Alyssa Liu’s hair made a strong case for the power of an updo at the 2026 ESPYs. Styled by Anh Co Tran, the look leaned into a soft, slightly undone shape that felt polished without losing its edge, matching the skater’s signature mix of elegance and attitude.
According to the report, Tran designed the style around Liu’s black Louis Vuitton halter gown, which left her back fully visible. The hairstyle kept her hair off her neck and worked with the dress’s sculptural draping, while also allowing details like her backwards beaded cross necklace and lower-back tattoo to stand out.
Tran said he was inspired by a relaxed French knot and wanted the final result to feel refined but still a little rebellious. Liu’s bold striped hair color also played a big part in the styling, with the blonde sections intentionally emphasized once the hair was pinned up.
To build the look, Tran used mousse, a smoothing oil, and a blow-dryer with a smoothing nozzle, then added waves, texture, and grip before twisting the hair into four sections toward the crown. He left some ends loose and kept a few pieces unpinned for movement, then finished the curtain bangs and front sections so the style stayed airy and face-framing. Liu’s Best Breakthrough Athlete trophy may have been one of the night’s biggest wins, but her luminous hair was clearly part of the spotlight too.
Source: allure.com
