As far as cheerleading hairstyles in 2026 go, it’s all about attitude, movement, and having that perfectly balanced blend of polish and playfulness. Whether it’s game day prep, practicing at school, or an actual competition, your cheerleader hair should definitely boost your mood as much as your choreo. From braided high ponytails to DIY ribbons and bubble ponies, these cheerleader hair tutorials were designed to remain perfectly secured, adorably cute, and leave you feeling like the queen of the cheerleading squad.
1. Braided Low Ponytail Confidence
There’s something so effortlessly confident about this braided low ponytail—it’s neat, pretty, and full of that sideline-ready energy. The braid adds just the right touch of texture, while the soft highlights catch the light beautifully. It’s a look that says, “I came to shine,” whether it’s game day or a casual school afternoon.
This style works perfectly for medium to long hair and keeps everything secure during football or basketball games. It’s easy to do before practice and stays in place through all the fun. Add bows for pictures or a slicked-back finish if you want that extra touch of polish before competition.
2. Double Bubble Braids for Kids
Whimsical and adorable, these double bubble braids exude an incredible amount of playground flair—ideal for those aspiring young stars who love to express their team spirit. The colored rubber bands add an energetic vibe and stem from that “game-ready” sparkle that’s difficult to overlook.
This braided look is amazing on girls with fine or straight hair, as it provides a volumizing effect from the divisions. The braids are easy to create and last throughout long training sessions and school events. For added excitement and theming with your game-day colors, pair these rubber bands with your game-day colors or add bows to high pony braided styles.
3. Twin French Braids with Game-Day Glam
There’s an eternal charm to twin French braided styles that exude athleticism and elegance while being ready to head out on game day. Whether it’s a walk to track events or cheering on from the stands, these braided designs convey unity and strength. They look particularly fantastic with added sparkles or clips hidden away.
This style is ideal for those with thick or wavy hair, as it keeps your strands away from your face without getting in the way. Just remember that it’s always cute in photos. For added flair that exudes ‘competition ready,’ you can add some tiny bows on the ends.
4. Double Dutch Braids for the Win
These double Dutch braids emit an aura of power and strength. They exude game-day spirit in every detail of the braiding process while being totally easy to manage. In short, it’s the ultimate ‘ready to win’ look.
This one is great on practice days or tryouts—it won’t move an inch regardless of how much cheering you do. It’s also great on girls with very thick or curly hair who want a look that won’t shift come game time. Just let it loose the next day, and you’ll get the most beautiful soft waves.
5. Bubble Braided High Ponytail Energy
The high ponytail braided with bubble braids exudes high levels of energy and fun—it’s the most sporty-meets-cute look that’s ready to steal the spotlight at any game. The braided sections add plenty of movement and life to the look. The top section provides that sporty and edgy look of a typical cheerleader.
If you’ve got medium-length hair, this one’s an easy pick for both practice and competition days. The style holds through every jump and turn, especially with a slicked-back finish. It’s simple to achieve yet looks impressive for pictures or when you’re cheering courtside.
6. Braided High Ponytail Star Look
Polished, powerful, and a little fierce—this braided high ponytail is pure star quality. The sleek top and intricate braids lead into that long, dramatic tail that swings perfectly on every move. It’s the kind of style that commands attention under the stadium lights.
This look is designed for Black women and blondes as well. It’s ideal for every face shape and designed for days of competition. This look can be paired with bows or glitter to add a touch of glam. The slicked-back look helps keep stray hairs away and maintains a photographer-ready look from the warm-up sessions to your final routine.
7. High Braided Ponytail with Bow
“There’s nothing that screams ‘game on’ like a high pony with two braided strands tucked behind it and a soft black bow to bind everything. This look is both sporty and cute at the same time—the ultimate combination for a Premiership competitor. The styling of the braided pony raises the energy of your look altogether. Such hairstyles work perfectly on days of competition.”
This one’s a must-try for medium to long straight hair. It keeps everything slicked back and off your face so you can focus on your routine or just have fun cheering. It’s especially flattering for those who love simple but standout looks for school events or football games.
8. Wavy High Pony with Braided Crown
There’s an effortless star quality to this wavy high ponytail. The soft curls flow beautifully, while the braided crown at the top adds a touch of glam and control. It’s that perfect blend of fierce and feminine—made for the kind of cheerleader who owns the floor and knows it.
This look suits curly hair or naturally wavy textures best, giving volume and movement without extra effort. It’s easy to style for basketball games, competition days, or even school pep rallies. Add a few bows or glitter for pictures to make it totally pop.
9. Cornrow-Inspired High Ponytail
If confidence had a hairstyle, this would be it. These tight braids lead perfectly into a sleek high pony, creating that bold, sculpted look every cheerleader dreams of. It’s sharp, structured, and ready for competition—the kind of style that demands attention and shows strength.
This hairstyle works wonders for Black women or anyone with thick hair who needs a secure, lasting look. It stays flawless through intense practice or game day hustle. You can add ribbons or team-colored elastics for a more playful, fun vibe.
10. Sleek Game-Day Rows Ponytail
Nothing beats a slick, braided ponytail when you need something both practical and stunning. The precise rows keep the style tidy while giving off that fierce, focused cheerleader energy. It’s sporty, edgy, and a total game day favorite.
This look shines on all hair types—it’s especially easy to maintain for long practices or tryouts. With just a few touches of hairspray or gel, it stays perfect through any routine. Pair it with hoops or a pop of lip gloss to take it from practice to competition-ready.
11. Low Braided Ponytail with Yellow Bow
There’s something sweet and nostalgic about this low ponytail with twin braids meeting at the back—finished with a sunny yellow bow that just radiates cheer spirit. It’s simple, polished, and full of charm. Perfect for outdoor games or school events when you want to look cute without trying too hard.
This style flatters fine to medium hair, holding its shape without slipping. It’s great for younger cheerleaders or anyone who wants a neat, easy style for practice. The low pony keeps it comfortable, while the bow adds that playful touch that makes every photo adorable.
12. Braided Bubble Ponytail
This bubbly, braided ponytail brings all the fun and energy you need for a big day. The thin braid across the top adds a cute, detailed twist before falling into voluminous bubbles down the back—a total cheer favorite that’s both practical and picture-perfect.
It’s a great pick for kids or teens, especially those with straight or fine hair that needs a little body. It’s easy to secure with elastics and stays playful for hours, whether it’s for practice or a full game day. Plus, it’s quick to recreate in the morning rush before school.
13. Tight Cornrow High Ponytail
Precision. Power. Perfection. All of these qualities come combined within the tight cornrow high ponytail. The braided sections of your hair here have been delicately divided to create a clean look that’s ideal for days involving high-level cheering. Nothing’s better than your look being top-notch. }[ID38] }[ID37]
This look is great for thick or coarse hair and can be used for an extensive routine or double-practice days. This long-lasting look doesn’t need to be touched up throughout the day. Just add a scrunchie or team bow to dress it out.
14. Blonde Braided High Ponytail
Cheer energy has never looked better. This fun and young high pony with braids in the front is full of life. The blonde color shines like it’s alive. The double braids in the front come straight into a full pony that’s ideal for flips and turns. In addition to being very young and very spirited, it’s fierce. That’s the ultimate look for cheering.
This look works well on those with medium- to long straight hair. The design is easy to put on either before school or on game days. The design is polished enough for photography sessions and long enough to last throughout the game. Coordinate your rubber bands with your team colors for a perfectly coordinated look.
15. Curly Braided Ponytail with Neon Pop
There’s no missing this look—sleek front braids meet voluminous curls tied high with a neon scrunchie. It’s fresh, bold, and full of competition-day confidence. The contrast between the polished top and soft curls gives it that “ready to perform” vibe that shines under bright lights.
This hairstyle flatters wavy or naturally curly hair best, offering volume and secure control. It’s perfect for showcases, competitions, or pep rallies. For an extra glam twist, weave in a few ribbons or a hint of glitter to make it sparkle in motion.
16. Extra-Long Braided Ponytail with Scrunchie
Classic and energetic, these extra-long braided ponytails exude strong and positive cheerleader spirits. The long braided look maintains smooth and easy-to-manage hairstyles. Furthermore, the soft white scrunchie provides that extra polished look that perfectly blends with the overall team uniform. Perfect for long hair or extensions, this look stays neat through hours of practice and competition. It’s lightweight, stylish, and ideal for keeping hair off the face while performing high-energy routines. Pair it with bold earrings or a pop of color for that finishing touch.
17. French Braided Game Ponytail
The perfect blend of sporty and classic—this French braided ponytail gives that effortless game-day look every cheerleader loves. It’s clean, easy to wear, and ideal for those fast-paced basketball or volleyball nights where you still want to look polished. This look is ideal for medium-length hair and can be sported by either player or cheerleader. The braids can withstand both practice sessions and look cute afterward. Just add a ribbon or team colors to the hair tie to customize it for your next game.
18. Twin Braids Practice Look
Just simple, fun, and full of spirit—twin braids are the ideal ones to wear on relaxed days of practice. These braids ensure that your long mop of hair stays hidden away while giving off an energetic and fresh look. This one’s great for young girls or teenage cheerleaders with medium to long straight hair. It’s very easy to maintain and redo. Best of all, it’s perfectly adorable paired with a coordinating scrunchie or ribbons. The added advantage is that it gently unwinds into the most beautiful soft waves for the next day.
19. Braided Sideline Ponytail
Nothing exudes more power than a smooth ponytail braided through the middle. In fact, it’s the ultimate game-day look without actually having to put your body through anything strenuous. As such, it’s sporty, precise, and spiced up with a feminine touch—an ideal look to wear on game day that keeps your tresses from obstructing your face. Whether it’s volleyball or game-day football that you’re attending. This design is suited for those with medium to long hair. The slick-back look paired with braids secured high in a ponytail will ensure that the braids remain secure from warming up to the game’s end. Just a quick spray of hairspray, and that braided look will last for hours. The convenience of this design effortlessly swivels from training to game without much effort.
20. Cornrow Crown Bun
If power had a haircut design, it should be this design. The straight parting of the head and tightly braided strands secured at the top of the head exude utmost game confidence. This design designates excellence without speaking a mouthful. Up-to-pocket design ideal for those with an emphasis on the polished look with a dash of power. This style complements persons with thick and curly hair, as it provides structure and keeps everything in check during rigorous practices. The braids ensure ease of styling throughout long games and events at school. Adding a bun shows off that polished look. Use bows and ribbons of the same color to create unity within a team. The look exudes superstar stature.
21. Double French Braids into Pony
Double French braids remain a classic for a reason—they offer both school spirit and sass. The braids come together at the back of the head as a slick pony. The look caters to those who want to look as fashionable as functional. Cheerleaders particularly need a change from the high pony look. This halfway look provides that. Who it’s best for: Girls who have medium to long hair. This design works from clean sections and from having a healthy shine. Apply a pea-sized amount of gel to create sections and get rid of flyaways. The design won’t weigh your head down from long hours of cheering and produces an incredible photoshoot look afterward. Reconsider it as an easy update on your basic cheering braided look.
22. Twin Braids with Ribbon Accent
These twin braided designs with a ribbon tie at the end exude the sweetest part of cheering fashion. The ribbons actually tie everything in both senses of the term and add an incredible pop of fun coordination to your look. The design of the braided twin look relates effortlessly to the classic symbols of being part of a cheering crew. This look is amazing on girls with thick or curly hair since it keeps everything in place with braids that withstand stunts and jumps. Use ribbons that correspond with your colors for an added energetic touch. Quick to do, easy to manage, and a complete photo-ready look—ideal for playing as well as photoshoots and tryouts.
23. Classic Double Dutch Braids
This look exudes classic cheers—it’s like high school spirit, the warmth of the sun, and unbridled energy. The double Dutch braided look is a classic choice for a host of reasons—it stays put, it’s funky, and it’s youthful. For athletes or busy students, this styling idea is easy to maintain and very dramatic. In addition to being versatile enough to work on almost all types of hair and lengths that pass the shoulders at least once, it also includes a bit of added flair from ribbons tied at the ends. Whether it’s game day at school or a late start at the office, it’s always the winning choice.
24. Bubble Braid High Pony with Ribbon
Sporty and very cute, as well as totally on-trend for 2026—the bubble braid ponytail configuration simply embodies what it means to be “cheer chic.” The added flair of each “bubble” provides terrific texture, movement, and photographic possibilities. The incorporated ribbons on the top add an elegant finishing touch that’s very feminine and totally “cute and stupidly strong.” This look favors straight or slightly wavy hair and works perfectly well for those who want an easy-to-manage hairstyle that appears complicated. All you have to do is add some elastics to secure sections of your ponytail and then pull them to form bubbles. Trust us when we say that it’s the easiest and cutest look you could ever ask for.
Cheer hairstyles for 2026 designs should reflect everything that’s easy enough to manage at early morning hours and at the same time exude enough elegance that boosts your spirits and your confidence. No matter what design you pick—braided styles, slicked-back pony designs, or those designs that incorporate bows and bubbles—everything should work to represent your bright-witted spirit.
