Basic ponytails, boring crew cuts — your go-to game day style might just be what is leaving you feeling flat on the field. In a world ruled by triumph and trophies, athletes utilize every tool in their repertoire to maximize their performance, even their hair. Even with their standardized uniforms and strict equipment regulations, players bring flair to their performance with unique hairstyles that leave them feeling confident in the face of competition.

Varsity girls volleyball player Aline Grinspan (10) plaits her hair into intricate Dutch braids for her matches, taking into consideration practicality and performance. To prevent the double braids from bouncing around and distracting her while she plays, Aline combines them into a low ponytail that keeps her hair under control even as she dives to the floor to make saves and leaps high into the air for kills.

For Aline, styling her hair is about more than an aesthetic on the court. It has become a pregame ritual that sets her up for peak performance. Securing her hair tight to her head streamlines Aline’s explosive movements, filling her with confidence that she has done all that she can to prepare herself for each game.

“When I do my hair, I care about functionality and my hair not getting in my face at all,” Aline said. “I feel clean when I play, and it keeps me focused. I only braid it for games, not for practice, so when my hair is slicked and braided, I feel locked in.”

Junior varsity boys soccer goalkeeper Cameron Jones (9) dons a headband to keep his hair out of his vision. For goalies, having a clear line of sight is vital to making key saves and split-second decisions that make the difference between victory and defeat. 

“I spend a lot of time looking up and around while moving,” Cameron said. “The issue with that is my hair would get in the way a lot, leading to a lot of really embarrassing moments. Nowadays, I wear a headband almost all the time when playing soccer, which helps me focus and see better.”

Cameron likes to keep it simple with his choice of headband. His only criteria is that it does not slip during the 90-minute game and that it feels comfortable, holding his hair back without digging into his forehead.

Athletes also take into consideration their equipment when deciding how to style their hair. For sports such as softball and baseball, where players wear helmets or brimmed hats to avoid injuries or distractions, hairstyles must conform with their equipment to allow for maximum comfort and practicality.

“I like to do two braids so that I can wear a visor and a helmet,” varsity softball player Grace Fu (9) said. “Usually, when you do a ponytail, it’s either too low for a visor or too high for a helmet, so I think braids are the best solution.”

Playful pleats and bubble braids allow players to express themselves more freely on the pitch, despite school-distributed jerseys and bulky helmets. Incorporating more personality into her play, Grace believes that a fashionable hairstyle manifests itself as fearlessness on the field.

“My other teammates, most of them just wear ponytails,” Grace said. “Hopefully, I can encourage them to do more fun hairstyles because then we’ll perform better. I think if you feel cute, you play better.”