20 Male Athlete Hairstyles Worth Copying (Barber’s Take on Each One)

Every week, someone sits in my chair and pulls out a photo of an athlete’s haircut. Ronaldo, Curry, Beckham — the names rotate but the request is the same: make it work on me. After 20 years doing exactly that, I’ve learned which athlete cuts translate well to regular hair, which ones only work if you have a professional styling team, and — most importantly — exactly what to tell your barber to get each one right. Here are 20 worth copying.

Why Athletes Choose These Winning Styles

Athletes need hairstyles that perform under pressure—literally. Whether it’s sweat resistance during a 90-minute match or helmet compatibility in the NFL, these styles combine practicality with star power. The best athletic hairstyles offer quick styling routines for early training sessions while maintaining camera-ready appeal for post-game interviews.

Cristiano Ronaldo – The Slicked Back Perfection

CR7’s slicked back undercut defines modern football elegance. Maintained with grade 1-2 sides and 3-4 inches on top, styled with strong-hold pomade for that wet-look finish. The style survives 90-minute matches while maintaining its sharp silhouette.

David Beckham – Textured Quiff Evolution

Beckham’s textured quiff evolved from his early blonde spikes to sophisticated volume. Requires 4-5 inches on top, styled with matte clay for natural movement. His influence made this the most requested footballer style of the 2010s.

Neymar Jr. – Bleached Mohawk Statement

Neymar’s platinum mohawk became his World Cup signature. Features skin-faded sides with 5-6 inch bleached strip down the center. Requires professional bleaching every 3-4 weeks and daily styling with texture paste.

Odell Beckham Jr. – Blonde Dreads Icon

OBJ’s blonde-tipped locs revolutionized NFL style. Takes 12-18 months to grow, with selective bleaching creating the iconic two-tone effect. Maintained with weekly retwisting and protective styling for helmet wear.

Tom Brady – Classic Side Part

Brady keeps it timelessly professional with his side part and medium fade. Cut to 3 inches on top, styled with light pomade for natural shine. This boardroom-ready style proves less can be more.

LeBron James – Clean Fade Maintenance

LeBron’s precise line work and fade demonstrate mastery of maintenance. Features a crisp hairline with grade 0.5 fade, requiring twice-weekly touch-ups. His barber’s attention to detail sets the NBA standard.

Sergio Ramos – Long Flow Style

Ramos rocks shoulder-length layers with natural wave. Grown over 18-24 months, styled with sea salt spray for texture. The look requires monthly trims to maintain shape while preserving length.

Paul Pogba – Creative Color Changes

Pogba treats his hair as artistic canvas, featuring leopard prints to rainbow streaks. Base style is a high-top fade with 4-5 inches up top. Professional coloring required for his signature transformations.

Patrick Mahomes – Curly Mohawk Signature

Mahomes’ natural curly mohawk celebrates texture. Features tapered sides with 5-6 inch curly strip.

Styled with curl-defining cream and diffuser drying. The helmet-friendly style became his trademark.

Travis Kelce – Fade With Textured Top

Kelce’s high fade with textured crop balances edge with elegance. Features skin fade to 2-3 inches of textured length on top. Styled with matte fiber for piece-y definition that photographs perfectly.

Lionel Messi – Platinum Blonde Phase

Messi’s 2016 platinum transformation shocked football. The bleached quiff with faded sides required professional maintenance every 2-3 weeks. Though temporary, it inspired countless copycats worldwide.

Marco Reus – Undercut Perfection

Reus maintains the textbook undercut with disconnected sides and 4-inch swept-back top. Styled with medium-hold cream for natural movement. His consistency made this style synonymous with Bundesliga sophistication.

Antoine Griezmann – French Crop Style

Griezmann’s textured French crop offers Euro elegance. Features short, textured fringe with mid-fade sides. Styled forward with matte clay, this low-maintenance cut suits his dynamic playing style.

Gareth Bale – Man Bun Power

Bale’s samurai-inspired bun solved his hair-while-playing dilemma. Grown to 8-10 inches, tied high for matches. The style sparked the athlete man-bun trend, proving long hair works in professional sports.

Russell Wilson – Waves And Taper

Wilson’s 360 waves with taper fade showcases texture mastery. Achieved through dedicated brushing routines and durag compression. The precise fade work frames his wave pattern perfectly.

Jimmy Butler – Twisted Locks

Butler’s twisted locs bring personality courtside. Takes 6-12 months to establish, maintained with regular retwisting. Often styled in high ponytail for games, demonstrating versatility.

Aaron Rodgers – Grown Out Flow

Rodgers’ relaxed flow channels California cool. Grown to collar length with natural layers, styled with light cream for effortless movement. The low-maintenance approach fits his laid-back persona.

Kylian Mbappé – Buzz Cut Speed

Mbappé keeps it aerodynamic with his grade 1-2 buzz and sharp line-up. The minimalist approach requires weekly edge-ups but zero daily styling. Perfect for his lightning-fast playing style.

Stephen Curry – Low Fade Classic

Curry’s low fade with waves defines NBA elegance. Features gradual fade from 0.5 to 2, with maintained wave pattern on top. His barber’s precision work makes this look effortlessly professional.

Zlatan Ibrahimović – Samurai Top Knot

Zlatan’s warrior knot matches his larger-than-life persona. Grown to 10-12 inches, tied high with shaved sides. The bold contrast between lengths creates an unmistakable silhouette that commands attention.

How To Get These Athletic Styles

Start by identifying your hair type and lifestyle needs. For active routines, prioritize styles that survive sweat and movement—fades, buzz cuts, and secured longer styles work best. Request specific fade heights (low starts at temple, mid at eye level, high above that) and bring reference photos.

For textured styles, invest in quality products: strong-hold pomade for slick looks, matte clay for natural texture, and sea salt spray for beachy waves. Maintenance varies from weekly edge-ups for fades to monthly trims for longer styles. Consider your sport’s requirements—helmet compatibility for football, sweatband fit for basketball, and aerodynamics for runners.

How to Ask Your Barber for an Athlete’s Haircut

The most common mistake I see is clients walking in saying “I want Ronaldo’s hair” with no photo and no idea of their own hair type. Athletes have professional stylists, specific products, and often hair extensions — what lands in your chair is different. Here’s how to bridge that gap.

Bring a photo, not a name. Even within the same athlete’s career, styles change dramatically. Ronaldo in 2010 and Ronaldo in 2026 are two very different cuts. A recent photo removes all ambiguity.

Know your texture first. Mahomes’ curly mohawk works because of his natural curl pattern. If your hair is straight or fine, the finished product will look different — and your barber needs to adapt the technique. Don’t fight your hair type; adapt the style to suit it.

Ask about maintenance before you commit. Neymar’s bleached mohawk requires professional bleaching every 3–4 weeks and daily product work. Brady’s side part takes 5 minutes in the morning. Know which one fits your routine before leaving the chair with the wrong cut for your lifestyle.

For more on what to avoid at the barber, this guide to common haircut mistakes men make covers the full picture.

Best Athlete Hairstyles by Sport

Not every cut works for every sport. The demands are different — what holds up in a swimming pool doesn’t suit an NBA player’s rotation, and what works under a football helmet looks different on a basketball court. Here’s how to match the style to the sport.

Football and rugby: Short sides with minimal top length are best. Cuts must fit under a helmet without bunching or creating pressure points. Buzz cuts, tight fades, and very short crops are the standard. OBJ’s locs work because they compress; most longer styles don’t.

Soccer: The most style-flexible sport on this list. Games run 90 minutes but no helmets, so players like Ronaldo, Neymar, and Griezmann can carry longer styles with product that holds through full match conditions. For a deeper breakdown, the soccer player haircut guide covers the most popular cuts in the game.

Basketball: Short fades dominate — LeBron’s precision lineups, Curry’s clean low fade. Length on top is workable but has to sit close to the head during play. Headbands handle flyaways at the professional level; for most men, a tight fade is the easier answer.

Swimming and water sports: Very short or shaved styles are the practical choice. Chlorine destroys product and bleached hair, so athletes like competitive swimmers default to buzz cuts or shaved heads. If you want length, a swim cap is the only realistic solution.

Baseball: The sport with the widest range of styles. From short crew cuts to longer flowing hair worn under caps, anything works as long as it fits the helmet. The baseball haircut guide covers the most common styles worn at the professional level.

FAQs: Athlete Hairstyles

Which athlete hairstyles work for active lifestyles?

The most practical athletic styles include fades, buzz cuts, and secured longer hair. Short styles like Mbappé’s buzz or Brady’s side part require minimal maintenance and stay put during activity.

For longer hair, Bale’s man bun and Butler’s locs can be tied back securely. The key is choosing styles that won’t obstruct vision or require constant adjustment. Textured crops and French crops offer a perfect middle ground—stylish but practical, staying in place with minimal product.

How do athletes maintain their hair during games?

Athletes use heavy-duty products and strategic styling to maintain their looks during competition. Pre-game preparation includes stronger hold products—pomades with humidity resistance, extra-strength gels, and setting sprays. Many use headbands or durags during warm-ups to set their style.

During games, quick towel pats preserve the shape without full restyling. Post-game, most athletes have travel kits with dry shampoo, quick-styling products, and combs for media appearances. The secret is starting with a well-cut, properly maintained base that looks good even when slightly disheveled.

What products do athletes use for hold?

Professional athletes rely on industrial-strength styling products designed for extreme conditions. Water-resistant pomades like Layrite Super Hold or Suavecito Firme Hold are locker room staples. For matte finishes, Hanz de Fuko Claymation and American Crew Fiber provide all-day hold without shine.

Basketball players often use Murray’s Edge Wax for precise line work, while footballers prefer Got2b Glued spray for helmet-proof hold. The key is layering: pre-styler for protection, main product for hold, and finishing spray for lock-in. Most athletes avoid heavy oils or creams that break down with sweat.

What haircut do most athletes get?

The buzz cut and low fade are by far the most common choices. Both hold up during activity, work under helmets, and look sharp without product maintenance during the game. Mid and skin fades are popular in basketball and soccer where longer styles are more practical. What most athletes avoid is anything that requires restyling between warm-up and post-game media.

What is the best hairstyle for sports?

For performance, the buzz cut is unbeatable — nothing to manage, nothing to get in the way, and it stays sharp regardless of sweat or weather. For men who want a styled look that still performs, a low or mid fade with minimal length on top is the practical sweet spot. Avoid styles that require product with strong shine — sweat breaks them down fast and they end up looking worse than they started.

How do athletes keep their hair out of their face?

Headbands are the most common solution, particularly in basketball. Sweatbands double as functional and style choices for players like LeBron. Soccer players use elastic bands or simply cut short enough that length isn’t a factor. For lo

nger styles like Bale’s man bun or Butler’s locs, tying hair back before play is standard. Strong-hold gel or pomade applied pre-game also helps flat styles stay flat through 90-plus minutes of movement.