There’s plenty of hair inspiration to be drawn from the sports world. And between the build up to the 2024 Olympics and the current obsession with all things tennis-related, we’re diving into photos of past players for our next hairstyle obsession. Former tennis pro Anna Kournikova’s iconic braid – a firm fixture on tennis courts nearly 20 years ago – is having a comeback.
Photo: Jason Squires
The Russian tennis star, who took the tennis world by storm in the late ’90s and early noughties, regularly played with a roughly plaited braid in her sunshine-blonde hair. Often paired with a visor and just the right amount of texture, Kournikova’s signature braid was both functional and chic.
So chic, that hairdressers predict it will be one of this summer’s hottest trends. “A braid like this is quite minimal and doesn’t feel too contrived, but gives your hair a point of view,” says Luke Hersheson. “The slicked-back look feels summery, works on pretty much everyone and is an easy look to achieve.”
Zendaya – and her hairstylist Ursula Stephen – tried the look at the Challengers London premiere. A slicked-back pony secured high at the crown of the head, the actress’s mega-long braid was secured with a sporty white bow at the base. A woven hairstyle like this works especially well when there are different colors in the hair as they add dimension and detail, and ultimately make the braid pop.
Another celebrity who’s taken to the trend with a Kournikova braid recently is Gabrielle Union, who stepped out in New York with a similarly long but somewhat neater take on the style.
So how do you create the look? “The first thing you need to do is scrape the hair back into a ponytail – use loads of our Almost Everything Cream because you want the hair to be borderline wet looking, and nice and clean,” says Hersheson. “Try using a toothbrush to neaten and smooth any baby hairs at the front of the hairline.” Make sure to secure the hair as high on the head as possible.
If your hair isn’t naturally long or thick, the best thing to do, says Hersheson, is to purchase a ponytail piece. “They come with an elastic base, which you wrap over the ponytail and secure. You can then simply do a braid all the way down,” he says, adding that it’s best to opt for a color that’s slightly darker than your actual hair, to make it seem more natural. “Then you can disguise the base of the ponytail by using a bit of fabric, or a hair tie, like Zendaya’s hairstylist did with ribbon.”
Wherever you’re headed this summer, the Kournikova braid checks pretty much every box, so it’s time to get familiar.
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