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Reviewed by RaDona Ludlow, Licensed Cosmetologist since 2000 · Updated October 16, 2026

Sports hairstyles

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.

More Sports Hairstyles Back to Sports Hairstyles

About the stylist RaDona Ludlow RaDona is a licensed cosmetologist and Utah salon owner who has worked behind the chair since 2000.

Volleyball Hairstyles 25 braids & ponytails that stay put through game day

5-minute styles · Tournament hair · Long hair · Short hair · Braids & ponytails

Braided ponytail hairstyle by RaDona Ludlow · Watch on YouTube

Braided ponytail — One of RaDona’s most-watched braid-and-ponytail techniques.

Dutch braid tutorial by RaDona Ludlow · Watch on YouTube
French braid pigtails hairstyle · Watch on YouTube

Built from RaDona’s real YouTube technique library — Watch the exact braid or ponytail technique before trying it on game day.

Monthly reach · ~1M · YouTube views

Channel · 200K+ · subscribers

Library · 1,000+ · video tutorials

Salon · 25+ yrs · behind the chair

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.

Watch on YouTube

Visit the channel

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.

Scalp anchor

Dutch Braid

The raised braid stays close to the scalp and gives excellent control around the face.

Watch tutorial

Balanced tension

French Braid Pigtails

Two braids distribute weight across both sides instead of pulling everything from one elastic.

Watch tutorial

Double French braids on thick hair · Watch on YouTube

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

French braid into sock bun hairstyle · Watch on YouTube

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.

Watch double French braids

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.

Short

Bob to shoulder

Use front braids, half-up Dutch braids or a soft headband.

Medium

Shoulder to chest

Ponytails, pigtail braids, bubble styles and compact buns all work.

Long

Below the chest

Secure the roots and braid or contain the loose length.

Curly / textured

Work with the texture

Use clean sections and secure hold without flattening every curl.

Triple ponytail hairstyle · Watch on YouTube

Triple ponytail

Multiple anchor points can help medium-length layers stay controlled.

Watch on YouTube

Messy bun hairstyle tutorial · Watch on YouTube

Bun technique

Learn the basic bun first, then make the sports version tighter and more compact.

Watch on YouTube

Ask the stylist

Want RaDona to see your hair in person? Book a visit at her Nephi salon.

More Sports Hairstyles Call (435) 580-9160
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.

French braid into bun hairstyle · Watch on YouTube
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 elasticsBring several extras.
Small brush or combFor quick hairline resets.
Soft headbandUseful for shorter pieces.
Small water mistHelps reset flyaways.
Styling productUse only enough for grip and control.
Backup ponytail holderKeep 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.

French braid hairstyle tutorial by Boys and Girls Hairstyles · Watch on YouTube
Braids with color accents · Watch on YouTube

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

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.

Watch Boys & Girls Hairstyles

Keep exploring

Where to go next

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