For the first time, athletes with textured hair at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will have access to a hair salon with products and services tailored specifically for them. The offer is made possible by MIELLE Organics, a natural hair care brand founded by Monique Rodriguez and the Official Product for Textured Hair of the 2024 Games.
“Olympic and Paralympic athletes are the best in the world and they are competing on their biggest stage yet, so it is important that they look and feel at their best,” Rodriguez tells TODAY.com.
“Textured hair often requires more maintenance steps than (other hair types) and specially formulated products. When you add in sweating, helmets or swim caps, and generally high-intensity physical activity, it can be very difficult for black women to maintain their hair care routine on the athletic stage.”
While Olympic athletes, especially black athletes with textured hair, compete at the highest levels, their hair is often in the spotlight and therefore subject to praise and criticism in equal measure. Even Simone Biles faced criticism for her hair when she broke records at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Historically, black female athletes have always been scrutinized for their hair. Having access to quality hair care and products directly impacts confidence and overall performance,” says Rodriguez.
For some, the Olympics may be a place to showcase the hairstyles that make athletes feel the most beautiful. Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, for example, rarely wears a striking hairstyle.
For others, like Ashleigh Johnsona protective hairstyle allows them to perform at their best and look good. “Having a protective hairstyle goes a long way in maintaining the health of my hair right now,” Johnson told NBC News. “I feel like I’m helping my hair. I can achieve my hair goals while still competing at this level.”
Regardless of the style chosen, Rodriguez says a lack of products and services should not be the reason an athlete doesn’t look and feel good at the Games.
The Beauty & Grooming Salon in the Olympic Village and its three textured hair specialists offer two styling options. The “Smooth Start” for relaxed hair begins with a wash and conditioning treatment, then comes the MIELLE heat protectant or serum, and finally the hair is styled into a bun or ponytail. The “Gold Standard Length” is for braided hair. After washing and conditioning the hair, the stylists dry the braids and style them with MIELLE products.
So far, the salon has hosted athletes such as silver medalist Anabel Medina Ventura, Taliyah Brooks, Vashti Cunningham and WNBA player A’ja Wilson, and word is getting around.
Gold medalist Gabby Thomas posted on TikTok about her experience at the salon.
“I just left the hair salon in the Olympic Village because I wanted to try it out. You know, a couple of girls said they liked it,” Thomas said in the video. “And I was a little nervous because I know a lot of people don’t know how to do afro hair, so I expected to come out crying, but you know, she actually did a pretty good job.”
Thomas went on to describe how the stylist worked on her extensions and how good she felt afterward. “I feel sweet. This really made my day… I’m really happy. It’s just the little things that a lot of people take for granted. But I can’t just walk into any salon.”
Rodriguez says the salon is easy for athletes to discover, but most customers come through referrals like the ones that brought Thomas in. As word spreads, Rodriguez says this is just the beginning.
“At MIELLE, we want to be part of the solution. We want Black female athletes to have access to the textured hair care products they need, but we also want to help foster the general discussion and increase public understanding of the issue,” she says. “Access to textured hair care products and curly hair services within the athletic community is an essential first step.”
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This article was originally published on TODAY.com.
