Back in the days of Michelle Tanner and jelly shoes, there was one hairstyle - or rather one hair-styling tool - that reigned supreme: the topsy tail. For just $9.95 (+ shipping and handling), that knitting needle with a loop on one end could be yours. The little detail that those lovely infomercial folks didn't want you to know was that for the very low price of zero dollars you could create all the topsy tail hairstyles you like, sans tool. Our younger selves may not have been able to grasp that fact, but we were on to something with that looped ponytail we loved so much.

For our 2014 version of the look, professional hair stylist Jessica Scantlin for Contour Fossa made our loops a little daintier and incorporated another one of our favorite throwbacks, the half-up pony, all without the help of the actual topsy tail tool.

1. Pull two 1-inch sections of hair away from your forehead, one on each side of your face. Secure them in back together with an elastic

2. Take the tail of the pony and flip it up and over, pulling it down through the middle.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice more, moving down your head as you go.

Did you have a topsy tail? Tell us your fave topsy tail creation from yesteryear in the comments below.

Hair and Makeup: Jessica Scantlin for Contour Fossa

Model: Arielle Raycene