Alysa Liu’s Striped Hair: The Meaning Behind Her Unique Style
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu showcased her distinctive striped hairstyle during the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, a look that may have contributed to Team USA’s success.
Since her return to figure skating in 2024 after a two-year hiatus, Liu has made waves on the ice, donning bold, alternating bleached and dark brunette stripes in her hair. “Every year, I add a stripe,” she disclosed to NBC News in January 2026. “It’s going to be like this for a year, then — next wintertime, end of December — I do another ring.”
Continuing her winning streak, Liu brought her signature look to the Olympics in February 2026, clinching a gold medal in the Team Event along with fellow USA teammates Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, Daniel O’Shea, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates. This triumph follows Liu’s victory at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championship and her recent win at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals.
The Significance of Alysa Liu’s Hairstyle
Beginning her skating journey at the age of five, Liu gained recognition for her dark hair, winning her first intermediate gold medal at the 2016 U.S. Championships at just ten years old. In a surprising move, she announced her retirement at 16 in 2022, expressing her satisfaction with her career and the desire to “move on with my life.” Liu remarked on Instagram, “I honestly never thought I would’ve accomplished as much as I did.”
After a two-season break, Liu returned to the sport in March 2024, debuting her now-iconic hairdo with bleached and brunette stripes.
Alysa Liu in February 2026. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Reflecting on her personal style evolution, Liu shared with Paralympian Haven Shepherd in a February 2026 interview, “I just wanted to be a tree. Three years ago, I put my first [bleached band] and thought, ‘Oh, next year, wintertime … I’m going to do the second one,’ so I did.” By the Olympics, she had incorporated three bleached bands into her look.
Alysa Liu’s Styling Journey
In a pre-Olympic discussion with NBC News, Liu recounted the gradual transformation of her hairstyle over the past three years. “This [top band] I did at the end of 2023, then did another one in 2024 and 2025,” she noted in February 2026, further elaborating on her choice of color: “I bleached it, but I wanted it to be lighter.”
The DIY Approach to Hair Coloring
While Liu initially styled her own hair, she recently began visiting colorist Kelsey Miller in St. Louis for professional touches. “I did do it myself,” she admitted, but recognized the benefits of using “salon-grade products.”
Alysa Liu in January 2026. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Achieving her desired shade required five hours of coloring, as revealed by Miller. “I specialize in dimensional hair color, redheads, and extensions,” she said, highlighting the unique nature of Liu’s request and the confidence that comes with personal style. “Your hair is truly your identity. It can help you with your confidence … I love to see that this is brought into the sports world.” Miller also documented the hair transformation on social media, showcasing the process of amplifying Liu’s style.
