TIY Hair Bands: the Unexpected Must-Have Accessory at the 2025 NCAA volleyball Tournament
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A revolutionary hair tie designed by a college coach has become the hottest accessory at the 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball tournament, eclipsing even specialized athletic gear.
The unexpected trendsetter is TIY, an acronym for “tie it yourself,” a hair band created by Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott.Elliott, 57, developed the bands after observing his players frequently interrupting practice to adjust uncomfortable or ineffective hair ties.
The innovative design features a 3-foot strand of elastic covered in a neon-colored fabric sheath,offering both a strong and gentle hold. Unlike conventional hair ties, TIY bands can be tied and looped to accommodate any hairstyle or hair texture. “Until I got to college and started using TIYs, it was definitely a struggle to find a good hair tie to use consistently,” a Pittsburgh junior told ESPN.
From Frustration to Innovation: The birth of TIY
Elliott’s entrepreneurial spirit sparked the idea back in 2013. Describing himself as “very entrepreneurial” with a “wild brain,” he invested $80 in various hair ties available on the market. He quickly discovered that “one-size-fits-all” options frequently enough lacked security, caused hair damage, or induced headaches when tied too tightly.
His solution was a 34-inch hair tie boasting twice the stretch and 13 times the strength of average bands. Currently, a basic TIY band is available for $8.50 in a range of vibrant colors, including “Euphoria” pink, “Fairydust” lavender, “Lioness” yellow, and “Sunset” orange. Players are even coordinating their TIYs with their team colors; nayelis Cabello, a setter for Louisville, chooses a red TIY to match the Cardinals’ official shade. “I feel like it’s definitely made the process easier and made my hairstyles look cleaner,” Cabello told ESPN. “And it matches my game-day outfit, so that makes it 10 times better.”
Beyond Volleyball: A Collegiate Sports Phenomenon
What began as a solution for the Texas women’s volleyball team has rapidly spread throughout the collegiate athletic landscape.TIYs have now been spotted on athletes in college softball
News Report Additions:
Why: Jerritt Elliott,the head coach of the Texas volleyball team,created TIY hair bands to address his players’ consistent issues with uncomfortable and ineffective hair ties during practice.
Who: The key figures are Jerritt Elliott, the creator of TIY, and the collegiate athletes-notably volleyball players-who have adopted the bands. Nayelis Cabello of Louisville was specifically mentioned.
What: TIY (Tie It Yourself) hair bands are a 3-foot elastic hair tie covered in fabric, designed for a secure and pleasant hold for all hair types. They’ve become a popular accessory in collegiate sports.
How did it end? The article doesn’t have a definitive “end” but details the rapid spread of TIY bands from the Texas volleyball team to other collegiate sports, indicating an ongoing trend.The article ends mid-sentence, noting the bands’ presence in college softball, suggesting the trend is still developing.
