Cute Volleyball Hairstyles:
8 Styles That Actually Hold

The French braid is the gold standard of volleyball hairstyles — and has been since the sport was invented. It lies flat against the head, incorporates every strand, doesn't bounce during jumps, and looks intentional from every angle at the end of the match. A tight French braid from the crown to the nape, secured with a fabric-covered elastic, will outlast any other style on this list.

Pro tip: Apply a small amount of edge control or anti-frizz serum to the hairline before braiding. This keeps the baby hairs flat and stops the frizz that appears when you start sweating. One pass of strong-hold spray after finishing locks the braid completely.

Two Dutch braids running from the temples to the nape — one on each side of a centred part. The raised Dutch braid structure means both braids sit on top of the hair rather than being embedded in it, making them more visible and more secure simultaneously. Nothing shifts, nothing bounces, nothing comes loose. The boxer braid is the most photographed volleyball hairstyle for good reason: it looks extraordinary on the court.

Pro tip: The centred part must be perfectly straight or the two braids look noticeably uneven. Use a comb — not fingers — to draw the part before starting. Apply edge control along the part line and hairline for maximum crispness.

The ponytail is the default volleyball hairstyle — but most players are doing it wrong, which is why it sags. The correct version: gather hair at the very crown (higher than you think), secure with two spiral ties layered 1cm apart (not one elastic at the base), and wrap a small section around the tie to conceal it. Two-tie anchoring is what prevents the dreaded mid-match sag.

Pro tip: Brush the top section smooth with a fine-tooth brush and apply a small amount of edge control before pulling up. A bumpy, lumpy ponytail base loses tension faster because the surface isn't uniform. Smooth base = ponytail that lasts all match.

The butterfly ponytail is a layered ponytail variation that creates a fuller, more structured look without any additional time. Create the main high ponytail. Then take the elastic and loop it so a small section of the ponytail fans out in a loop above the tie — the "butterfly" wing. Secure underneath. The looped section makes the ponytail appear dramatically fuller and more polished, and it anchors the whole structure more securely than a simple ponytail.

Pro tip: This is the style the shampoo that RaDona features makes the biggest difference — the natural products she recommends give the hair the body and grip that makes the butterfly loop stay in shape rather than flopping flat.

Dutch braid each side from the temple to the crown — stopping the incorporation when you reach the top of the head — then gather all remaining hair (braids included) into a single high ponytail. The result: a completely flat, braided crown that holds through every jump and dive, feeding into a ponytail that can bounce freely below without the crown slipping. This is the hairstyle for serious tournament play.

A bun for volleyball must be at the nape — not the crown and not the middle of the head. A crown bun shifts with every jump, creating an annoying and distracting wobble. A nape bun sits flat against the head at the most stable point and doesn't move. Twist the hair tightly before coiling, pin with criss-crossed bobby pins (X-pins hold three times as much as straight pins), and finish with strong-hold spray. This bun doesn't bounce.

Critical detail: Criss-cross bobby pins — insert one forward, then cross a second one backward over the same section. This locks the bun in place in a way that single straight pins never will.

French braid from the crown all the way to the nape — incorporating every strand — then coil the remaining length into a low bun and pin. The braid anchors the top of the head completely (no sliding, no lifting at the hairline) while the bun controls the length at the back. This combination is what the most photographed volleyball players wear because it looks extraordinary from every camera angle and doesn't move at all during play.

For players with medium-length hair who don't have enough length for a full braid or a full bun: Dutch braid just the top crown section from the temples to the crown bone, stop incorporating, then gather everything — the braid and the loose length — into a mid-height ponytail secured with two spiral ties. The crown braid keeps the top flat and secure; the ponytail controls the length. The whole thing takes 8 minutes and holds all match.