Alysa Liu Teeth draw as much attention as her gold — and so did her hair
Alysa Liu won Olympic gold in the women’s singles at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and photographers quickly zeroed in on alysa liu teeth — and the silver spikes of a frenulum or “smiley” piercing — as she finished her program at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Alysa Liu Teeth and the 'smiley' piercing
Photographers captured silver spikes hovering over Liu’s upper gums immediately after her victory at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, and coverage noted the 20-year-old skater from California has what’s called a frenulum or “smiley” piercing. Liu told interviewers before the Games that she pierced the frenulum herself.
Dental groups warn that oral piercings carry real risks. Colgate says mouth piercings expose patients to the millions of bacteria in the mouth and raise the risk of infection. Crest and Oral B note infections can lead to gum disease, receding gums and tooth loss; they also list rarer possibilities such as Hepatitis B, C, D, E and G, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, candidiasis and cellulitis. Rodeo Dental Care cautions that smiley piercings can cause swelling, bleeding, nerve damage, inflammation and traumatized tissue. Metal jewelry can repeatedly rub against teeth, causing enamel erosion or chipped and cracked teeth. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Edward Liu advises that oral piercings be performed by trained professionals and that people consult their dentist before getting one.
How her hair and styling came together in Milan
Her platinum hair stripes — which matched the gold dress she wore at the Milano Ice Skating Arena — were prepared weeks earlier. Hairstylist Kelsey Miller, 39, said she dyed platinum stripes in Liu’s dark hair during the U. S. Championships in St. Louis in January and watched Liu win the Olympic gold on a phone while in St. Louis.
Miller said Liu had done some self-dyeing in 2023 and 2024, then visited Miller on Jan. 8 for a five-hour appointment at the Thirteenth and Washington salon where Miller works. Miller described bleaching and toning the hair to remove warmth and make the highlights a milky platinum. Liu later sought an Italian touchup at JennyBMilano in Milan; a man at that salon who identified himself as Christian Broccoli said he was one of three brothers who helped with styling on the recommendation of a Games contact. Liu’s Instagram includes a Jan. 9 photo with a tag to a stylist, and she posted during the Olympics that she was “styled @jennybmilano. ”
From comeback story to signature look
Miller said she learned more about Liu during the appointment, including that Liu’s father fled China after organizing protests and hunger strikes in 1989, that Liu has four siblings, and that Liu had stopped skating for two years before making a comeback that culminated in the Olympic gold at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Miller called the platinum stripes an “iconic look” and said she had stayed in touch after the St. Louis appointment to offer toning and conditioning services; Liu declined but did seek the Milan touchup.
The coverage does not list Liu’s next scheduled public appearance or competitive event after the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
