These grooming bands available at Amazon . com and Ebay are about the best I have found. They are not as harsh on the hair as the regular rubber ones are. They are very inexpensive and you can snip them right out without doing more damage to the hair. If I want her to wear a bow I just put it on over the first band or if I use an alligator clip it goes on very easily.
Amazon.com: latex free grooming bands
They work very well for the double pony tail and for when I braid the back section of her hair. I do use the soft scrunchie bands at night time.