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If you’ve been scrolling through social media, then you’ve probably seen her by now—her, as in figure skating champion Alysa Liu. She’s been making waves after her athletic comeback. Fresh off her recent Olympic win, however, there’s been a big, striped elephant in the room: the halos she’s rocking. There’s literally a set of bright rings around her head courtesy of stylist Kelsey Miller, and it’s officially the hair crush of the season.
Naturally, MEGA wanted to know exactly how to get the look.
The Bold Comeback
RELATED: Rej Hidalgo of Magpatina Can Make Your Wildest Hair Dreams Come True
For Rej Hidalgo, the expert beautician behind Magpatina, that specific style Liu is sporting is best described as ‘halo hair.’ She explains it as a chunky, circumferential highlight. “Para siyang kung paano i-drawing sa anime: around the eyes or bangs area,” she shares.
While singer Rosalia’s literal iteration has popped up, the trend has been around for a while now. “Matagal-tagal na siya sa subculture kaya refreshing to see popular figures do it, too,” Hidalgo muses.
This might lead some to confuse it with the graphic ‘raccoon tail,’ but the two styles are distinct. “Raccoon, as far as I know, used to be accents lang during the scene, emo, or punk era of early 2000s. Parang maliit na panel lang siya sa bangs or sa buntot ng hair,” the stylist tells MEGA. It’s a different vibe altogether.
The good news? You don’t need a particular hair texture to pull off these bold patterns. Hidalgo insists that both the halo and the raccoon are very forgiving. “It looks great on any type of hair! Magkaiba yung charm nila,” she beams. “A good hairdresser will make it work with proper placements.”
How to Ace
It’s all in the execution. For Hidalgo, who prefers to work freehand, the secret is simple: “To keep the lines crisp, practice lang. Be neat with your applications.” She suggests a practical tip for the process itself: “Better to use a bleach brand that doesn’t swell as much.”
If you’re dreaming of a multi-tonal result, the fear of dyes mixing together after washing is real. However, it shouldn’t be an issue with the right products. “Good color brands don’t bleed,” Hidalgo assures. Her personal tried-and-tested roster includes Schwarzkopf, Lunar Tides, Arctic Fox, and Wella Professional. She also notes an aftercare rule: “Avoid warm water when rinsing it off.”
“Raccoon tails are easy to do at home, especially if accent lang sa bangs or sa ends. Just section your hair neatly,” she advises. It’s a manageable project for a beginner. But for that head-turning halo? That’s a different story. “If you’re doing Alysa Liu’s version, best to get it professionally done! Medyo hard mode na kasi yung task para malinis.”
And for anyone in Manila looking to level up their color game inspired by a certain figure skating gold medalist, Rej Hidalgo of Magpatina is more than happy to accommodate.
Photos: THE OLYMPIC GAMES (via Instagram) and REJ HIDALGO
Frequently Asked Questions
Halo hair is a bold, multi-tonal coloring technique featuring a chunky, circumferential highlight band placed strategically around the head, mimicking the ringed glow seen in animated illustrations.
Halo hair features a continuous horizontal band around the circumference of the head, whereas raccoon tails are distinct, zebra-striped panel accents confined to smaller sections like bangs or ends.
Yes, the halo hair trend looks exceptionally great on all hair textures because an experienced hairstylist can easily customize and adjust the bleach application placements to frame your face.
Professional hair colorists recommend using high-quality bleach brands formulated to not swell during the activation process, ensuring lines remain incredibly crisp, sharp, and visually uniform throughout.
Prevent bleeding by using premium, professional color formulas like Schwarzkopf or Wella, and always rinse dyed hair under cool or cold water instead of using warm water.
