Scalp anchor
Dutch Braid
The raised braid stays close to the scalp and gives excellent control around the face.
Watch tutorial →
Sports Hairstyles
› Volleyball Hairstyles
25 game-day styles · braids · ponytails · buns
Volleyball Hairstyles 25 braids & ponytails that stay put through game day
Volleyball hair needs to survive serving, diving, jumping, blocking and a long tournament day without constantly falling into the player's face. These 25 volleyball hairstyles combine RaDona's strongest braid, ponytail and bun techniques with options for short, medium and long hair.
Braided ponytail
One of RaDona's most-watched braid-and-ponytail techniques.
Built from RaDona's real YouTube technique library
Watch the exact braid or ponytail technique before trying it on game day.
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The fast answer
Anchor the hair first. Style the loose length second.
The most secure volleyball hairstyles start with hair attached close to the scalp. Dutch braids, French braids and braided pigtails control the hairline before the loose length has a chance to move. If time is short, reinforce a ponytail or bun rather than simply pulling it tighter.
Most secure
Double Dutch or double French braids.
Fastest
Braided ponytail or triple ponytail.
Long hair
Braid the loose length or finish in a bun.
Short hair
Secure the front first with half-up braids.
Start with this technique
Fast braided ponytail
A braided ponytail is one of the easiest transitions from everyday hair into sports hair. The ponytail gives you speed. The braid controls the loose length so it does not whip, tangle or swing across the face during a rally.
Practice the technique before tournament morning, then adjust the height of the ponytail based on comfort and hair weight.
Video opens directly on YouTube instead of relying on a WordPress
embed. This keeps the tutorial reliable on desktop and mobile.
Four foundations
Learn these and most volleyball styles become variations.
Each tutorial below comes from RaDona's established YouTube library. The images are standard YouTube thumbnails so older videos render reliably in WordPress.
Balanced tension
French Braid Pigtails
Two braids distribute weight across both sides instead of pulling everything from one elastic.
Watch tutorial →
Thick hair
Double French Braids
A strong option for thick or heavy hair because the weight is divided before the style reaches the nape.
Watch tutorial →
Long hair
Braid Into Bun
Anchor the scalp with a braid, then contain the long ends in a compact bun.
Watch tutorial →
25 volleyball hairstyles
Choose by hold, time and hair length.
This keeper combines the strongest ideas from the volleyball pages being consolidated: long hair, quick styles, secure styles, tournament hair and accessories.
1–5 · maximum hold
Styles for long matches and tournament play
Double Dutch Braids
Best for: maximum scalp control. Excellent for diving, jumping and long tournament days.
Double Dutch to Ponytail
Best for: players who want a ponytail while keeping the front and crown secured.
French Braid Pigtails
Best for: balanced tension. Two braids prevent all the weight from hanging from one point.
French Braid to Bun
Best for: long hair. The braid anchors the roots while the bun contains the ends.
Crown Braid
Best for: very long hair when you want nearly all the length off the neck.
6–10 · quick game-day
Faster styles for practice and rushed mornings
High Braided Ponytail
Best for: speed plus control. Secure the ponytail first, then braid the loose length.
Bubble Ponytail
Best for: players who do not braid. Multiple elastics reduce swinging and tangles.
Triple Ponytail
Best for: quick extra hold. Multiple anchor points help control layers and shorter pieces.
Half-Up French Braid Ponytail
Best for: controlling the front without braiding the entire head.
High Athletic Bun
Best for: getting long hair completely off the shoulders and neck.
11–15 · long hair
Control the loose length as well as the roots
Fishtail Ponytail
Best for: a more detailed look while still containing the loose length.
Pull-Through Ponytail
Best for: players who want a braid-like effect without traditional braiding.
Rope Braid Ponytail
Best for: a fast two-section finish that keeps long ends together.
Double French Braids
Best for: thick hair. Dividing the weight makes the style more comfortable.
French Braids to Low Ponytail
Best for: players who find a high ponytail too heavy or uncomfortable.
16–20 · short & medium
Secure the front even when the back will not reach
Half-Up Dutch Braids
Best for: shoulder-length hair. Secure the front and leave shorter back pieces alone.
Front Braid to Ponytail
Best for: layers around the face that escape a normal ponytail first.
Two Front Braids
Best for: medium hair. Control both temples before joining the hair in back.
Soft Headband + Low Bun
Best for: short layers and flyaways around the forehead.
Half-Up Twist
Best for: lighter practice days when you mainly need the front out of the eyes.
21–25 · team style
Add personality after the secure foundation is finished
Team-Color Braided Ponytail
Best for: team spirit. Add permitted team-color elastics after the hairstyle is secure.
Bubble Braid + Team Elastics
Best for: an easy coordinated team look without learning a new braid.
Dutch Braid Into Bun
Best for: strong hold at the scalp with zero loose length at the finish.
Double Braided Buns
Best for: distributing thick hair across two smaller anchor points.
Low Braided Practice Ponytail
Best for: lower-intensity practice days when comfort matters more than maximum hold.
Long & thick hair
Do not make one ponytail carry all the weight.
Very long or thick hair becomes uncomfortable when the entire style pulls from one elastic. Braiding the roots first spreads the weight across more of the scalp.
Very thick hair:
divide into two braid sections before gathering the ends.
Very long hair:
braid the ponytail so the loose length cannot whip around.
Headache-prone:
use two braids or lower the final ponytail.
Heavy texture:
secure the hair without pulling the scalp painfully tight.
Short vs. long volleyball hair
Solve the part of the hairstyle most likely to move.
Short hair usually needs control around the forehead and temples. Long hair needs control at the scalp and through the loose ends.
Bob to shoulder
Use front braids, half-up Dutch braids or a soft headband.
Shoulder to chest
Ponytails, pigtail braids, bubble styles and compact buns all work.
Below the chest
Secure the roots and braid or contain the loose length.
Work with the texture
Use clean sections and secure hold without flattening every curl.
Triple ponytail
Multiple anchor points can help medium-length layers stay controlled.
Watch on YouTube →
Bun technique
Learn the basic bun first, then make the sports version tighter and more compact.
Watch on YouTube →
Tournament-day hair
Build for the last match, not just warm-ups.
Tournament hair has to survive sweat, long breaks, repeated matches and the occasional quick repair. Choose a style the player has already worn successfully before tournament morning.
Before leaving:
detangle and secure the hairline first.
Before warm-ups:
fix loose sections before sweat makes them harder to control.
Between matches:
replace stretched elastics rather than rebuilding everything.
After the tournament:
remove the style gently and release scalp tension.
Game-day hair kit
Carry enough to repair the style — not rebuild the salon.
Keep the tournament bag simple. A few reliable basics solve most between-match problems.
Soft secure elastics
Bring several extras.
Small brush or comb
For quick hairline resets.
Soft headband
Useful for shorter pieces.
Small water mist
Helps reset flyaways.
Styling product
Use only enough for grip and control.
Backup ponytail holder
Keep one easy to reach.
Always check the player's current team or league rules before using hard clips, decorative pins or other accessories during competition.
Team color without losing the hold
Make the secure style first. Add personality second.
Team colors can be added with permitted soft elastics or other team-approved accessories after the braid or ponytail foundation is finished.
Do not sacrifice comfort or security just to add decoration. The hairstyle still has to survive the match.
Continue through the cluster
Sports hair gets easier when the braid skills are already familiar.
These pages connect volleyball hair to the main sports hub, other sport-specific guides and the braid techniques used here.
Parent + 7 related pages
Sports & braid cluster
2 recovery links
Useful under-linked tutorials
Frequently asked questions
Volleyball hairstyle questions players and parents ask most.
The practical questions usually come down to hold, time, hair length and comfort.
What is the best hairstyle for volleyball?
Double Dutch braids, double French braids and braided ponytails are among the strongest choices because they secure hair close to the scalp before controlling the loose length.
What is a quick volleyball hairstyle?
A braided ponytail, bubble ponytail, triple ponytail or simple athletic bun can be quick once the technique is familiar. Practice before game day so the style is automatic.
What volleyball hairstyles work for short hair?
Focus on the hairline. Half-up Dutch braids, a front braid, two small front braids or a soft headband can keep shorter pieces out of the eyes.
How do you keep volleyball hair from falling out?
Detangle first, create an anchored braid whenever possible, use secure soft elastics and fix the front sections before warm-ups begin.
What hairstyle is best for a volleyball tournament?
Choose a style that distributes tension, such as double Dutch braids, double French braids or a braid-to-bun style. Pack spare elastics for small repairs between matches.
How do I prevent a volleyball ponytail headache?
Do not rely on extreme tightness. Divide heavy hair into braids, lower the ponytail or use two anchor points so the style is secure without pulling painfully from one spot.
Practice before tournament morning
Pick two styles your hands already know how to do.
Use RaDona's YouTube tutorials to practice when there is no game clock. Once the braid motion becomes familiar, game-day hair becomes faster, stronger and much less stressful.