All Star Cheerleading is a sport known for its high energy, athletic routines, and eye-catching performances. Over the years, as the sport has evolved, so has the importance placed on appearance, including the style of hair worn during competitions. The history of competition hair in All Star Cheerleading reflects both the sport’s growing professionalism and changes in fashion trends.
Early Days of All Star Cheerleading (1980s-1990s)
All Star Cheerleading began to take shape in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In these early years, the focus was primarily on the stunts, tumbling, and choreography. While teams still cared about their appearance, hair and makeup were not yet a major part of the sport. Athletes often wore their hair in simple ponytails with a ribbon or bow. These early styles were functional and meant to keep hair out of the athletes’ faces while performing.
As cheerleading competitions became more common and teams were being judged on presentation in addition to skill, teams started putting more thought into their appearance. By the late 1990s, bigger, bolder hairdos were starting to make an appearance, especially at larger competitions.
The Big Hair Era (2000s)
By the early 2000s, “big hair” became a signature look in All Star Cheerleading. Athletes began to style their hair in high ponytails with a lot of volume, often teased or curled to create a fuller, more dramatic look. The idea was to create a style that would stand out under the bright lights of competition stages, giving the team a polished and professional look.
The use of teasing combs, curling irons, and hair spray became essential tools for creating these big hairstyles. Some athletes would spend hours perfecting their competition hair, teasing and curling every section of their hair to achieve the right amount of volume. To keep the style in place through jumps, flips, and stunts, athletes would use large amounts of hairspray. The iconic high ponytail with tight, springy curls became a standard in the sport. This look helped distinguish All Star cheerleading from traditional school cheerleading, giving it a unique, flashy image.
Another signature feature during this era was the oversized cheer bow. These large, colorful bows often matched the team’s uniform and added an extra element of fun and personality to the hairstyle. The cheer bow became a central part of the competition hair look and was used as a way to bring the whole team together with a coordinated appearance.
Evolution of Hair in the 2010s
As the sport continued to evolve, the styles of competition hair began to change as well. The early 2010s saw the continuation of the big, curly ponytail trend, but gradually, simpler and more natural styles started gaining popularity. Athletes and coaches began to move away from heavily teased and sprayed styles, opting for sleeker, cleaner looks.
The high, curled ponytail was still widely used, but the curls became looser and the amount of teasing was reduced. Some teams began experimenting with straighter ponytails, braids, and even buns. The focus was still on having a uniform look for the team, but the hairstyles became less extreme. The oversized cheer bow remained popular, though its size gradually decreased in some cases as trends shifted toward more subtle looks.
Modern-Day Competition Hair (2020s)
In recent years, competition hair in All Star Cheerleading has moved even further towards a natural, more polished look. Many teams now favor sleek, straightened ponytails or looser waves, with minimal teasing. The emphasis is on having a clean, professional appearance that complements the athleticism of the routine, rather than distracting from it.
Athletes today still use bows, though they tend to be smaller than in previous decades. Hair products like gel and hairspray are still essential, but the overall approach is much less about creating a big, flashy style and more about keeping hair neat and out of the way during performances.
The history of competition hair in All Star Cheerleading reflects the sport’s development from a grassroots activity into a highly professional, competitive sport. As the sport has grown, so has the attention to detail in every aspect of a team’s appearance, including their hair. While trends have shifted from big, bold hairstyles to more natural, sleek looks, the goal remains the same: to present a unified, polished image that allows the athleticism of the performance to shine.
