IN THE MOMENTS preceding a volleyball match at Pitt’s Fitzgerald Field House, Olivia Babcock finds herself seated near her locker, seemingly content to observe the bustling scene unfolding around her.
Several teammates vie for positions in front of the locker room mirror, meticulously crafting their ponytails to withstand the intensity of the forthcoming game. Libero Emery Dupes receives a blonde braid from redshirt sophomore Haiti Tautua’a. Amidst the lively conversation, Dalia Vîrlan, the designated “music curator,” fills the space with the Panthers’ energizing playlist.
Babcock, Pitt’s celebrated right-side hitter, has already completed her preparations. Her dark-brown braids are neatly arranged into a ponytail, cascading between her shoulder blades. The style is secured with a royal blue hair band, coordinating with her uniform. She prioritizes styling her hair before arriving at the gym.
“Looking presentable translates to performing well,” remarks the 2024 AVCA national player of the year, who aspires to guide Pitt to the final four for the fifth consecutive year. “Hair styling is crucial on game days.”
Of paramount importance to Babcock’s game-day hair is the TIY hair band adorning her braids. TIYs, short for “tie it yourself,” have become a common sight in college volleyball. Players from each 2024 final four team — including the Panthers — sported the vibrant hair elastics, distinguished by their signature knot. Athletes attribute various advantages to the TIY, including a more robust yet gentle hold.
Surprisingly, the mastermind behind this innovative accessory is a 57-year-old man with no hair: Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott. Over a decade ago, Elliott identified a recurring issue with ponytails. Not his own, naturally, but those of his players. During countless practices, athletes paused drills to readjust their hair. Thus, Elliott sought to develop a solution.
TIYs are marketed as 3-foot strands of elastic encased in a fabric covering. By tying the ends of the cord together, athletes can adjust the number of loops to accommodate their hair’s thickness. Babcock wraps her TIY three times to achieve the perfect fit for her braids.
“Before entering college and discovering TIYs,” she explains, “it was consistently challenging to find a suitable hair tie.”
Babcock initially experimented with braids in high school, but she struggled to find hair ties that could reliably secure her braids during play. Upon arriving at Pitt, she abandoned her braids and devoted up to 30 minutes to tightly securing her hair in a ponytail or bun. However, this meticulously styled look was damaging her hair. Consequently, during the summer, Babcock trimmed the breakage and reverted to braids.
“That initially caused me some mental distress,” she admits, “because I recognize that I achieved success during the past two seasons. While my hair wasn’t the direct cause, it remained consistent throughout that period.”
For Babcock, confidence in her hairstyle translates to confidence on the court, and she initially doubted whether she could replicate that with braids. However, with a TIY, she can confidently serve, block, or spike without worrying about her hair.
“It’s a transformative experience,” she declares.
ANDREA NUCETE-ELLIOTT enters a small, white-walled office situated in the pool house behind her Austin residence, which she shares with her husband, Jerritt Elliott.
“Everything began in this room,” she reveals, referring to the compact space nestled between a storage area and a former guest bedroom. Currently, all three rooms — in addition to two others and a 40-foot shipping container — are filled with meticulously arranged boxes of colorful merchandise.
On this tranquil October morning, she surveys the shelves of TIY inventory, highlighting the best-selling colors — such as the vibrant pink “Euphoria” — and explaining the imminent transformation of TIY headquarters as she and her four full-time employees prepare to handle the surge of orders that typically occurs during the holiday season. Nucete-Elliott notes that the product’s widespread popularity has prompted her to explore distribution channels beyond the online store.
With straight, waist-length, dark-brown hair, Nucete-Elliott seems perfectly suited for the role of hair tie company CEO. However, the product was conceived by her husband before they even met.
Back in 2013, Elliott sought to resolve his players’ persistent ponytail predicaments. Puzzled by the frequent interruptions to practice caused by hair adjustments, Elliott embarked on a journey to understand the intricacies of managing longer locks.
“Those who know me are aware of my unconventional mind,” he states. “I possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit.”
The initial step involved studying the market. Elliott claims to have spent approximately $80 on hair ties from popular brands to familiarize himself with his athletes’ options. Subsequently, he consulted with friends, former players, and other individuals within his volleyball network — including Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross — regarding their experiences with hair ties. The women expressed concerns about unstable ponytails, headaches, and hair damage caused by elastic.
Elliott concluded that a universal hair tie solution was unattainable. His proposed solution was a lengthy elastic strip encased in soft fabric, allowing users to tie and loop the strip themselves.
“I wasn’t sure if I had created anything worthwhile,” he admits.
Around the same time, Elliott encountered Andrea, who was continuing her volleyball training in the United States after playing professionally in Italy. Nucete-Elliott had maintained long hair for many years, often using up to five hair ties to secure her ponytail.
“My hair is an integral part of my identity,” she explains. “I enjoy exploring different styles.”
While in Italy, Nucete-Elliott pursued modeling and competed in beauty pageants in addition to playing volleyball. The year prior to relocating to the United States, she was a Miss Universe Italy finalist. The combination of tight ponytails and frequent styling placed a strain on Nucete-Elliott’s hair. Nevertheless, she was unwilling to compromise on the fashion or functionality of her hairstyles.
Therefore, when Elliott presented her with a sample of the hair ties he was developing, she casually placed it in her car’s glove compartment.
“I initially questioned why I would need to tie my own hair tie. What advantage does it offer? I didn’t trust the bald guy,” she recalls.
However, one day during beach volleyball practice, two of Nucete-Elliott’s hair ties broke. She promptly retrieved Elliott’s hair tie from her car.
“I utilized the entire 34-inch length of the product, secured my hair, and immediately contacted him,” she recounts. “I declared, ‘We have something significant here. This is truly unique.'”
Nucete-Elliott immediately embraced Elliott’s vision. For four years, they collaborated to refine the product, evaluating countless combinations of elastic and fabric to identify a combination that offered both softness and security.
They ultimately selected a rubber core encased in a fabric sheath designed to stretch and retract without trapping individual strands of hair. This formula, coupled with the customizable design, distinguished their hair tie from others on the market.
Elliott and Nucete-Elliott married in July 2018, and two months later, they launched TIY Products. TIYs are available in two lengths: the 34-inch basic hair tie and the 51-inch roll, which is designed for use with the refillable Pro 2.0 cutting case. This device enables users to trim their TIYs to any desired length.
According to lab-conducted pounds per square inch (PSI) breaking point tests, the founders assert that TIYs are twice as stretchy and 13 times stronger than the average hair tie. A basic TIY retails for $8.50, while a pack of 50 black Goody hair ties costs approximately $3.99. However, Nucete-Elliott has received reports from players who have used the same TIY throughout their entire four-year NCAA careers.
“When you’re in college, you’re working tirelessly to win a championship, dedicating all your time and energy,” she explains. “They’ve often said, ‘It’s transformative. It simplifies my life.'”
After introducing the invention to athletes within their social circle, Elliott was pleased to resume uninterrupted practices, while Nucete-Elliott enjoyed working on a project that combined her passion for sports and fashion. Neither anticipated that the TIY would become such a prevalent hair accessory in the NCAA.
SHADES OF VIOLET are visible through Becca Kelley’s transparent plastic organizer even before she opens it. Inside lies a collection of star-shaped barrettes, poised to adorn her curly, bleached blonde hair.
Under the bright lights of the TCU locker room, the outside hitter draws two small sections of hair toward her face. She gently combs the remaining hair back with her fingers, securing it in a high ponytail with a lavender TIY and pinning the loose strands with her clips. Later that evening, after recording 13 kills against Kansas State, Kelley’s hair remains perfectly in place.
“A standard hair tie can only be looped a limited number of times, typically two or three,” she observes. “A TIY offers superior strength.”
Her fellow Horned Frogs concur.
“You can put it in at 8 a.m., and it stays secure all day, even through a game. You don’t have to worry about it,” notes TCU middle blocker Sarah Sylvester, who frequently styles her wavy, light-brown hair in a high ponytail.
Another advantage for Kelley is that the TIY doesn’t dent her curls, even after several hours. “However, I believe the primary reason many of us choose to wear it is the diverse range of colors available,” Sylvester adds. “It’s a fun way to accessorize on game days.”
TIYs are available in over 35 shades — including a “Giddy” green, a peachy-pink “Milkshake,” and a purple-blue “Abracadabra.” Some athletes, like Louisville setter Nayelis Cabello, prefer to stick to their school colors. For Louisville players, TIYs come in four different shades of red.
“I feel it has simplified the process and enhanced the appearance of my hairstyles,” Cabello remarks regarding the TIY, which helps to maintain her unruly, dark curls in a tight, sleek ponytail. “And the fact that it complements my game-day attire makes it even better.”
Others, such as Cardinals senior Cara Cresse, opt for TIYs that make a statement. The middle blocker, who describes her hair as thin and curly, always wears her light-purple TIY during games.
Maisie Boesiger, a senior at Nebraska who chronicles the Cornhuskers’ various hairstyles on social media, values the individuality that TIYs can foster.
“We all wear the same uniforms, creating a sense of unity, but it’s a way to express our individual style,” Boesiger explains.
It’s highly likely that players on virtually every team in this year’s NCAA tournament, which commences on Thursday, will be wearing TIYs.
Harper Murray, a prominent player on top-seeded Nebraska, occasionally uses TIYs to secure her hip-length hair extensions. She has always desired long hair, and the added length enhances her confidence.
“Constantly readjusting your ponytail can be frustrating and distracting from the game,” Murray states. “When I feel good about my appearance, I feel confident on the court.”
