Alysa Liu's 2026 ESPY Hair Is the Ultimate Iconic Cool Girl Updo Lookback

Alysa Liu is an Olympic figure skating champion known for her bold and daring performances. At the 2026 ESPYs, her hairstylist, Anh Co Tran, crafted a hairstyle that perfectly encapsulated Liu's edgy yet elegant persona. Liu's hair, a bold striped shade, was styled into an intentionally imperfect updo that added to the overall drama of the event.

The bold striped hair has become as closely associated with Alysa Liu as the gravity-defying jumps that made her a world and Olympic champion. This look added a touch of elegance to her striking black Louis Vuitton halter gown, which fully revealed her back. The hairstyle was perfectly in sync with Liu's cybersigilism-style lower back tattoo.

As Tran explains, the hairstyle was a carefully crafted match to Liu's outfit and her free-spirited nature. '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.'

In creating this updo, Tran carefully balanced the contrast of Liu's black dress and blonde hair. He notes that the bold stripes played a significant role in bringing out the patterns of the hair when it was tied up. By using the right amount of texture and movement, Tran was able to create a hairstyle that was polished yet effortlessly cool.

Tran achieved this stunning look 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 until it was about halfway dry. He then attached the smoothing nozzle to the device and went 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 adds.

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. He intentionally left the ends out and a few pieces unpinned to add volume and give the style a laid-back feel. The result was a style that balanced elegance and edginess, much like Liu herself.

In an interview, Tran shares his creative process. 'The inspiration came from the entire look, from the Louis Vuitton halter gown to Alysa's signature stripes.' He wanted to craft a hairstyle that perfectly complemented the outfit and captured Liu's adventurous spirit.

Ultimately, Alysa Liu's new ESPY award for Best Breakthrough Athlete might have been one of the most coveted trophies of the night. The real star of the show was undoubtedly the bold, stunning hair updo crafted by Tran that captivated all who attended the 2026 ESPYs.

Given Liu's incredible talent and bold style, fans eagerly await her next performance, hoping she will wear the iconic updo again. Who knows? Perhaps Tran will create an even more daring look for her next big event.