Alysa Liu Teeth and the platinum stripes that became part of her Olympic gold moment
aly sa liu teeth appeared in coverage alongside praise for Alysa Liu’s skating after she won the women’s singles title at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Thursday, Feb. 19 — a victory that drew attention not only to her jumps but to the platinum stripes in her dark hair and a gold dress that matched them.
How a St. Louis hairstylist helped shape a signature look
Kelsey Miller, 39, a hairstylist in St. Louis, said she dyed platinum stripes in Liu’s dark hair during the U. S. Championships in St. Louis in January. Miller said Liu visited her on Jan. 8 for what became a five-hour appointment to lift warmth, bleach and tone the highlights into a milky blonde so the top halo would read bright on camera.
Miller said she was introduced to Liu through a mutual client and that one of Liu’s coaches made the appointment. Until Liu arrived at Thirteenth and Washington, the stylist said Liu’s identity remained a secret. Miller kept in touch after the appointment, offering toners and conditioning treatments; Liu declined those offers but later sought a touchup while at the Olympics.
Alysa Liu Teeth: a look finished in Milan before the final skate
The hair received an Italian touchup before Liu took the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, a man who identified himself as Christian Broccoli at JennyBMilano salon said. He said he was one of three brothers working at the salon and that Liu came in after a recommendation from a contact associated with the Milano Cortina Winter Games. Liu posted on Instagram during the Games with the caption "and styled @jennybmilano. "
Miller said Liu had dyed her hair herself in 2023 and 2024 before visiting Miller on Jan. 8. "When you lift someone with dark hair, they lift really warm, " Miller said. "So when she came to me, she wasn’t lifting her hair light enough to pull out all the warmer tones of her hair. So I had to bleach her again and then tone it to make it a milky color. "
Style, personal history and a comeback tied to the gold medal
Miller said that during the appointment she learned personal details about Liu: that Liu’s father fled China after organizing protests and hunger strikes in 1989, that Liu has four siblings, and that she stopped skating for two years before making a comeback that culminated in the Olympic triumph on Feb. 19. Liu, 20, noted that her gold dress matched the platinum stripes during the celebration at the arena.
Miller shared a photo of herself with Liu, and Liu’s Instagram included a photo dated Jan. 9 with the stylist tag kelsey. styles. hair. Miller said the platinum stripes now feel iconic — "I think this is her iconic look now that she should trademark, " she said — and that she watched Liu win the medal on a phone while working in St. Louis.
The hairstyling, from the January appointment to the Milan touchup, was the last confirmed preparation detail tied to Liu’s Olympic performance. Stylists who worked with her stayed available during the Games, and Liu posted that she received styling help in Milan.
