Music’s Most Epic Ponytails: Will Katy Perry’s Super Bowl Hair Make The List?

Could Katy Perry’s Super Bowl hairstyle join the ranks of the all-time most epic celebrity ponytails? “Katy specifically asked for the perkiest pony you’ve ever seen,” says her hairstylist, Clyde Haygood.

That’s a tall order—the perky pony is a time-honored onstage tradition, with some of music’s strongest female characters using its iconically cute vibe to juxtapose their fierce, sexy signature styles.

Cher mastered the look back in the ’60s, with her famous mod mane and matching dramatic doll eyes.

Britney Spears chose the ideal complement for her frosted eyeshadow and pleather tube top during her wildly popular 1999 tour: a high ponytail with faux-fur scrunchie (obviously).

During the No Doubt 1.0 era, Gwen Stefani contrasted her rock-hard bod and tough-girl outfits with a girly clip-in Barbie pony; here’s one example from the 2001 Billboard Music Awards.

But can a ponytail ever hope to top Madonna’s crowning glory from her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour?

Probably not—that pony’s an icon unto itself—but it’s fun for everyone to keep trying. On Katy Perry last night, Haygood used a human-hair Velcro ponytail with varying lengths for extra bounce—and he had to create his own super-secure attachment system for when she helicoptered the pony around while performing with Lenny Kravitz.

A photo posted by Clyde Haygood (@clydehairgod) on Feb 1, 2015 at 6:13pm PST

Perry’s additional ponytail support came from using KMS California Hairstay Styling Gel to slick the top back and KMS California Hairplay Gel Wax as a topcoat for extra insurance.

A photo posted by Clyde Haygood (@clydehairgod) on Feb 1, 2015 at 7:17pm PST

That’s some serious hair engineering right there. Respect.

Would you rank Katy Perry’s Super Bowl ponytail among the best ever? Which of the above famous celebrity high ponies is your personal choice for the win?