Cheer Uniform Care and Game-Day Hair Without the Stress

Ask any cheer family about the hardest part of the season, and somewhere near the top of the list you will hear the same two things: keeping the uniform in good shape and getting hair done on time. Neither one has to be a weekly crisis. A few routines, set up in the first week, can carry a family through the whole season.

Read the label before the first wash

Cheer uniforms are made from a mix of stretch fabrics, appliqued lettering and sometimes sequins or metallic trim. Each of those reacts differently to heat. Before the first wash, read the care label and follow it exactly. Most uniforms do best when they are:

• Turned inside out before washing.
• Washed in cold water on a gentle cycle, separate from towels and jeans.
• Washed with a mild detergent and no bleach or fabric softener.
• Hung or laid flat to dry, never put through a hot dryer.

Heat is the enemy of lettering and shells. One trip through a hot dryer can peel letters or shrink a top that cannot be replaced mid-season.

Treat stains the same day

Grass, dirt and the occasional spilled sports drink are part of sideline life. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to lift. Rinse stains with cold water as soon as you get home, then treat them gently before washing. Avoid scrubbing hard on printed or appliqued areas.

Store it like it matters

Between games, hang the uniform on a padded hanger in a closet, away from direct sunlight, which can fade colors. Keep the skirt and shell together so nothing goes missing. Many families keep a single garment bag just for the uniform, with briefs, socks and the bow tucked into a zipped pouch inside.

Shoes stay clean, and stay cheer shoes

Cheer shoes are designed to grip mats and support jumps. Wearing them on gravel lots and wet grass wears the soles quickly and tracks dirt onto competition floors. Change into them at the field or gym, and carry them in their own bag. Wipe them with a damp cloth after use and let them air dry.

Bows: label, store, repeat

Bows are small, important and remarkably easy to lose. Write your athlete's name or initials on the back of the clip. Store the bow flat or hanging so it keeps its shape, rather than crushed in the bottom of a bag. Some families keep a spare from the start of the season, which is a lifesaver when one goes missing an hour before kickoff.

Game-day hair in less time

Every squad sets its own hair standard, so start with what your coach requests. Whatever the style, a few habits help:

• Practice the style once at home early in the season, when there is no rush.
• Start with dry, brushed hair, and gather everything you need before you begin.
• Use enough elastics and bobby pins to hold through jumps and stunts. Hair that comes loose can get in a flyer's eyes or tangle in a base's hands.
• A light hairspray helps hold flyaways, but avoid heavy products that make hair slippery.

Younger athletes often need a parent's help. Older athletes usually enjoy learning to do it themselves, and squads often help each other before games.

Keep a sideline kit

A small zip bag in the cheer bag with extra elastics, bobby pins, a travel brush, safety pins, a stain wipe and a spare pair of socks solves most game-day emergencies before they start.

Return it in good shape

Many programs reuse uniforms from year to year, which keeps costs down for families. Returning a uniform clean, complete and undamaged at the end of the season helps the next athlete and helps the association keep fees affordable for everyone.