When you think of gymnastics, what comes to mind? Daring flips? Elegant leaps? Gravity-defying stunts? All true. But take a closer look during any competition, and you’ll spot something else gymnasts care a lot about: their hair.
From tightly braided styles to buns that don’t budge, gymnasts put serious effort into their hair before hitting the mat. But this isn’t just about looking cute for photos. For gymnasts, hair is part of the performance—and it serves some pretty important purposes.
Here’s why gymnasts care so much about it.
1. It’s a Safety Thing (Not Just a Style Choice)
Let’s start with the most important reason: safety. In gymnastics, visibility is everything. If a gymnast can’t see clearly while doing a tumbling pass or swinging around bars, the results can be dangerous. That’s why hair needs to be tightly secured and away from the face—no flyaways, no distractions.
In fact, the USA Gymnastics rulebook spells it out:
“Hair should be secured away from the face – it must not obscure vision of the apparatus.”
And judges aren’t just ignoring that. If hair gets in the gymnast’s eyes or blocks their view of the beam, they can take off up to 0.20—a big deal in a sport where medals are often decided by tenths of a point.
A falling ponytail might not seem like much, but when you’re flipping backward on a four-inch beam, even one loose strand can throw everything off.
2. Hair That Stays Put = Fewer Distractions
Gymnastics routines demand full concentration. One mental slip, and you might miss a skill or stumble on a landing. That’s why hair that stays exactly where it’s supposed to is key. If a gymnast is constantly feeling their ponytail bounce, or if a bun starts slipping mid-routine, it becomes an instant distraction—and there’s no time to fix it.
In most sports, you can adjust a helmet or re-tie a shoelace. Not in gymnastics. Once that routine starts, everything—including the hair—has to hold up until the final pose.
So gymnasts go for styles that don’t move: Dutch braids, tight buns, multiple elastics, hairnets, and enough hairspray to survive a wind tunnel. It’s not overkill—it’s preparation.
3. Judges Notice More Than Just the Skills
While judges are scoring routines mostly on difficulty and execution, appearance and presentation do play a role—especially in artistic gymnastics. A neat look shows discipline. A messy one can come across as careless, even if the gymnast hits every skill.
There’s not a specific deduction for “bad hair,” but if it becomes a distraction—if the gymnast has to fix it mid-routine, or if it affects posture or poise—it can definitely cost points.
That’s why many gymnasts, especially at the college and elite levels, take hair just as seriously as choreography. They want to step onto the floor looking polished, confident, and in control.
4. It Builds Team Spirit
Hair is also about team unity. For many teams—especially in NCAA and club programs—coordinating hairstyles is part of the tradition. Matching braids, ribbons, or glitter isn’t just cute. It sends a message: we’re prepared, we’re united, and we’ve put effort into every detail.
Some teams even have “hair night” before a big meet, where they practice styles together. It becomes part of the routine—just like stretching or visualizing routines—and helps everyone mentally gear up for competition.
You’ll often see entire NCAA teams walk out with matching buns, identical part lines, or themed accessories. It looks great, sure—but it also shows pride and professionalism.
5. Confidence Boosts Performance
Here’s something every gymnast (and parent) knows: when you feel good, you perform better. There’s a special kind of confidence that comes from knowing you look meet-ready. When your hair’s on point, your leotard fits just right, and you’ve practiced like crazy—that’s a recipe for feeling unstoppable.
For younger gymnasts especially, a compliment like “Wow, your braid looks amazing!” can totally shift the mood. Suddenly, they’re walking taller, smiling bigger, and hitting their poses with more flair. That kind of energy can absolutely influence how a routine goes.
6. It’s Not Easy to Get Right
Let’s be real: gymnastics hairstyles are a craft. They take time, tools, and a whole lot of trial and error. You’re trying to make something that looks cute, stays in place during back handsprings, and doesn’t fall apart after hours of warm-up and competition. That’s no small feat.
Most gymnasts and parents become hair pros out of necessity. They’ve figured out what holds best, what doesn’t tangle, and how many bobby pins are too many (spoiler: there’s no such thing).
Popular go-to styles include:
- French or Dutch braids that hug the scalp
- Braids into buns for double security
- Bubble ponytails with elastics every few inches
- Low buns with hairnets for a clean, secure finish
It can take 20–30 minutes to do right, but it’s just part of the meet-day prep—right along with taping grips and stretching quads.
In closing
To the untrained eye, gymnastics hairstyles might look like a fashion trend. But inside the sport, they’re essential. Hair is part of the uniform. It keeps gymnasts safe, helps them focus, prevents penalties, and gives them a confidence boost when they need it most.
