In an unconventional yet uplifting pre-Olympic ritual, the United States women's bobsled and skeleton teams have enjoyed a special treat during their final preparations in Europe: a professional hair styling session. As the athletes gear up for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, this unique initiative aimed to provide a mental boost and a sense of normalcy amidst the intense training schedule.
A Salon Experience in the Austrian Alps
The US Olympic women's bobsled and skeleton racers have been immersed in rigorous training across Europe since November, fine-tuning their techniques ahead of the prestigious competition. This week, however, they incorporated an unusual element into their regimen. Rather than focusing solely on physical conditioning, the team welcomed hairstylist Jessica Sinclair, who flew from California to Austria specifically to tend to their locks.
Sinclair, who had never visited Europe before this assignment, received an unexpected call from five-time Olympic bobsled medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, a former client. Meyers Taylor proposed what Sinclair described as "a most unusual booking," prompting the stylist to pack her equipment and embark on the transatlantic journey without hesitation.
Boosting Morale Through Personal Care
"It's like everybody hasn't had time to take care of themselves and everybody seems like they've not been able to do the things that make them feel kind of normal for a hot second," Sinclair observed. "And so, pretty much everybody needed something that made them just feel pretty and taken care of."
All six US women scheduled to compete in bobsled at the Olympics—Elana Meyers Taylor, Kaillie Humphries Armbruster, Kaysha Love, Azaria Hill, Jasmine Jones, and Jadin O'Brien—received treatments from Sinclair. Additionally, US women's skeleton Olympians Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro also enjoyed sessions in Sinclair's chair. Several other members of the American camp availed themselves of her services, requesting haircuts, trims, conditioning treatments, and colour work as needed.
The athletes enthusiastically shared their transformed looks on Instagram, posting photographic evidence alongside glowing testimonials about the experience.
The Psychology of Preparation
Elana Meyers Taylor emphasised the psychological importance of such personal care rituals for elite athletes. "I feel like a major part of being a woman isn't just necessarily like trying to look good for other people," she explained. "You want to be able to look in the mirror and say, 'Hey, I feel good, I look good,' all that kind of stuff. So, just having the opportunity to get our hair done and feel pretty again when you felt like all winter long that you're just trying to keep it together... it can make a big difference."
Although competitors wear helmets during races, rendering Sinclair's artistry largely invisible during competition, the mental and emotional benefits were deemed invaluable. Meyers Taylor highlighted how this brief respite from training pressures provided crucial psychological preparation before the athletes undergo official Olympic processing procedures.
"To have a second to just like take a deep breath and relax, and have our hair and our scalp massaged, it's really nice," Meyers Taylor reflected. "They'll go to processing and thanks to Jessica, they'll look cute in their pictures, which I love."
A Stylist for All Hair Types
Meyers Taylor, who previously lived in California's Sacramento area where she first met Sinclair, specifically recommended the stylist for her versatility. "She can do Black people's hair, white women's hair, Jessica is a jack of all trades. She could do everything," Meyers Taylor noted. "So, that's why I was like, 'Well, if there's one person we could bring out, it would be Jessica, because she could do it all.'"
Sinclair, who managed to glimpse her first sliding track during this whirlwind Austrian trip, plans to return to her California salon by Friday morning. She expressed pride in contributing to the athletes' Olympic journey, stating, "It's kind of one of those things where you know you're doing something important. You don't really like think about it too much. You just kind of just say, 'I should do this.' I did, and then I got here and I was like, 'Yes, I should definitely do this.'"
As the US sliding teams finalise their preparations, this hair styling interlude represents more than mere aesthetics—it embodies the holistic approach to athlete wellbeing that can provide that crucial competitive edge on the world's biggest sporting stage.
