20 Dance Hairstyles for Every Style of Dance, From Ballet to Hip-Hop
I spent most of my childhood in a small dance studio above a bakery. Every Saturday, the smell of fresh bread drifted up the stairs while we practiced pliés and pirouettes. And every Saturday, my mother wrestled my thick hair into a ballet bun with about forty bobby pins and enough hairspray to hold a building together.
When I moved on to jazz and hip-hop as a teenager, I discovered something surprising: every style of dance has its own hair rules. Ballet demands sleek, tight buns. Hip-hop welcomes braids and personality. Ballroom loves sculpted, glossy shapes. Irish dance has its famous curls.
So I’ve organized these 20 dance hairstyles by style of dance. For each one, you’ll find what it stays put through, whether it’s competition-ready, and stories from my studio days and my niece’s recitals.
Why Dance Hair Has Rules
Dance hairstyles aren’t just about looks. They have important jobs:
- Safety: hair in your face can cause missteps, especially during turns and lifts.
- Clean lines: in styles like ballet, hair should never distract from the shape of the body.
- Uniformity: in group performances, matching hair creates a polished look.
- Partner safety: in ballroom and partner work, loose hair can get caught.
Ballet
Ballet hair is all about smooth, elegant lines.
1. The Classic High Ballet Bun
A smooth, tight bun at the crown of the head, secured with bun pins and a hairnet. It’s the most iconic dance hairstyle there is.
My mother perfected this bun over years of Saturday mornings. She used to say a good ballet bun should survive a hurricane.
Stays put through: pirouettes, jumps and quick changes
Competition-ready: yes
2. The Low Ballet Bun
A smooth bun placed at the nape of the neck, often used for classical and romantic ballet roles.
Stays put through: slow, graceful movements and partner work
Competition-ready: yes
3. The Ballet Bun With a Flower
A classic ballet bun decorated with a small flower or jeweled pin, often worn for performances.
Stays put through: full performances
Competition-ready: yes, if allowed by your studio
4. The French Twist
A smooth French twist at the back of the head, sometimes used as an alternative to a bun for certain roles or rehearsals.
Stays put through: rehearsals and slower choreography
Competition-ready: depends on your teacher’s requirements
Jazz and Contemporary
Jazz and contemporary dance allow a little more movement and personality.
5. The Sleek High Ponytail
A smooth, high ponytail that swings with every kick and turn. It’s energetic and perfect for jazz routines.
Stays put through: kicks, leaps and high-energy choreography
Competition-ready: yes
6. The Low Middle-Part Ponytail
A sleek, low ponytail with a crisp middle part, often used in contemporary dance for a clean, modern look.
Stays put through: floor work and turns
Competition-ready: yes
7. The Loose Low Bun With Tendrils
A soft, low bun with a few tendrils left around the face, perfect for lyrical and emotional routines.
My niece wore this for her first lyrical solo. She said the soft pieces around her face made her feel like the music.
Stays put through: flowing, emotional choreography
Competition-ready: yes, if secured well
Hip-Hop and Street Dance
Hip-hop celebrates personality, texture and style.
8. Box Braids in a High Ponytail
Box braids gathered into a high ponytail. They’re secure, stylish and swing beautifully during routines.
Stays put through: high-energy freestyle and choreography
Competition-ready: yes
9. Space Buns
Two high buns on top of the head. They’re playful, secure and perfect for hip-hop.
Stays put through: jumps, spins and floor work
Competition-ready: yes
10. Braids With a Bandana
Two Dutch braids with a bandana tied around the head. It’s bold, cool and full of attitude.
Stays put through: intense choreography
Competition-ready: yes
Ballroom and Latin
Ballroom and Latin styles favor glossy, sculpted and glamorous hair.
11. The Sculpted Ballroom Bun
A smooth, glossy bun at the crown or nape, sculpted with gel and decorated with rhinestones.
At a ballroom competition I attended with a friend, every dancer’s hair was so perfectly sculpted that it looked like polished glass.
Stays put through: fast spins and partner work
Competition-ready: yes
12. The Slicked High Latin Bun
A high, slicked-back bun with a flower or jeweled accent, perfect for the energy of Latin dances.
Stays put through: quick footwork and dramatic turns
Competition-ready: yes
13. Ballroom Finger Waves
Smooth, sculpted finger waves at the front of the hair, with the rest gathered into a bun.
Stays put through: elegant ballroom dances
Competition-ready: yes
Irish Dance
Irish dance is famous for its curls.
14. The Curly Competition Wig
Many competitive Irish dancers wear curly wigs or bun wigs, attached over their own hair, for a full, uniform look.
Stays put through: fast, intricate footwork
Competition-ready: yes
15. Natural Ringlet Curls
Natural ringlets created by setting hair in rags, rollers or sponge curlers overnight. It’s a traditional Irish dance look.
A friend who grew up doing Irish dance told me her mom used to set her curls in rags every Friday night before a competition.
Stays put through: full performances
Competition-ready: yes
Tap and Musical Theater
These styles often follow the theme of the performance.
16. Victory Rolls for 1940s Routines
Victory rolls pinned at the front of the head, perfect for swing, tap and 1940s-inspired musical numbers.
Stays put through: energetic tap routines
Competition-ready: yes
17. Microphone-Friendly Half-Up Curls
Soft curls with the top half pinned back, leaving room for a headset microphone along the ear or hairline.
Stays put through: singing and dancing at the same time
Competition-ready: yes, for musical theater
Cheer and Pom
Cheer and pom hairstyles are bold, bouncy and team-coordinated.
18. The Curled High Cheer Ponytail With a Bow
A high, curled ponytail with a big bow. It’s the classic cheerleading look.
My niece’s cheer team spent the morning of every competition curling each other’s ponytails in the locker room. She said it was one of her favorite traditions.
Stays put through: jumps, stunts and tumbling
Competition-ready: yes
19. The Teased Half-Up With a Bow
Teased volume at the crown with the top half pulled back and a bow at the back of the head.
Stays put through: pom routines and sideline cheers
Competition-ready: yes
Commercial and K-Pop
Commercial and K-pop-inspired dance styles often combine polish and movement.
20. The Sleek Half-Up With Face-Framing Pieces
The top half pulled back sleekly, with soft face-framing pieces left out. It looks great on camera and in performances.
Stays put through: sharp, synchronized choreography
Competition-ready: yes
The Dancer’s Hair Toolkit
Every dancer should keep these in their dance bag:
- Bun pins and bobby pins in a color that matches your hair
- Hairnets for buns
- Elastics without metal pieces
- Strong-hold gel for sleek styles
- Firm-hold hairspray
- A comb and brush
- A small mirror
Recital and Competition Day Timeline
- The night before: wash your hair if needed, and set curls or prepare your hair.
- The morning of: style your hair before putting on makeup or costumes.
- Before warm-ups: secure your hair and check that nothing is loose.
- Between routines: re-pin any loose sections and refresh with hairspray.
Headset Microphones and Hair
In musical theater, dancers often wear headset microphones. To keep them secure:
- Keep hair smooth along the side of the head where the microphone sits.
- Secure the microphone wire with bobby pins.
- Avoid heavy accessories near the ear.
Short Hair and Dance
If you have short hair, try:
- Sleek gel styles to keep hair in place.
- Headbands to keep hair out of your face.
- Small clips to pin back shorter pieces.
- Bun hairpieces or wigs, if your dance style requires a bun.
Protecting Your Hair as a Dancer
Wearing tight buns and ponytails every day can stress your hair:
- Wear your hair loose when you’re not dancing.
- Change the position of your bun when possible.
- Use gentle elastics.
- Deep condition regularly, especially if you use lots of gel and hairspray.
Final Thoughts
Every style of dance has its own hairstyle language, from the elegant ballet bun to hip-hop braids, glossy ballroom buns and bouncy cheer ponytails. Choosing the right hairstyle keeps you safe, polished and confident on stage.
Find your dance style, practice your hairstyle before the big day, and pack your dance bag with everything you need.
What style of dance do you love most? Let me know in the comments below.
