Alysa Liu emerged as the breakout star of this year’s U.S. Olympic team not just by ending a 24-year gold drought in women’s figure skating, but by doing it on her own terms.
After stepping away from the sport to protect her mental health and rediscover joy, the 20-year-old returned with an artistic fearlessness and authenticity that resonated with audiences. The result: two gold medals and connection with new fans worldwide.
On the ice and on the podium, Liu’s halo-striped hair became a visual shorthand for her individuality. Since 2023, she’s added a new ring each year to mimic the growth rings of a tree and symbolize her personal evolution.
In January, while competing in the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis just prior to the Olympic Games, Liu decided to turn her DIY haircolor over to a professional. She made a spontaneous appointment with color and extensions specialist Kelsey Miller at 13th and Washington Salon.
That visit turned into a life-changing encounter for Miller, who spoke with American Salon on creating the haircolor look the world has been talking about.
My client reached out to me one day and said there was a VIP who needed help with her color.
She gave me a briefing of what the client currently had and the results she wanted. My best friend and co-worker, Amanda Boatman, asked what I was going to do and how. She told me I should Google the look, so I did. After scrolling for a while, I told her I think I’ll know what to do when I see her!
Alysa came in the next day. She had bleached her top halo one time and it turned out pretty brassy, so she did it again a couple days later. She then tried to tone it, but nothing really happened. She had a pretty dramatic top halo, but the bottom two were almost lost in her hair.
She wanted the halos to be more of a milk tea or cooler tone, and she wanted her bottom two to be more dramatic. That’s when she decided she needed salon professional products.
Our goal was to balance it all over and change the tone of the halos. So I reached for my Schwarzkopf Professional BLONDME Premium Lightener 9+ to help achieve this look.
I knew as soon as we returned to my chair after being at the shampoo bowl that she LOVED IT. Her reaction was priceless and I’ll never forget the look on her face. She was cheesing the whole time I blow-dried her hair!
I was taking pictures along the way and showing her so she knew what it was looking like, and she thought it was so dope! That assured me I was doing the right thing!
Alysa had Ubered to the salon. After she spent five hours in my chair, I gave her a ride back to her hotel because it was so late. Before she got out, I asked her to tag me if she posted anything — because I ask all my clients to do that.
I wasn’t even thinking about how that could change my life. At that point, I wasn’t viewing her as an Olympian, but more like one of my friends because we vibed so well.
I was not prepared at all for my work to play such a big role on the world stage like that, and the feeling was indescribable.
A person’s hair truly is their identity. When your hair looks good you feel good, you radiate, you’re confident, you feel like you can achieve anything. And for Alysa, it was very obvious that she was obsessed! After every skate, she would take her updo down and rock her halos! That was a very satisfying and proud moment for me to watch her do this.
It makes me emotional. We have so much power as hairstylists to help our clients change the way they view themselves and feel! It’s why I do what I do.
I will be forever changed by this experience. To get recognized for my hard work is so rewarding. To have all this love and support — from random strangers, friends and family, old clients, current clients, fellow hairstylists, hairstylists I’ve looked up to for years — reach out to me and tell me how incredible her hair is and how talented I am and deserving of this I am — I couldn’t ask for a better feeling.
It helps my confidence and brings me validation for the hard work and effort I put into my work. It has paid off. I am so overwhelmed with happiness.
Alysa radiates confidence, love, and support. She is a huge role model for so many ages. When a person is 100% unapologetically themselves, it’s hard not to recognize it. That is Alysa.
She’s definitely started a new trend with halos in hair. So many people have tagged me, showing their version and their take on the halos.
Something I will always think about when it comes to this experience is being a “yes” person! It’s a reminder to always say yes.
Even if you don’t know the full details or what you're about to get into: just say yes! Because you never know what doors may open up for you or what may be coming your way.