpy, and unkept. In fact, she looks like she just woke up and rolled out of bed. This is certainly not the ideal female EP "look" for high-profile details or high-end agencies. An agent's professional look can be the deciding factor between her getting selected over another female agent with similar experience.   

The woman on the far right is asking for trouble with her long long hair. This hairstyle almost doesn't need to be discussed it is so obviously inappropriate for most every security detail. For example, it will only take a small breeze to blow enough of her hair in her face that she can no longer line up the sights on her pistol. Second, the hair  blocks her peripheral view, meaning a threat could go undetected in these areas. Third, the hair will certainly be in her way if she has to physically defend her client as well. It is too relaxed, too long, and looks unmaintained. She would do much better and be a much more effective agent if she tied her hair back into a low ponytail with an elastic. 

FEPG's Two Favorite Hairstyles for female EP agents:

1. The High and Sleek Ponytail 

• A high ponytail is a hairstyle where the hair is gathered and secured at the crown or top of the head, resulting in a sleek and elevated look. To create a high ponytail, the hair is first brushed or combed to remove any tangles. Then, the hair is gathered into a ponytail and secured with an elastic band. The height of the ponytail can be adjusted by pulling it higher or lower on the head. Some people like to add volume to their high ponytails by teasing the hair at the crown or by wearing a ponytail hair extension.  This hairstyle can be dressed up or down and is versatile enough to be worn in a variety of settings an executive protection agent might find herself in.

2. The High Bun (AKA "The Topknot")

• A topknot is a type of high bun hairstyle that involves tying the hair into a knot at the crown or top of the head. Once the hair has been tied up into a high ponytail with an elastic, the ponytail is twisted and wrapped around the elastic band, forming a bun that sits atop the head. The bun is secured in place with bobby pins and the remaining hair can be tucked in or left out.  The height of the topknot can be adjusted based on personal preference. This hairstyle is a popular choice for women who want a simple, sophisticated, and stylish look, as it keeps hair off the face and neck and is easy to create. It can be dressed up or down and is suitable for both casual and formal details.

A hair product many agents use to create the illusion of a thicker ponytail or topknot is called a ponytail extension. We LOVE products like these because these ponytail extensions can be put in the hair in a matter of seconds, making them perfect for female executive protection agents. 

There are many different types of ponytail extensions, however our favorite style uses a claw clip to quickly attach to the natural hair. The extension is usually between 10"-18" in length, over 100 grams, and is human hair. Synthetic hair is always an option but they do not last as long, get tangled more easily, and can look "plasticky" and "fake" upon unboxing them or after a single day of work.

As for the length, we do not recommend having a ponytail reach any longer than the middle of the shoulder blades. The length of the ponytail extension depends on how tall the agent is. Just because an 18" ponytail extension looks good and professional on a woman who is 5'10, does NOT mean it will look the same on a woman who is 5'2.  If your ponytail hair is any longer than the middle of your shoulder blades, we recommend creating a topknot look instead.

Some of our favorite hair extensions that can be purchased from our beloved Amazon are: