Tools
Above: Double Row Wide Tooth Detangling Comb
This is the only styling tool you will ever need. Not only can it detangle better than anything, but its teeth are wide enough to grasp every layer of very long hair in one stroke. This moves your hair with minimal fuss.
I found mine at a beauty shop that specializes in African American hair. Amazon also sells it.
Above (left to right): U-shaped hair forks, long hair forks, metal bun sticks, and plastic bun sticks.
The hair accessories you find at the supermarket stop working once your hair grows beyond the middle of your back. The only thing a ponytail tie is good for is sealing a braid; anything else will sag out of it.
(FYI, RC Roche makes a tight banana clip that holds up a heavy ponytail. You can find it in their Amazon store)
You, my very long-haired friend, need hair forks and bun sticks. U-shaped hair forks hold a narrow coiled bun: simply coil your hair into a bun, anchor the fork in the head hair, drive the fork through the bun, and anchor it in the head hair at the other side. Long (<5") hair forks can hold a wider lazy wrap bun. Bun sticks can do anything.
Amazon sells multi-packs of these accessories. You can also find them individually for around the same price (<$2) on Ali Express, Shein, and Temu. Regardless of where you buy it, most of it comes from China. Anything sold for less than $10 on Etsy is probably drop-shipped from Ali Express, so you may as well go to the source.
Proceed to Updos for examples of how to use these tools.