Alysa Liu’s hair, explained: Why U.S. figure skater wears ‘halo’ stripes during 2026 Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The U.S. Olympic figure skating team faces a tough challenge as it aims to bring a women’s singles competitor back to the podium for the first time in 20 years.
The Americans have a talented group of skaters, including Amber Glenn, Isabeau Levito, and Alysa Liu, all expected to deliver strong performances at Milan-Cortina.
Liu stands out as a particularly notable name. The youngest-ever U.S. women’s national champion at 20, she has long been regarded as one of the country’s brightest figure skating prospects. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she will have a chance to join the ranks of Tara Lipinski, Sarah Hughes, and her idol, Michelle Kwan, in U.S. Olympic history.
When Liu takes the ice, she’ll do so in style. Her outfit will sparkle with gemstones, and her hair, featuring a mix of brown and yellow highlights, is sure to stand out on screens worldwide.
So, why does Liu have stripes—or, as she calls them, halos—in her hair? Here’s what you need to know.
MORE: Schedule, times, channels to watch biggest events at 2026 Winter Olympics
Why does Alysa Liu have stripes in her hair?
Liu’s current coiffure is three years in the making, with the 20-year-old first opting to have her hair swept in a ring configuration in 2023. She’s added one ring a year every passing winter, she told NBC New York.
Liu has typically gravitated towards “gingery” shades since settling on the hairstyle. But ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, she decided to switch things up, landing on a brighter tone for patches of her woolly mane.
“I was like, ‘I want something different. I want it light,'” Liu said. “And so I made it lighter and I realized the second round of bleach… it was really hard to get it lighter because my hair is so dark.”
Alysa Liu hair before and after
Liu’s hair was monochrome throughout her childhood and early adolescence, with the then-teenager settling on a brown shade prior to starting her ring journey.
Her first ring came in late 2023, finding a home around her ends. Most of her hair retained its brownish disposition, save for the stripe, which took on a orangish hue.
A second ring was added into the mix come Winter 2024.
In December 2025, Liu returned to the hairstylist’s chair to add another stripe. This one was lighter and sharper than its predecessors, though, with stylist @kelsey.styles.hair bleaching many of Liu’s tresses. The result? A memorable hairdo that will prove especially notable across the pallor backdrop of an Olympic ice rink.
How Alysa Liu bleached her hair
Traditionally, Liu bleached her rings herself, soaking her mane in an amber mixture. She sought out a lighter look ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
There was but one problem, though; after two rounds of bleaching, Liu’s hair failed to discard its darker shade.
Liu called in reinforcements, searching for a stylist capable of giving her the look she desired. She found it in the form of @kelsey.styles.hair, a St. Louis-based hair stylist who bleached and toned Liu’s hair to her liking.
“My hair is still good,” Liu told reporters. “And it feels really healthy. She toned it, too. She toned it perfectly. This is exactly what I wanted.”