Why Do Softball Players Have Long Hair? (3 Great Reasons)

In the modern-day, dozens if not hundreds different hairstyles anywhere between baldness and very long hair. When watching a softball game, it is surprising to see that so many players have very long hair instead of many different hairstyles, even though there are those as well. Why is that?

Softball players have long hair because it doesen’t get in the way, and they get to be feminine without affecting performance. Longer hair is easier to maintain and keep in a ponytail compared to a shoulder-length or shorter. Also, women tend to have long hair altogether.

As you might suspect, there are more than one reasons why softball players have long hair. To get to the core for each reason, we need to take a closer examination of them. Scroll down with me, and I’ll explain everything.

Why Do Softball Players Have Long Hair?

In essence, there are three main reasons to have long hair in softball. Let’s start with the most surprising one.

1. Temperature control

Believe it or not, longer hair is cooler than shorter in softball. Now, I’m talking about an averagely short and long hair for women, not a 3mm cut.

Think about it, when you keep your shoulder height or shorter hair loose inside of a cap or a helmet, they are more loose and free so that the temperature remains better within there. Also, they will become more sweaty and steamy.

However, when you have a tight ponytail or long braids that won’t fly around freely, it suddenly gets more airflow, which results in cooler feelings on the head.

2. Easy maitenance

Long hair is easier to maintain than shorter hair. When you can do a long ponytail or, even better, tight braids that go long alongside your back, it doesen’t bother you at all.

However, when you have those shoulder-length hair roaming freely, they will get to your face, and it can feel that you need to adjust them constantly.

Think about softball as a sport; there isn’t that much running or other sudden movements like soccer, so your hair won’t get that much in the way, especially when it is longer.

3. Long hair is feminine

Last but not least, femininity. According to Zippia, 85% of softball players are women, so femininity is also a big part of the sport and the women’s and girls’ lives.

Feeling pretty both on and outside of the field is among the most important things, and long hair is just that, feminine. I’m not saying that women can be feminine with short hair as they most certainly can, but most women feel at their most feminine and beautiful when having long and dashing hair.

Finally, softball is a woman-dominant sport, and what do women often have? Long hair!

There are so many long hairstyles that women can have, so how do softball players choose to wear them?

How Do Softball Players Wear Their Hair?

There are so many styles of long hair that a woman can have, so how do softball players choose to wear them?

Ponytails and braids are by far the most common hairstyles among softball players. Ponytail is fast and easy to do, and braids are heavier, keeping them out of the face better. Braids also require more hair, making the head and scalp cooler and more exposed to airflow.

Take a closer look at these two hairstyles.

1. Ponytail

Ponytails are a fast and easy choice, which is why most softball players use this hairstyle for practice. Ponytails are super easy to do, and it takes seconds to do. All you need is a hair tie, and you are good to go.

Ponytails are also thin and simple so that they will go easily through a cap, visor, or even a ponytail headband.

2. Braids

On the other hand, Braids are more complex and more time-consuming; however, they are more dashing, so they are perfect for gamedays. The most common braid types are Dutch and French braids, as they are quite simple to make.

In addition, they are the better choice in terms of performance and comfort.

Braids are heavier, so they won’t come to your face as easily when you start and stop your move quickly. Also, they aren’t eas easily tangled to your helmet or where ever.

All in all, ponytails are often used at practice, and braids are used on game day.

Why Do Softball Players Wear Flowers In Their Hair?

You might have noticed that the university softball team Florida Gators wears yellow flowers in their hair. That’s odd as no other team does the same thing. Well, there is a good explanation for that.

The Florida Gators softball players wear flowers in their heads because of Heather Braswell, a teenager that passed away in 2014 for brain cancer. Heather was paired with the softball team by The Friends Of Jackelyn, a nonprofit organization set to improve the life quality of children with cancers.

To learn more about why softball players wear flowers on their heads and the touching story and history behind it, check out my article about it!