Fresh off her historic gold-medal victory, Olympic champion Alysa Liu is once again pushing boundaries — this time through beauty. Her now-signature “Halo Hair” has become as recognizable as her skating: a deeply personal, evolving look inspired by the rings of a tree, with a new blonde band added each year to represent growth, resilience, and milestones marking her return to competition.
As she prepared for the Winter Olympics, Liu partnered with St. Louis–based color specialist Kelsey Miller to refine her DIY lightening into a more elevated, performance-ready result. The goal: transform at-home bleach work into precise, high-contrast halo placements that would withstand rigorous training, global travel, and the intensity of Olympic competition — all while reading clearly from rink to camera.
To achieve the look, Miller turned to Schwarzkopf Professional’s BLONDME Premium Lightener 9+, prioritizing not just maximum lift, but tone clarity, longevity, and protection. Given Liu’s history of self-lightening, maintaining hair integrity was critical. The lightener’s integrated Bonding Technology allowed for targeted brightening while reinforcing previously processed areas — ensuring a polished, Olympic-level finish without unnecessary stress on the hair.
Lightening Strategy
• Virgin halo sections: BLONDME Premium Lightener 9+ with 20-volume developer for controlled, even lift
• Previously lightened halos: BLONDME Premium Lightener 9+ with 7-volume developer to softly neutralize warmth and refresh brightness without over-processing
Over five hours of meticulous freehand painting kept each ring distinct — engineered to remain visible through spins, jumps, and high-speed choreography. The final effect: a striking, milky-blonde crown that challenges traditional skating aesthetics while celebrating individuality and technical precision.
With graphic blonding and statement color continuing to dominate salon demand, Liu’s halo technique feels primed to inspire one of the year’s most requested looks — proof that performance hair can be as powerful as the athlete wearing it.