It's been a few weeks since figure skater and Teen Vogue cover star Alysa Liu won gold in the free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but her performance, gold dress, and halo hair are never far from our minds. The athlete, who was raised in California and took a break from skating before returning to the ice, is known for her effortless grace and her alt-girl style, with the halo hairstyle serving as a signature element of Liu's look.
Liu used to do her hair herself, but she started working with the St. Louis-based colorist Kelsey Miller to lighten and define the color pattern even more; she wanted to go from a brassier blonde to a milk tea shade, and Miller told Allure that the process took about five hours to perfect. And given Liu's incredible success at the Olympics, we have a feeling that the halo hair trend is about to come back in a big way.
When did the halo hair trend start?
Halo hair isn't a new technique; it's been around for decades and has ebbed and flowed in popularity as most hair color trends do. But Liu has brought the unique dye placement back into the spotlight in a big way, and it's now synonymous with her. “Alysa Liu’s hair suits her so well because it feels completely unapologetic and true to who she is. In figure skating, it’s rare to see such individuality expressed through personal style, which is likely why so many people are drawn to her," says Renée Valerie Radoiu, Vice President of R+COLOR Education & R+COLOR Collective member. “It feels refreshing. As someone who grew up figure skating, I know I would have loved having a role model like her to look up to.”
Chase Kusero, cofounder of IGK Haircare, thinks Liu's color is right on trend, right on time. “We’re in a moment where personalization is everything,” he says. “Clients don’t just want highlights–they want intentional placement that feels expressive. It taps into the Y2K revival energy, it gives that editorial edge without committing to a full-head transformation.”
What is halo hair?
How exactly do you create a halo in the first place? "A halo result is created by strategically placing lightener to build brightness in defined areas throughout the head,” explains Radoiu. This can be a series of stripes like Liu's, a literal crown-like halo around the head like Rosalía, a defined stripe like the style previously worn by musician Caroline Polachek, or peekaboo roots in a contrasting color like the neon green and red styles made famous by Billie Eilish. Miley Cyrus has also experimented with the look, though she opted for platinum on top and dark layers beneath, similar to halo styles worn in the 2000s.
What is halo hair maintenance like?
Radoiu sees more defined placements like Liu's as a natural extension of the rooty styles worn by Eilish. “The halo trend feels like an evolution of the halo roots that dominated for so long,” she says. “Now, with figures such as Rosalía embracing their own version of the look, the aesthetic is shifting from niche technique to mainstream influence.” The trend is easy to make your own, as placement is totally customizable. “I love how Alysa refers to her maintenance as adding an extra ring each year, allowing her hair to evolve as part of her story.”
Originally, Liu wanted raccoon stripes, but the upkeep turned her off of the striped style. Instead, she began with just one halo stripe, then thought it looked cool and kept adding. “Then as it grew out, I was like, ‘I could just do it once every year,’” the gold medalist told Teen Vogue in her cover interview. The low-key process appealed to the busy athlete. “You don't have to upkeep it. You don't have to re-bleach your roots because it's not on the roots.”
While Liu DIYed her original halo before seeing a trained colorist, it's probably a good idea to see a pro to bring your halo hair goals to life. One of the biggest things to pay attention to is clean placement, Radoiu shares, noting that tape is a great way to define sections, though different colorists may use different techniques. “I typically isolate a circular section through the top of the head, almost like drawing a soft crown, and focus brightness strategically through that zone, while keeping the underneath more dimensional,” Kusero explains.
As your halo hair evolves, you can add rings like Liu does or let the rings or stripes grow out naturally. To maintain the color, “hydration and color protection are essential,” says Kusero, who recommends IGK More Life Color Extending Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner, which he says “doubles the shine of your hair" and keeps it looking radiant. Radoiu also recommends maintaining the tone with a glossing treatment, which you can book in a salon or apply at home. Her pick is R+COLOR HYPERMATIC 10-Minute Demi-Permanent Liquid, which is available to professionals only. If you want to DIY, try Kristin Ess Hair Gloss in Crystal Quartz or IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat. “This helps keep the color refined and prevents the brassiness that naturally occurs with pre-lightened hair,” Radoiu says.
Even if you've never been on ice skates, you'll be feeling every bit as cool as the gold medalist herself.
