I kept seeing the same high ponytail at the club last summer, tight enough to survive a serve. Now the tennis hairstyle has a softer side: pastel ribbons, white bows, braids with colorful ties. It’s not Wimbledon, it’s just Tuesday, but the hold is real.
This roundup has 22 Tennis Hairstyles 2027 ideas, from five-minute buns to braids that take a steady hand. My fine hair goes flat by 4 pm, so I tested which ones actually stay put. Whether you have thick curls or a blunt bob, there’s a style here that won’t quit mid-match.
High Sleek Bun With Blonde Highlights
A high sleek bun demands a certain kind of hair: straight, thick, and willing to be tamed. The dark brown base with blonde highlights catches light differently than a solid color, so the bun reads dimensional even from the back. This is mid-back length pulled taut, no bangs, a middle part that keeps everything symmetrical. It holds through a full match because every strand is smoothed into place with a strong-hold spray. The upkeep is the real story: you need about fifteen minutes to get it glassy, and a refresh with a smoothing serum after the set. Skip this if your hair is fine or prone to slipping — it will deflate by the second serve.
High Ponytail With Face-Framing Bangs
Can a ponytail with curtain bangs actually stay put through a match? It can, if you build it right. Start with a high ponytail at the crown, then take the face-framing pieces — here, a chin-length blunt bob in ash blonde with highlights — and wrap them around the base to hide the elastic. The bangs need a quick pass with a round brush to curve away from the eyes, then a light-hold spray to keep them off your face. This is a DIY style, five minutes max, and the hold is solid for two sets. The fine texture helps the pieces stay tucked.
High Braided Ponytail With Colorful Ties
This high braided ponytail is the most secure style in the roundup. The technique is straightforward: pull all hair into a high ponytail, then divide into three sections and braid tightly down the length. The colorful ties — woven in at intervals — add grip and visual rhythm, so the braid stays thick and intact even when you’re running. The blonde color helps the ties pop, and the side part gives the braid a forward lean. It takes about twenty minutes to get the tension even, and a texturizing spray beforehand helps if your hair is finer. The hold is absolute: this braid does not loosen.
Thick Braid With White Bow
I did not expect to like a braid with bow this much. Compared to a plain braid, the white bow adds a deliberate finish that reads as polished rather than precious. The braid itself is thick — mid-back length, blonde highlights, straight texture — and the bow sits at the nape, anchoring the whole thing. It holds better than a simple braid because the bow creates friction; the hair doesn’t slide. This is a summer tournament style, the kind you wear when you want to look like you tried without trying too hard. The middle part keeps it symmetrical, and the side view shows the bow clearly. It takes about fifteen minutes to braid and secure the bow, and the hold lasts through a long match. The bow can be swapped for a different color, but white works because it reads clean against blonde.
Messy Bun With Accessories
A messy bun with accessories works best on wavy, thick hair. The collarbone-length layers give it volume, and the blonde color lets the accessories — small clips or a ribbon — stand out without fighting the hair. This is a seven-minute style: twist, pin, pull out loose tendrils, clip in something shiny. It holds because the texture grips itself, and the undone look means you don’t worry about perfection. Skip this if your hair is straight and fine; it will look like a small knot rather than a deliberate mess. The middle part keeps the face clear, and the accessories elevate it from practice to match day.
Thick Braid With Ribbon
I’ll admit it: I tied a white ribbon into a wavy blonde braid and expected it to unravel by the second set. The braid held fine, thick and secure, but the ribbon? It stayed put because I tucked the ends under the last wrap. That’s the trick. The ribbon adds a finishing touch that takes seconds, but during active play it can slip if you don’t anchor it. Upkeep means retying it after a sweaty match, which is a thirty-second fix. The blonde highlights catch the light, and the ribbon keeps the braid from looking too sporty. It’s a practical upgrade.
The length matters: mid-back is long enough for a thick braid but not so long it whips your neck. The middle part keeps it symmetrical. I found that a texturizing spray on wavy hair gives the braid better grip, so the ribbon doesn’t pull. It’s not a set-and-forget style, but it’s close. The ribbon is the first thing to fail, not the braid. That’s the honest wear reality.
Two Dutch Braids
Two Dutch braids are the most secure Tennis Hairstyles 2027 option I’ve tried. The technique requires precision: a clean middle part, even tension from the crown to the nape, and braids that sit flat against the scalp. Ask your stylist for a layered cut that starts the braid at the hairline, not the crown, so the braids lie neatly. The intricate braiding looks complicated, but once you get the rhythm, it’s a twenty-five-minute job. The straight, thick texture holds the braids tight without slipping. No flyaways if you use a strong-hold spray. It’s a salon-level result that stays put through a full match.
Messy Bun With Loose Strands
My first thought: this messy bun loose strands won’t last a rally. I was wrong, mostly. The wavy blonde hair gives the bun enough grip that the loose strands frame the face without falling into your eyes. It’s a DIY job, five minutes, no mirror needed. The honest downside: during intense activity, those loose strands will migrate. You’ll be tucking them back behind your ears between points. But for a casual practice or a warm-up, it’s the fastest option. The texture keeps it from looking like a disaster.
Textured Ponytail With Highlights
Who actually benefits from a textured ponytail with highlights? If you have wavy coily hair, thick and dense, this is your style. The dark brown base with blonde highlights adds dimension that reads clearly even from the side. The high ponytail sits at the crown, and the texture gives it volume that straight hair can’t fake. Who should pass: anyone with fine, straight hair. The ponytail will look thin and the highlights will blend into a muddy stripe. The close crop side view shows how the coils catch the light. It’s a salon-leaning look that needs a good cut first.
High Ponytail With Headband
A headband changes everything about a ponytail with headband. It keeps curly dark brown hair off your face without a single bobby pin. The high ponytail itself is standard, but the headband acts as a barrier against sweat and flyaways. It takes seven minutes: gather the shoulder-length curls into a high ponytail, then slide the headband over. The thick, curly texture holds the ponytail’s shape, and the headband stays put because it’s not fighting loose strands. It’s the most low-maintenance tennis hairstyle I’ve found. No slipping, no retying.
Low Ponytail With Side-Swept Bangs
I have a complicated history with side-swept bangs. They either drift or separate. This low ponytail with bangs solves both. Five minutes: dampen the bangs, blow-dry them forward, then sweep them to the side. The rest of the shoulder-length hair goes into a low ponytail, finger-combed, no brush needed. A light-hold spray locks the sweep in place. This is a DIY style, not a salon booking. The cut is the part that needs a pro. The bangs’ weight line has to be right. Fine, straight hair holds the sweep better than thick hair, which fights the direction. The dark brown colour sits as one solid piece, which a side part breaks up nicely.
Voluminous Ponytail
Who actually has the density for a voluminous ponytail that stays up all day? Medium-density, wavy brown hair. The texture gives the volume grip without teasing. Fine hair will collapse by lunch. A side parting adds asymmetry, which helps the ponytail look fuller than it is. A volumizing spray at the roots, then a gentle tease at the crown. The ponytail itself gets a light backcomb before the elastic. The waves hold the shape. It is a bouncy look. If your hair is straight, you will need a curling iron to fake the texture this look relies on.
Sleek High Ponytail
A sleek high ponytail is the most honest hairstyle in tennis. It looks polished for exactly one hour. Then the wavy texture underneath starts pushing through. Thick wavy hair fights sleekness. You need a smoothing serum and a strong-hold gel. Brush it thoroughly before the elastic goes in. A middle part keeps the front clean. The back view is where the work shows. Flyaways are inevitable. A second layer of hairspray helps, but only until the first sweat. The length is mid-back, which gives the ponytail weight. If it were shorter, the sleekness would look severe. The dark brown colour helps hide the imperfections a lighter shade would expose.
The upkeep is daily. This is not a wash-and-go style. Each application requires a full reset. The hold is strong, but the texture will win eventually. It is a style for the first set, not the fourth.
Wavy Blowout With Highlights
I did not expect to recommend a wavy blowout for the court. The textured layers are the secret. They stop the waves from falling flat. Collarbone length gives the wave enough rope to form without dragging the root down. A middle part keeps it symmetrical. The brown base with blonde highlights adds dimension. Without the highlights, the wave pattern would look like one flat mass. A volumizing mousse and a round brush build the shape. A texturizing spray at the end keeps the wave from dropping. Medium density hair holds this best. Fine hair will need a smaller barrel and more product.
Tight Blonde Braid
A tight braid is a commitment. This tight blonde braid is the opposite of a loose, boho braid. It is secure and practical. It does not move. The thick straight hair is the ideal texture. Wavy or curly hair would need to be blown out first, which defeats the purpose. The blonde colour shows every part and every flyaway. A side parting keeps the braid from looking too severe. This is a salon-leaning style. The braid itself is DIY, but the cut needs to be blunt and even. Any layers will poke out. A strong-hold hairspray tames the flyaways. The length is mid-back, which gives the braid weight. If it were shorter, the braid would look thin.
The comparison to a looser braid is the point. A loose braid falls apart. This one holds for hours. The tightness means it stays put through movement. The downside is the tension. It pulls at the roots. A side part relieves some of that tension. The blonde colour is high maintenance. Roots show fast. But the braid itself is low maintenance once it is in.
Voluminous Natural Curls
Can your curls actually hold up through a tennis match? Mine do, but only when I leave them alone. This is mid-back length, dark brown, thick and curly, air-dried into voluminous natural curls that don’t deflate by the second set. The middle part keeps the shape balanced, and the air-dried layers give it movement without losing structure. It’s a cut that needs a pro to avoid triangle head, but the styling takes no time. If you have fine or loose waves, this won’t have the same bounce. For thick, dense curls, it’s the best tennis hairstyle 2027 I’ve tried. The hold comes from the curl pattern itself, not from pins or spray.
Textured Top With Short Sides
I’ll admit, I was skeptical about short sides on the court. But this textured top short sides cut — natural black, nape-length, curly hair — handles sweat better than any ponytail. The side part keeps the top swept away from the face, and the short sides mean less hair to get damp. The honest downside: the top can look a bit wild after a match, but a quick finger-comb and it’s back. The hold is in the cut itself, no product needed. It’s salon-leaning to get the fade right, but once you have it, it’s a week of no-styling.
Braided Ponytail With Pink Ribbon
This one earns its spot. A braided ponytail with ribbon isn’t just a hair tie — the pink ribbon is woven into each section of the braid, starting at the nape and traveling all the way down to the ends. The dark brown, mid-back, straight thick hair provides a smooth canvas, so the ribbon stands out without slipping. The middle part keeps the crown neat, and the braid itself is tight enough to hold through a full match.
The technique: you fold the ribbon in half, tie it around the base of the ponytail, then split the hair into three sections, each containing one half of the ribbon. Braid as usual, and the ribbon becomes part of every cross. The hold is secure because the ribbon adds friction and the braid tension locks everything in place. No need for extra pins or spray. It’s a precise process, but the result is a braid that doesn’t budge.
Wind-Blown Ponytail Mid-Action
My gut reaction: this is the only ponytail that looks better with wind. A wind-blown ponytail — blonde, mid-back, wavy texture, with layers — catches the breeze and turns flyaways into part of the look. The middle part keeps the front smooth, and the ponytail is high enough to swing without hitting the shoulders. The honest downside: you need a salon cut to get the layers right; a DIY version will look messy, not breezy. Flyaways are part of the look, but a light-hold spray can tame the ones that go rogue. The dynamic styling of the layers creates movement, and the hold is in the ponytail elastic and the cut’s momentum.
Casual Half-Bun With Loose Waves
The precise observation: a half bun only works when the waves are done first. For this half bun loose waves casual style — light brown, collarbone length, wavy medium density — I start with loose waves using a large-barrel iron, then gather the top half into a bun at the crown. The side part adds asymmetry. The hold is from the bun’s tension and a texturizing spray for grip. The waves stay soft because the bun only takes the top layer. It takes about seven minutes and looks like you spent more time.
Low Ponytail With Pink Accessories
Is adding pink hair accessories to a low ponytail with accessories a smart move or just asking for trouble? I leaned skeptic. The dark brown, shoulder-length waves are thick enough to hold a low ponytail without slipping, and the side part gives it a little non-athletic flair. But those pink clips? They pop against the dark colour, sure, but I’ve seen accessories fly mid-serve. The texture is wavy, which helps grip, but the hold depends on how well you pin them. For a casual practice, maybe. For a match you’d rather win? I’d test it at home first. The layers add movement, but that also means more strands to escape. Styling takes five minutes, but re-pinning between games? Not my idea of a good time.
Prominent Dutch Braid
I’ll confess: I underestimated how much visual weight a prominent dutch braid carries. On thick blonde hair, straight and mid-back length, this isn’t a quick plait. The Dutch technique lifts the braid off the scalp, so it reads as a raised ridge of blonde, not a flat braid. That middle part keeps the front clean, and with no bangs, every strand is accounted for. Once it’s in, it’s in. No touching up, no loose strands. That kind of hold is rare for a style that looks this constructed.
The styling is about tension: pull tight enough that no pieces escape, and this thing holds through a full match without a single re-do. Texture matters here. Straight hair shows every crossover, so you want it smooth. The colour? Blonde. Against the middle part and the raised braid, it looks almost metallic. I get it now. This is the braid that says ‘I came to play and look good doing it.’
Final Thoughts
After writing all 22 styles, I still reach for the high ponytail, but now I add a ribbon. What surprised me: accessories are the real workhorses here, not the hair itself. I’m booking a thick braid with a white bow next. It’s the one that stayed all afternoon.
