5 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Who Broke Tradition with Their Hairstyles
5 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Who Broke Tradition with Their Hairstyles
Emily BlackwoodSun, June 28, 2026 at 9:30 AM UTC
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Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Faith Ward performs on August 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Armani Latimer.Credit: Sam Hodde/Getty; Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders/Instagram -
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' signature hairstyle has long been loose, voluminous hair worn down, even during performances
Some cheerleaders, like Kally Bethea and Faith Ward, have broken tradition to embrace their individuality
Armani Latimer changed up her look to raise awareness for people with alopecia
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders hairstyle is almost as iconic as their blue-and-white uniforms.
For decades, squad members have been required to wear their hair down "in a current style" that complements their features and doesn't hide their faces, per the official rules. A third-year veteran named Melissa told PEOPLE in 2016 that it's often a huge switch-up for girls who were used to performing with their manes pulled back.
“We not only have our hair styled and down the entire game, but our dances almost always have some form of ‘hairography,' " she explained.
Though that "current style" has typically meant big, voluminous hair worn down, a handful of DCC standouts have put their own spin on the team's signature look.
Read on to see which Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have broken the team's hairstyle traditions.
Armani Latimer
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Armani Latimer dances without her wig.Credit: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders/Instagram
In December 2024, Armani Latimer performed without a wig during a Dallas Cowboys game to raise awareness for alopecia.
She opened up about the autoimmune condition — with which she was diagnosed at age 12 — during season 2 of Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
"I didn't want to just be the cheerleader who didn't have hair," Latimer told Women's Healthafter that iconic game, sharing that she lost all of her hair during her time with DCC. "Now that I'm more vocal about my condition, I know that alopecia doesn't define me—it just adds character to who I am."
Faith Ward
Faith WardCredit: Faith Ward/Instagram
Given how synonymous loose, voluminous hair is with the DCC brand, fans were shocked when a July 2025 training camp Instagram post showed rookie Faith Ward wearing a ponytail.
"It's crazy because obviously the DCC hairstyle is out, fluffy, voluminous, luscious, long locks," she told ABC Perth at the time. "I've broken that stereotype."
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And she did so at the request of DCC director Kelli Finglass, who reportedly asked to see Ward's hair up during rehearsals and "liked the way it danced." Ward continued to perform with her ponytail throughout the 2025-2026 season, per her Instagram.
Ava Lahey
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Ava Lahey performs on February 04, 2025, in Frisco, TexasCredit: Sam Hodde/Getty
Curls are not a requirement in the DCC, but they are commonplace. So much so that when Ava Lahey danced onto the field with straight hair, fans immediately had questions.
"The number one question I get asked as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader is 'Why do I get to wear my hair straight?' " the America's Sweethearts star said in a July 2025 Instagram Reel. In the clip, she shared that her "soft and fine" hair would never hold curls, and when she made it to training camp for the second time, she decided to wear it straight "right off the bat."
"Fast forward to makeovers again, they said they loved it straight, sleek and blonde, and I was so happy!" Lahey added. "It just feels so me. And now, it's my signature look."
Kally Bethea
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Kally Bethea performs on November 23, 2023, in Arlington, TexasCredit: Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty
When Bethea joined the DCC in 2022, she did so with the intention of being the "representation of natural hair on the team." She told NaturallyCurl that her 4C hair was "welcomed" even though it wasn't common.
"Everyone admired my hair texture," Bethea said, via BeautyCon. "There were some conversations. But, I always led with a kind heart and education. People would say, 'At least you didn't have to do your hair today.' I would always say, 'That's really funny. But actually, I spent six hours doing my hair a few days ago, and it just lasted a few days.' "
Tami Barber
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Tami Barber on November 10, 1979Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Long before sleek ponytails made headlines, Tami Barber became known as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader with pigtails.
After making the squad in 1977, she began wearing the hairstyle during practice to keep her neck cool. Team officials ultimately asked her to keep the look on the field as well, according to Vogue.
Decades after becoming known for her signature pigtails, Barber was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 and shaved her head while undergoing chemotherapy. Looking back on the experience, she told Texas Monthly, “We aren't our hair. And I'm speaking as someone who was nothing but her hair.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
