How Do Footballer’s Hair Stay In Place? – Deep Dive

Football players’ hairstyles have long been a source of debate in the modern era of the game. David Beckham is an excellent example of this. His frequent hairstyle changes drew a lot of media attention both inside and outside of the game.

Footballers’ hair was not always so scrutinized prior to the Premier League. Players didn’t usually style their hair before games, and most haircuts were standard and representative of men’s fashion.

how often do footballers get a haircut?

Footballers are now so concerned with their hair that they usually schedule haircuts right before a game. According to a hairdresser who cuts the hair of some of the game’s biggest stars, he is usually booked in for the night before a game.

In fact, Dortmund players Jadon Sancho and Manuel Akanji broke Covid-19 lockdown rules in order to get a new haircut before a Bundesliga match.

You’d think footballers’ hair would be a matted mess by the end of 90 minutes of elite football, but their hair is usually flawless and exactly the same as it was at the start of the game. So, how do they keep it looking stylish? We’ll show you how!

How Footballer’s Hair Stays in Place

To keep their hair in place, football players typically use pomade, gel, or wax. Players would most likely use designer-branded, high-priced hair gel. This gives them a natural appearance that can hold shape even during a football game.

hair accessories:

However, for longer hairstyles, players frequently use hairbands, which must be quite strong to avoid snapping halfway through. In addition, there are game rules that prohibit football players from wearing certain accessories. It is forbidden to use anything hard or sharp in the hair.

It is also forbidden to wear any hair accessory that can improve or aid in heading the ball. We’re not sure what accessory would be useful for a heading.

However, hard and sharp accessories such as plastic or metal hair clips and hard hair bands are not permitted. Soft elastic hair bands or headbands are options for men and women footballers with long hair.

Types of Hairstyles: 

Short Hair

The majority of football players have short hair. Whether it’s completely shaved or faded on the sides with a bit more on top. Gini Wijnaldum, Kylian Mbappe, Eden Hazard, and Sergio Ramos are examples of these players.

These players are unlikely to require much product in their hair, but those with a bit more on top. They would most likely use a small amount of hair gel or wax to achieve the desired styled look that would last throughout the game.

Slicked Back

Many players combine a faded haircut with a slicked-back top. Players with this haircut include Olivier Giroud, Jack Grealish, Dani Ceballos, and, on occasion, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Megan Rapinoe wears this look in the women’s game with a short, quiff-style haircut on top. The slicked-back look requires more effort, especially when wanting it to hold shape throughout the game.

These players have used hair bands to keep their hair in place at times. However, they have also been seen without their hair. This would most likely necessitate blow-drying the hair before applying a heavy hold pomade or wax to keep it slicked back. Different hair products can produce a variety of looks.

Dani Ceballos, for example, prefers a more shiny, slick look, whereas Olivier Giroud and Megan Rapinoe prefer a dryer, more natural look.

Long Hair

Long hair is also common among players in both men’s and women’s games. It’s unusual to see these players without some kind of hair accessory to keep their hair under control; otherwise, it becomes a distraction and a disadvantage to the player.

Some players, such as Andy Carroll, US women’s player Alex Morgan, and the retired England goalkeeper David Seaman, tie their hair in a long ponytail.

long hair bun:

This keeps hair out of the way, but at a certain length, it can still flutter around and distract players. Other players with long or slightly shorter hair prefer a tighter bun on top of the head.

Gareth Bale, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lloris Karius are examples of these players. These players tie their hair at the top of their heads with elastic hair bands to keep it in place.

The’man-bun’ became a popular haircut in recent years, with many players sporting it. It is frequently combined with the trendy fade haircut, in which the sides are shaved while the hair on top remains long and tied up.

Women Footballer’s Hairstyles

The women’s game has a unique hairstyle in that most players have long hair. Pre-wrapped headbands are one example. Pre-wrap is a thin, foam-like material used as a barrier between the skin and athletic tape by trainers and physical therapists.

Its slightly tacky texture allows it to double as a no-slip headband, as demonstrated by several players during the World Cup. It can be worn as a thick wrap or rolled up into a thin band. Colors are frequently used in accordance with the team’s colors, but they can also be personalized.

Many female football players sport braids. Braids have been seen in the men’s game, but they are more uncommon. A braid is when the hair is tightly tied and intertwined, resulting in one or two long braided ponytails.

This keeps your hair out of your way and is less irritating and flicky than long ponytails. It is an excellent option for players with extremely long hair.

How Important have Hairstyles become in Football?

Players’ personalities are more visible on the field these days, as evidenced by how they build their own brands and image outside of the game for commercial opportunities.

Hairstyles are one way players do this, and one example is Paul Pogba, who frequently wears new hairstyles on the field, including leopard prints, stars, and even the word ‘Pogboom’ shaved into the side of his head.

However, Pogba is not the only player whose hair draws attention, and it is common for players to style their hair right before running out onto the field.

Iconic Footballer Hairstyles 

Football has seen some bizarre and wonderful hairstyles over the years. Some footballers have had haircuts that are so distinctive that they are known for that style, and they may even be credited with inventing and popularizing certain hairstyles.

Ronaldo (O Fenomeno)

The original Brazilian Ronaldo is one of the best examples. Ronaldo is, without a doubt, one of the greatest players of all time. He was a lethal and clinical striker who could make defenders look foolish with his lightning pace and stepovers.

Many would argue that the defenders he left behind were only slightly more foolish than Ronaldo’s own hair. He was famous for having a small, almost round patch of hair in the front of his head, but the rest of his head was completely shaved.

It wasn’t a popular style, and no one has imitated it since, but it’s fair to say that Ronaldo’s talent compensated for his lack of fashion sense.

Rodrigo Palacio

Another player with an unusual haircut was Rodrigo Palacio. Palacio appears to have a regular short, shaved look from the front, but from the back, you can see his off-center rat tail that hangs down his back.

Perhaps inspired by Ewan McGregor and the Star Wars Padawan look that Jedi in training wore before being sworn in as a Knight? In any case, the Argentine striker got to play with Messi.

Roberto Baggio

“The divine ponytail “was a nickname given to Roberto Baggio. He had curly hair that was cut short on top but left long in the back, which he tied up in a long ponytail. Essentially, it was a curly mullet hairstyle tied in a ponytail.

There may have been more people calling it a ridiculous style on many other players, but Baggio was one of the best and classiest players to ever play the game, so the iconic style became celebrated and loved to look at, and in fairness, he probably pulled it off.

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe, as previously stated, is currently sporting a short quiff, but she also experiments with various styles and colors. Rapinoe is one of the most outgoing and eccentric players in the women’s game, and her hairstyles have ranged from bleached, spiky hair to bright pink and purple hair.

Conclusion

Overall, footballers’ hair is an important part of their image in today’s game. Some players are more concerned than others, but more and more players are styling their hair before games, and they frequently appear to have just walked onto the pitch straight from the hair salon.

Players have access to some of the best barbers and products, allowing them to maintain their desired image throughout the 90-minute game, and with increased media attention and TV cameras everywhere, you can’t blame them for being slightly more vain than in previous years!

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