Best Tennis Hairstyles

Regardless of what level you play tennis at, trying to find the best way to be comfortable while playing can be tough. Whether it’s finding the right shirt, shoes, or sunglasses while playing tennis, you want to find your groove. One aspect of tennis that is also important to players and fashionistas alike is the right tennis hairstyle. In tennis, keeping your hair out of your face is a must. It’s difficult to do so sometimes when you are moving around all over the court. Whether you are looking for ways to keep your hair out of your face while you play or you’re looking for the next fun look to debut? Discover some of the most popular and iconic ones for men and women.

Tennis Hairstyles for Men

Regardless of whether you are playing inside or outside, wearing a hat or a headband can be super helpful to prevent sweat from dripping down to your face. These hairstyle recommendations make sure that you can play comfortably without worrying about your hair. Because after all, that’s the most important thing– having a hairstyle that allows you not to worry about your hair!

Headband pull-back

From amateur to professional tennis, you will see many athletes donning colorful (or not colorful) headbands that keep their hair out of their faces. If you’re a player who has longer hair and struggles with flying hair when you’re reaching for a shot, or you find yourself fighting off lots of forehead sweat, try out this tennis hairstyle.

Wear a Hat

The second hairstyle for male tennis players is a simple and reliable look–it’s an option that never fails–the hat. This option might be boring for players who want to do something more fun, but if you want some colorful inspiration, check out the famous hairstyles below. This hairstyle just lets you stay ready-to-play, and you can spice it up with a fun colored hat or a clever design!

Keep it Short

Forget the accessories. Sometimes a close cut hairstyle is just the ticket. If you are worrying about keeping your hair out of your eyes, you might not be fully focused on your tennis game. People like to grow out their hair to show some individuality but there are other ways to show that off. In many cases, short hair is just the easiest to maintain, tame, and become an afterthought.

Tennis Hairstyles for Women

On average, women have longer, thicker hair, so for female athletes who want to figure out how to stay comfortable, cool, and fashionable, here are some options for you. Obviously, the most important thing is that your hairstyle lets you play freely without worrying about it, but if you have a lot of hair, it can take a few different looks to try and figure out what works best for you.

Braid

One option that might not win in terms of practicality but does win in terms of style is a loose braid. If you’re just playing for fun and want to try out something new for casual play, this is a fun, chill hairstyle! Like any style that pulls your hair back, you can use your braid to keep a visor or hat in place. If you want to make this hairstyle a little more practical, consider adding a headband.

Ponytail with hat/visor

A classic hairstyle that many female athletes love is a simple pony-tail. Why? Well, if you’re running to a practice or match and you really don’t want to think about hair, this hairstyle takes 20 seconds to put together. Ponytails also can help you keep your hat or visor in place compared to other styles. Overall, this style wins in practicality for short to mid-length hair. If you have long, hard-to-control hair, check out option three below.

Double french braid

This look is a personal favorite for players who don’t like for any hair to be near their face at all. This double french braid might look complicated, but here is a quick tutorial if you’re interested. Why do tennis players like this hairstyle?It accomplishes the utmost important job of keeping your mind on the game and off your hair. With this hair style, no strands will fall out or bug you, especially if you use a headband, visor, or hat. If you’re a player who feels very frustrated by long hair, consider checking out the double french braid.

Famous Hairstyles – Men

Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi is a player who is inextricably linked to his hair. Donning funny mohawks all the way to interesting bleached, rugged headband looks, Agassi switched it up quite frequently when it came to his hair and has a bunch of different looks if you’re a long-haired player looking for inspiration. Like many men, Agassi eventually went bald and lost his hunk of hair. For a while, Agassi actually wore a wig, but noticing how impractical it was, he dove all the way into baldness!

Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer

One of the most recent iconic looks in tennis have been Rafa Nadal’s and Roger Federer’s headbands. Since they have been young, they have sported headbands that typically match their outfits. Compared to thick cotton headbands, they have rocked the tied back athletic material headband. For Nadal, these are more practical. As you can see in the photo, and just about every photo of the two, you’ll see that he is a big fan of the Nike headbands that tie in the back. But if you’re looking at buying a similar headband, consider getting these so that you can adjust it yourself. This way, if something about the fit is irritating you as you play, you can fix it. 

John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg

When you think of retro tennis players it is hard not to go directly to the long hair and headbands of John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. Besides being huge rivals they are fashion icons to this day. Not a ton of players wear headbands anymore, but it was the norm back in the 70’s and 80’s. Because long hair was very much the style of the time headbands came in handy.

Famous Hairstyles – Women

Serena and Venus Williams

Venus and Serena are icons of the fashion game, and that includes their hair. Both Venus and Serena have dyed their hair, braided their hair, and maybe most famously, beaded their hair. During the 1999 Australian Open, Venus’ beads fell out during a point which resulted in a point penalty and the ire of fans and the media. Venus and Serena have always argued that they should never have to change the way they want to look.

This attitude and style has cemented them as fashion icons. Especially after the bead incident, they both realized that as African American women, wearing their hair in a traditional and natural way was a source of pride. They took it as an opportunity to share their heritage with the world.

Victoria Azarenka

One of the most famous hairstyles on tour is the quadruple braid that comes from Victoria Azarenka. Azarenka has a history of wearing fun and stylish, yet practical, hairstyles. She actually does her own braids for the match and even posts tutorials of her pre-match hair routine. Azarenka knows that she’s a fan favorite when it comes to up-dos for tennis, so she jokes with her fans about letting her hair down after this match.

If you want to try out this hairstyle, start by pulling your hair into a headband. After that, section your hair into fourths. Separate these strands into four hair ties, and start braiding. Once you have individually branded all four sections, use the Azarenka method and put all of this hair into one big hair tie. What’s unique about this hairstyle is that it prioritizes comfort and practicality at the same time while still being unique and fun!

Maria Sharapova

Sometimes, complex isn’t always better when it comes to figuring out what hairstyle lets you play your best. Maria Sharapova is a player who consistently keeps it simple. She usually just wears a visor and a ponytail, nothing special. She’s been seen with this style since her younger days. What’s the advantage of this approach? Well, as previously mentioned, the ponytail and visor is the best way to keep everything secure. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to worry about your hair, take the Sharapova approach.