14+ Cute Athletic Hairstyles You NEED to Try This Year

My Go-To Workout Hair: Cute Looks That Actually Survive the Gym

Okay girl, let’s be real for a second. There is literally nothing worse than being right in the middle of a great workout and suddenly your hair is glued to your sweaty forehead. Like, ew. I used to just throw my hair up in a chaotic bun and hope for the best, but half the time it would literally fall out before my warmup was even over. So annoying.

Lately I have been on a major mission to find actually cute athletic hairstyles that hold up while you sweat. Whether you are running miles, lifting heavy, or just trying to survive a pilates class without blinding yourself with your own bangs, having your hair securely out of the way is totally essential.

Sleek high ponytail

This is honestly my absolute go-to when I am running late and just need to get out the door fast. You just pull it all up, snatch it tight, and you are literally good to go. A sleek high ponytail is one of those classic gymnastics hairstyles because it keeps everything completely off your neck while you are flipping around or, you know, just doing burpees in your living room and trying not to pass out. I highly recommend using a little bit of gel or edge control to slick back the flyaways so you don’t look like you got struck by lightning midway through your set. It honestly gives you a mini facelift too, which I am never mad at. After my workout yesterday I literally just kept my hair like this, changed into a cute barrel pants outfit, and went straight to get iced coffee. Nobody even knew I had just been sweating for an hour straight because the hair looked so intentional.

Tight braided pony

Okay this one takes like two extra minutes but I promise it is so incredibly worth the effort. You just start with a regular pony and then braid the tail all the way down to the bottom. It completely stops your hair from sticking to your sweaty back and shoulder blades. I wore my hair exactly like this to a spin class last week and it was a total game changer for me. Usually my hair gets completely tangled from the wind of the giant fan in the spin studio, but the tight braid kept everything so locked in. You definitely need to try this if you hate the feeling of your hair whipping you in the face while you run on the treadmill.

Low sporty bun

If you are doing anything where you have to lay flat on a bench or a yoga mat, a low bun is literally the only valid answer. This is one of my absolute favorite gym hairstyles for weightlifting days. You don’t get that awkward painful bump on the back of your head when you are trying to do heavy bench presses. Plus it gives off major clean girl aesthetic vibes, even when you are dripping sweat and fighting for your life during your last set. I like to use a really thick scrunchie for this one so it looks a little bit more styled and less like a sad little knot at the base of my neck. Super easy and chic.

Double Dutch braids

Tell me these don’t make you feel like an absolute badass immediately. Double Dutch braids are basically indestructible once you get them tied tight enough at the roots. Honestly they are perfect basketball hairstyles because you can sprint and jump and literally get knocked around on the court and your hair won’t budge an inch. I played in an adult rec league last summer and my friend Sarah did my hair like this before every single game because I am terrible at braiding my own hair behind my head. We lost almost every time because we are completely uncoordinated, but hey, at least our hair looked incredible while we were losing. You just look so fierce with these on.

Secure boxer braids

Very similar to the Dutch braids but usually pulled even tighter to the scalp and braided all the way to the very thin ends. If you have a ton of annoying baby hairs or choppy layers that always slip out of regular styles, you seriously need to try this. It literally locks everything in place. I tried a boxing class a few months ago and did my hair like this and I instantly felt like a professional fighter. Even though my arms were totally dead after five minutes of punching, my hair stayed completely flawless. It is such a powerful look for when you need a little extra motivation to go hard.

High braided bun

This look is just so cute and bouncy and fun. You basically just do a high pony, braid the tail, and twist the whole thing around into a top knot bun. It stays put way better than a regular twisted bun because the braid adds so much texture and grip to the hair. It totally gives me nostalgia for those classic cheer hairstyles from high school when everyone had to have their hair perfectly slicked up so it wouldn’t move during a tumbling routine. We can obviously skip the massive sparkly bow for the gym, but the extreme hold is exactly what we need for heavy cardio days. It just looks so energetic and youthful.

Sweatproof slick back style

For the days when your hair is already greasy and you just need to get your workout done without washing it first. Just embrace the natural oil and slick it all straight back into a tight little knot. It takes five seconds and you instantly look like a supermodel heading to an exclusive pilates studio in LA. I swear by this on hair wash days. You literally just brush it back, add a tiny bit more serum if it needs it, and tie it tight. It is the ultimate low maintenance look but it reads as highly styled. So perfect for busy early mornings when you are rushing.

Practical mid ponytail

Sometimes you don’t want the tension headache of a super high pony, but a low one just feels way too casual for what you are doing. The mid ponytail is the absolute perfect happy medium. It is super practical and works for pretty much any activity you want to do. I usually throw on a cute velvet scrunchie to make it look a little bit more put together. It is literally foolproof and you can do it without even looking in a mirror. Just gather it all right in the middle of the back of your head and you are totally set for a good lifting session.

Active messy bun

Okay we all love a casual messy bun, but a true active messy bun requires a little bit of strategy so it doesn’t fall out immediately. You have to use a really strong hair tie and maybe throw in a few bobby pins to secure the heavy pieces so it doesn’t flop around. I think this is one of the most popular sports hairstyles for things like hot yoga or low impact mobility days. It is cute, it is casual, and it just works so well. I always make sure to pull a few tiny wispy pieces out around my face so I don’t look too severe from the front. It softens the whole look up.

Streamlined low braid

This is absolutely for my girls with super long hair who just need to contain the beast before a workout. A streamlined low braid is so incredibly elegant but actually super functional at the same time. It keeps your hair from tangling into massive unbrushable knots while you run outdoors. I swear my hair gets so wildly matted if I just leave it in a loose pony on a windy day, so braiding it down the back is a total lifesaver. You just gather it at the nape of your neck and do a simple three strand braid. Easy, pretty, and prevents so much damage.

Half-up training style

If you are just doing some light stretching or maybe going for a casual hot girl walk with a friend, a half-up style is so incredibly cute. It gets your front layers and bangs out of your eyes but you still get to show off your length in the back. I absolutely would not recommend this for a heavy HIIT class though, because the bottom half will end up totally glued to your sweaty neck. Trust me on this one. I made that exact mistake once in a super crowded bootcamp class and I was so miserable the entire time just peeling wet hair off my skin. Save this one for the low intensity days for sure.

Compact twisted bun

It is super sleek and takes barely any effort to achieve. I love doing this when I am doing upper body days because my hair is completely out of the way of the barbell and I don’t have to worry about anything getting caught.

Functional side braid

A side braid is just so sweet and gives off major outdoorsy vibes. You just sweep everything over to one shoulder and loosely braid it down. It is super functional and you look really cute if you stop to take pictures at the top of the trail. It keeps the hair off your neck but doesn’t interfere with your hat at all. Plus when you take it out later you have really pretty loose beachy waves.

Grip-friendly headband look

When absolutely all else fails, just throw a thick headband over whatever hair situation you have got going on. A grip-friendly headband completely saves those days when your baby hairs are just out of control and won’t lay flat. It absorbs so much sweat and keeps everything pushed securely back from your forehead. I literally own like ten of these now in every single color because they are so necessary for my sanity at the gym. It just instantly makes you look sporty and ready to work hard, even if you just rolled out of bed.