For the first time, athletes with textured hair at the Olympics and Paralympics have access to a hair salon complete with products and services dedicated to them. The offerings were made possible by MIELLE Organics, a natural haircare brand founded by Monique Rodriguez and the official textured hair product of the 2024 Games.
“The Olympic and Paralympic athletes are the best in the world, and they are competing on their largest stage yet; so looking and feeling top of their game is important,” Rodriguez tells TODAY.com.
“Often, textured hair requires more haircare steps than [other hair types], and specifically formulated products. When you add sweating, using helmets or swimming caps, and just overall high-intensity physical activity, it can be very hard for Black women to uphold their haircare on the sports stage.”
While Olympic athletes, particularly Black athletes with textured hair, are competing at the highest level, their hair is often in the spotlight, too, making it susceptible to praise and judgment alike. Even Simone Biles faced criticism about her hair while breaking records at the 2024 Paris Games.
“Historically, Black women athletes have always faced scrutiny over their hair. Having access to quality hair care and products directly impacts confidence and overall performance,” says Rodriguez.
For some, the Olympics might be a place to showcase the hairstyles athletes feel most beautiful wearing. Take sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson who’s rarely without an eye-catching hairstyle.
For others, like Ashleigh Johnson, a protective hairstyle allows them to perform at their best and look their best. “Having a protective style is a big part of maintaining my hair’s health right now,” Johnson told NBC News. “I feel like I’m helping my hair. I can reach my hair goals while also competing at this level.”
Regardless of the style they choose, Rodriguez says a lack of products and services shouldn’t be the reason an athlete doesn’t look and feel her best 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 starts with a wash and conditioning treatment, next comes the MIELLE heat protector or serum and, finally, styling the hair into a bun or ponytail. The “Gold Standard Length” caters to braided hair. After washing and conditioning the hair, stylists will then dry the braids and style them with MIELLE products.
So far, the salon has hosted athletes including silver medalist Anabel Medina Ventura, Taliyah Brooks, Vashti Cunningham and WNBA player A’ja Wilson, and word is getting out.
Gold medalist Gabby Thomas posted about her experience at the salon on TikTok.
“I just left the hair salon in the Olympic Village because I wanted to try it out. You know, a couple of girls said that they liked it,” Thomas said in the video. “And I was a little bit nervous, because I know a lot of people don’t know how to do afro-textured hair, so I was expecting to come out of there crying, but, you know, she actually did a pretty good job.”
Thomas went on to describe how the stylist worked with her extensions and left her feeling good about herself. “I feel cute. This really just 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 readily available for athletes to discover, but most of the clientele is stopping in thanks to recommendations like the ones that brought Thomas in. As word spreads, Rodriguez says this is only the beginning.
“At MIELLE, we want to be a part of the solution, we want Black female athletes to have access to textured hair products they need but also help elevate the overall conversation and further public understanding of the topic,” she says. “Providing access to textured hair products and providing access to curly hair services as part of the sports scene is an essential first step.”
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