The Sharks entered GIO Stadium on Saturday needing to snap their three-game losing start to the season without inspirational captain Tiana Penitani Gray (quad).
But they shook off their losses by running in four tries to two, while also being the beneficiaries of a rogue ponytail.
Raiders winger Mackenzie Wiki wrestled over the line in the first half, but her hair brushed the sideline despite her body falling inside the field of play.
The bunker then ruled out her four-pointer, and moments later winger Georgia Ravics scored for the visitors following a sin bin to Canberra's Jordyn Preston.
"We probably should look at that and have a common sense approach there," Raiders coach Darrin Borthwick said of the no-try decision.
"We can't ask all the girls to put their hair up in buns or get a haircut or anything. At the end of the day, that was a try we needed and to pull it apart and disallow (it) was hard to see."
It's not the first time a try has been disallowed because of hair being out of play after centre Jonsal Tautari was denied a similar four-pointer in 2019 for the Maori All Stars.
Cronulla drew first blood when they spread left and Cassie Staples scuttled over, but the Raiders - hoping to reach the finals for the first time - hit back when fullback Sheridan Gallagher booted a loose ball and it found the hands of Elise Simpson in the left corner.
Leading 10-4 at halftime, the Sharks' Jada Taylor fumbled the ball centimetres from the line despite having no one near her, although playmaker Georgia Hannaway burrowed over to extend the visitors' advantage.
Canberra's Sophie Holyman gave the home team some hope, but Quincy Dodd stormed over to ice the victory for the visitors.
At Accor Stadium in Sydney, Canterbury defeated St George Illawarra 28-8 with five different players scoring for the Bulldogs to secure their second win of the season.
The Dragons put up a willing challenge, trailing by six points at the break, but second-half tries to substitutes Evelyn Roberts and Ma'atuleio Fotu-Moala along with fullback Andie Robinson proved the difference.
It's a second consecutive heavy loss for St George and they'll need to bounce back against premiership favourites the Sydney Roosters to keep their finals hopes afloat.
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