I served with a loose braid once. It hit me in the face. So I started noticing what actually stays put. Lately, I see more structured braids and high ponytails on the court. Not just for style. They work. I’m not fussy, but I like a style that doesn’t need a touch-up between sets.
This roundup has 23 Volleyball Hairstyles, from quick ponytails to braids that last a doubleheader. Some need two hands, others you can do yourself. They work for straight, wavy, and curly textures, and keep hair off your neck. I’ve got fine hair that goes flat by 4pm, so I know which hold. These earn their place.
Heart Crown Braids to Pigtails
The heart braided ponytail is a commitment, but for thick, wavy hair at mid-back length, it’s worth the extra time. The heart-shaped braids at the crown are formed by intricate braids that start at the temples and meet in the center. This style suits a middle part and no bangs, letting the braids take center stage. The blonde color shows off the braid definition. The wavy texture helps the braids hold their shape without slipping. For volleyball, the ponytail keeps hair contained, and the crown braids stay secure through serves and spikes. It’s not a quick style, but the hold is solid for the entire game.
High Ponytail with Colorful Clips
How do you turn a basic high ponytail into something that stands out? The high ponytail with decorative clips starts with a wavy texture and a middle part. First, gather the mid-back length hair into a tight ponytail at the crown. Then, add small clips along the ponytail for sparkle. The dark brown base with subtle highlights catches the light. The wavy texture gives the ponytail body, and the clips hold without slipping. It’s a simple technique that takes minutes but looks intentional.
High Ponytail with Scalp Braids
The high ponytail with scalp braids is the winner over a plain ponytail for anyone who hates flyaways. The tight braids along the scalp grip the hair from root to crown, so nothing shifts during a jump serve. With straight, thick hair at mid-back length and a side part, the braids lie flat and clean. The dark brown base with blonde highlights adds dimension. The ponytail itself stays high and secure because the braids take the tension. Compared to a simple high ponytail that can loosen, this style holds its shape through the entire match. It’s not a five-minute style, but the hold beats any elastic alone.
Sleek Ponytail with Braided Front
I’ll admit, I thought the sleek ponytail with braided front would unravel by the first time-out. But the tightly braided front sections grip the hairline and stay flat through sweat and movement. The side part keeps the braids aligned with the ponytail, and the straight, thick texture helps the braids hold their shape without slipping.
The real wear reality is that these braids need a touch-up after a few days if you want them to stay crisp. The dark brown color hides any slight frizz, but the braids themselves remain secure. The ponytail, gathered from mid-back length, stays high because the braids anchor the front. For upkeep, a quick re-braid of the front sections every other day keeps the look fresh. It’s a style that earns its place for long tournaments, but it does ask for a few minutes of maintenance between games.
Intricate Braided Pigtails
The intricate braided pigtails look like they took hours because they did. The detailed braiding requires a salon visit for most people, especially with straight, thick hair at mid-back length. The middle part and no bangs let the braids frame the face evenly. The dark brown base with blonde highlights catches the light in each twist. This style suits those who want a secure, all-day hold without worrying about flyaways. If your hair is fine or shorter than mid-back, the braids may not hold as well. But for thick, straight hair, these pigtails are a game-ready option.
Athletic High Ponytail
Ever wonder if a high ponytail can survive a spike? This athletic high ponytail does. Shoulder-length blonde hair with long layers, straightened and pulled high, holds through a full match. The key is backcombing the roots slightly before securing with a strong elastic. It takes about five minutes. The straight texture and medium density keep it from slipping. The colour is a light blonde that shows off the ponytail’s movement. The secure hold is enough for diving and jumping. It works for straight and wavy hair types, but fine hair might need extra grip.
Collarbone High Ponytail with Dutch Braids
This is the one I book for tournament weekends. The high ponytail with dutch braids starts at the crown and feeds into a sleek ponytail at the nape. On fine, straight ash blonde hair at collarbone length, the clean Dutch braids add structure that a simple ponytail lacks. The downside: fine hair shows every uneven section, so this is not a bathroom-mirror job. The braids need precision to avoid gaps. The colour is a cool ash blonde that reads clean under gym lights. The styling holds for a full match, but the braids can loosen after a few hours of sweat. It works best on hair that holds a braid well, which fine hair does not always do.
Sleek Ponytail with Side-Swept Bangs
I was skeptical about bangs in a ponytail. Then I tried this sleek ponytail with bangs. The side-swept bangs soften the high ponytail, and the blonde highlights catch the light. On collarbone-length straight fine hair, the sleekness lasts about four hours before the bangs start separating. The ponytail itself holds fine, but the bangs need a touch-up with a flat iron or round brush. The colour is a medium brown base with blonde highlights that add dimension without a full bleach.
Over a week, the bangs require a trim every three to four weeks to keep the shape. The ponytail takes two minutes to smooth and secure. The side-swept bangs need a strong hold hairspray to stay in place during play. The hold is good for a match, but not for a full day of sweating. It works best on fine hair that can be smoothed easily, but thick hair might pouf.
Two Thick Braids into Ponytail
The braids start at the hairline and meet at the ponytail. For two thick braids into ponytail, the technique is to divide the hair into two sections, braid each from the crown to the nape, then gather both into a high ponytail. On wavy thick blonde hair at mid-back length, the prominent braids add texture and a secure base. Ask your stylist for even tension and a clean part. The colour is a warm blonde that shows the braid pattern. The styling holds through a match because the braids anchor the ponytail. The texture is wavy and thick, which helps the braids stay tight. The length is long enough to wrap into a ponytail without bulk.
Twisted Low Ponytail
Summer tournaments call for something that stays put but looks polished. This twisted low ponytail fits. The intricate twist at the base secures the hair without a heavy elastic. On wavy thick dark brown hair with caramel highlights at mid-back length, the twist adds visual interest. The colour is a dark brown base with caramel highlights that catch the sun. The styling takes about thirty minutes with a stylist’s help. The hold is secure enough for outdoor play. The low ponytail keeps hair off the neck in warm weather.
Loose Ponytail with Highlights
I’ll confess: I used to skip the loose ponytail for games, assuming it would fall apart by the second set. Then I tried it with wavy light brown hair and realized the loose ponytail with highlights actually works if your texture has grip. The mid-back length layers catch the light, and the blonde highlights add dimension without the commitment of full balayage. Styling takes under five minutes: gather at the crown, secure with an elastic, and wrap a strand around the base. The hold is moderate — it won’t survive a dive, but for warm-ups and sideline time, it’s fine. This is a DIY win: no salon visit needed, just a brush and a hair tie.
Dutch Braids to Low Buns
Have you ever watched someone with thick, wavy hair twist their strands into two perfect buns and thought, ‘That’s not for me’? The dutch braids into low buns are a structured style that genuinely flatters medium to thick textures with natural wave. The double Dutch braids start at the crown and feed into low buns at the nape, keeping every strand contained through a full match.
The upkeep is real: this is a salon-leaning style, taking about 45-60 minutes to install. The braids hold the buns in place even during spikes and dives, so you won’t be fixing flyaways between sets. But if your hair is fine or stick-straight, the braids may loosen within an hour. The dark blonde base with lighter highlights adds depth without extra weight. For those with the right texture, this is a game-day staple.
Braided Headband and Ponytail
The braided headband ponytail looks like it took an hour, and it did. The braided headband detail wraps from temple to temple, tucking front pieces into a secure crown before the rest falls into a mid-back ponytail. For the first two hours, it’s immaculate. The honest downside? By the third set, the headband braid starts to shift, especially if your hair is as wavy and thick as the brown layers here. The salon-leaning difficulty means you won’t recreate it in a hurry before practice. But for a tournament where you need front hair off your face, this holds better than a regular headband. Just don’t expect it to last a full week.
Low Ponytail with Braid
A braid inside a ponytail. This is the one that looks harder than it is. A low ponytail with braid starts with a middle part on dark brown, mid-back length, straight thick hair with layers. You braid the ponytail itself, from root to tip, then secure it with a band. The texture holds the braid tight, no slipping. It’s a ponytail braid that stays put through a serve and a spike. Simple construction, secure hold.
Intricate Dutch Braid
Would you rather spend ten minutes on a basic three-strand braid or thirty on an intricate dutch braid? For volleyball, the intricate dutch braid wins every time. The prominent Dutch braid weaves from the side part down the back, hugging the scalp and locking in wavy, thick ash blonde layers. Unlike a loose braid that frays by the second quarter, this one stays tight because the sections cross under instead of over. The mid-back length means the braid has weight to swing, but the technique keeps it from unraveling. It’s a salon-level style, but the hold is unmatched for a single braid.
Ponytail with Accent Braid
I’ll confess: the accent braid detail is the part I want to show off, but it’s also the part that tests my patience. This style starts with a high ponytail at the crown, then a thin braid wraps from the nape up into the elastic. On straight, thick hair at mid-back length, the dark brown base keeps the braid visible without competing. The ponytail itself holds all match long, no sagging.
Who does this suit? Anyone with enough density to hide the braid’s start and enough patience to re-tighten it at halftime. The honest downside: that accent braid detail unravels if you don’t anchor it well. I’ve seen it loosen by the second set. The hold is great for the ponytail, but the braid needs a bobby pin or two. Not a style for fine hair or rushed mornings.
Cornrows into High Ponytail
Picture this: you’re five minutes from game time and your hair is still loose. That’s when you wish you’d booked the salon appointment for cornrows into high ponytail. The detailed cornrow pattern at the hairline keeps every strand flat and secure, then feeds into a high ponytail that takes ten seconds to pull together. On straight, thick hair at mid-back length, black with subtle highlights, the hold lasts a full week of practice and matches. This is a salon-only style, no DIY shortcuts. The cornrows demand precision, but once they’re in, the ponytail is the easy part.
Visual Idea
I’m calling it: fishtail braids into a low bun is the most underrated volleyball hairstyle. Two fishtail braids start at the temples, cross at the nape, and wind into a low bun at the base of the skull. On wavy, thick hair at mid-back length, dark brown with subtle highlights, the intricate fishtail braids hold tight through three sets and a dive. The low bun stays put because the braids distribute tension evenly.
Wear and upkeep are straightforward. The style lasts two days before the braids start to fuzz, but the bun can be re-pinned in under a minute. The hold is excellent for active play, and the highlights catch the light during serves. This is not a quick style, but it’s a reliable one.
Shoulder-Length Visual Idea
Can you pull off double dutch braids on shoulder-length hair? Yes, but it demands precision. The braids need to be tight and the low buns small enough to tuck under without slipping. On straight, thick hair at shoulder length, blonde, the technique is everything: each section must be evenly divided and braided close to the scalp. The hold is secure if you pin the ends well. This style suits anyone with enough length to wrap the braids twice and the patience for a salon-level braiding session.
Mid-Back Visual Idea
This braid lands at mid-back and never apologises for the real estate it takes. Straight, thick, dark brown hair gives the braid a clean silhouette; every section reads as deliberate and the width alone would hold shape through a five-set match. The dark base lets the braid read as a single solid line, no highlights to break it up. Middle part keeps the crown flat, no volume needed. In cooler weather, when a simpler ponytail feels too exposed, this is the style that keeps hair contained and looks like it meant to be substantial. The large sections mean it takes less time than you think, and it holds the whole afternoon. Five-set worthy.
Long Visual Idea
My first thought: that is going to take forever. Thick, wavy, blonde hair down past the shoulders, sectioned into two Dutch braids that sit close to the scalp and then continue in thick ropes. The blonde base shows every braided turn; the waves give the finished braids a textured, almost lived-in look that a fine, straight texture would not achieve. They do hold, for a while.
But here is the honest part. Two Dutch braids on this length and density take serious time. Not a ten-minute morning. And because the hair is wavy and thick, the braids start loosening by the start of the third set. The wave texture that made them look so good initially also makes the braids want to unspring. You will need strong elastics and possibly a texture spray to keep them from turning into a blurry mess by match point. I respect the look; I also know what it asks.
Medium Brown Visual Idea
Ever seen a mohawk braid that looks this measured? Shoulder-length, straight, medium brown hair, sectioned from the side part into small, precise braids that run back along the crown and continue into a gathered braid at the nape. Medium brown keeps the braid structure readable. This is a salon booking: the symmetry and tension require two experienced hands. The elastics stay tight, and the whole framework holds for a match. But it took someone who knows where to start and stop.
Layers Visual Idea
I used to think a fishtail braid would fall apart on layered hair. Mid-back, straight, medium brown, medium density — layers usually mean shorter pieces slip out. But a fishtail pulls sections from alternating sides, so the shorter layers get woven in early and stay tucked. The straight texture helps; no waves to push strands loose. Medium brown keeps the braid pattern visible without highlights. This one is pulled into a ponytail base first, then braided, which gives a clean start and a grip that holds through a match. The fishtail pattern holds tighter than a three-strand; it won’t loosen the way a classic braid might. Not every layered head can pull this off, but if your layers are moderate and your hair is straight, it is the braid that actually stays.
Final Thoughts
I started this article thinking a simple ponytail was enough. After seeing all 23 ideas, I realize the real trick is the prep: a good base, the right tension, and a few bobby pins. What I didn’t expect was how many of these work for non-athletes too. The Dutch braids and scalp braids are just as good for a day at the farmer’s market. I’m booking the heart crown braids for my next game. They look like I tried, but they actually take less time than a blowout. That’s the kind of hair math I can get behind.
