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Bold, striped hair has become as closely associated with Alysa Liu as the gravity-defying jumps that made her a world and Olympic champion. And for the 2026 ESPYs, her hairstylist, Anh Co Tran, made sure her hair remained inspo-pic-worthy, sweeping it into an intentionally imperfect updo that managed to balance elegance and edginess—just like the figure skater herself.
Because Liu’s hair was entirely off her neck, it perfectly complemented her black Louis Vuitton halter gown, fully revealing her back—a perfect opportunity to not only wear a beaded cross necklace backwards but also show off her cybersigilism-style lower back tattoo.
Tran says the hairstyle was concocted with Liu's outfit in mind, not to mention her overall vibe. "Inspired by a soft, undone French knot, I wanted to create a style that complemented the dress's sculptural draping while bringing the entire look together," he tells Allure. "I added natural texture and movement to her hair to give it a subtle edge, creating a finish that felt both effortlessly refined and embodied her free spirit."
Photo: Getty Images
Liu's high-contrast color also influenced exactly how the updo came together. "We certainly factored Alysa's signature stripes into this look to make sure the patterns of her hair were brought out when it was put up," Tran says. "I made sure the blonde part accentuated the style."
Photo: Getty Images
To create the look, Tran began by applying foam mousse from roots to ends on damp hair, followed by a frizz-eliminating oil. He used the L'Oréal Professionnel AirLight Pro to rough-dry Liu's hair on until it was about halfway dry and then attached the smoothing nozzle to go section by section. “The device's precise heat control allowed me to style efficiently, imparting a beautiful natural sheen without flattening or overdrying the strands,” he says.
After shaping soft, lived-in waves, he worked texturizing paste into the roots for grip, divided Liu's hair into four sections, and twisted each one toward the crown to form the loose French knot, intentionally leaving the ends out and a few pieces unpinned.
Photo: Duncan Cheng
He hit Liu's curtain bangs with the AirLight Pro, parting them down the middle and leaving longer front pieces loose to frame her face. A styling cream, hairspray, and a final mist of texturizing spray locked everything in place while maintaining the airy movement that made the style feel polished but not overly “done.”
Photo: Duncan Cheng
Liu’s new ESPY award for Best Breakthrough Athlete might have been one of the most coveted trophies of the night, but thanks to that luminous updo, it certainly wasn't the only thing reflecting the spotlight.
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