Beyond the Ponytail

Sports Bun

Built to survive a match.

By Martin, the dad behind Dad Hair Hero. The steps are the ones in the app.

Full steps in the free app, in Beyond the Ponytail.

Sports Bun, the finished style: back view

Time: About 8 minutes
Steps: 7
Level: Takes some practice
Hair type: Every hair type
Ages: Young children to pre-teens
Hair length: Hair that touches her shoulders, or longer

You'll need wide-tooth comb, detangling brush, snag-free hair elastic, bobby pin, detangler spray, fine-mist water bottle. For curly and coily hair, also leave-in conditioner.

A high bun built to stay secure through a full match, using a double-anchored base, tight rope-winding, and perimeter pins.

Sports Bun, the finished style, curly hair: back view — The same style on curly hair.

Her job

She keeps her water bottle capped and ready for after.

What the steps cover

Detangle first
Gather to the back of her head
Secure firmly
Twist the ponytail into a tight rope
Wind the rope around the base
Secure with a second elastic at the base
Pin the perimeter

The full steps, with a picture for each and what to check before you move on, are in the app, in Beyond the Ponytail, with the curly and coily method where it differs.

Full steps in the app

Beyond the Ponytail is an optional one-time pack of twelve styles in the Dad Hair Hero app. You pay once and they are yours to keep. There is no subscription, and you can see every style in the pack before you decide. Once it is yours, the app does four things this page cannot:

Her hair, not hair in general. Choose Straight, Wavy, Thick, Curly or Coily under "her hair today" and the steps and pictures change to the method for her hair.
A check before every step. Each step ends with what it should look and feel like, so you know it is right before you move on.
Fix It, mid-style. When something is not right, "Something's not right" opens the fix for it without leaving the step.
The diary. Add a photo and a note when you finish, and see what you have done and what to try next.

Free, with six everyday styles and all eight techniques. No account, no ads, no tracking.