| Beauty
✨ Let’s get into it ✨
⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
Ever wonder how pros like Coco Gauff stay snatched through five sets of sweat and humidity? Celebrity stylist Julien Farel uses "engineered movement" and UVA protection to build high-performance hairstyles that survive intense cardio without ever looking frizzy or messy.
Wait because we need to talk about how hard it is to look iconic while literally sweating through a five-set match. While we’re out here struggling to keep our messy buns from falling apart during a hot girl walk, pro athletes are dealing with actual humidity and intense physical movement on the court. Enter celebrity hairstylist Julien Farel, the man responsible for making sure icons like Serena Williams and Coco Gauff stay snatched from the first serve to the final trophy lift.
Engineering The Perfect Court Look
Styling for a red carpet is basically creating a sculpture that just needs to look good for a few minutes of flash photography. But tennis hair requires something totally different that Farel calls engineered movement. Because players are battling heat and high-intensity cardio, their hairstyles have to survive for hours without turning into a frizzy mess. On the courts, hair has to live for three, four, five hours and the movement has to stay there through sweat, heat, and humidity. Whether it’s an architectural braid for Aryna Sabalenka or a more low-key vibe for Coco Gauff, the goal is to maintain a polished aesthetic that doesn’t interfere with their game.
💫 On the courts, hair has to live for three, four, five hours and the movement has to stay there through sweat, heat, and humidity.
High Performance Hair Secrets
To get these looks ready, Farel treats his process almost like a Formula 1 pit stop—it has to be fast, precise, and invisible once the athlete starts playing. He doesn’t just wing it with a hair tie; he uses a specific system starting with his own Restore hair treatment to fight frizz before any tension even touches the strands. For the actual styling, he relies on sculpting gels and products containing UVA protection to shield hair from the sun. He also makes sure everything stays scent-free so nothing runs into their eyes during a match. It’s all about that perfect balance of functionality and brand-ready beauty. Even when the look seems simple, like a slicked bun, it takes serious skill to make it look effortless while being strong enough to withstand a professional athlete’s energy. Are you team slicked-back bun or do you prefer letting your natural texture flow during summer?
❓ People Also Ask
What is engineered movement in hairstyling?
Engineered movement is a specialized styling technique used to create hairstyles that maintain both shape and fluidity during intense physical activity. This method ensures that hair remains polished and aesthetic while surviving the extreme heat, sweat, and humidity experienced by professional athletes on the court. Rather than creating static sculptures like red carpet styles, this approach allows for architectural braids or slicked looks that can withstand several hours of high-intensity cardio without turning into a frizzy mess.
How does Julien Farel prepare hair for professional tennis players?
Julien Farel prepares hair for athletes by using a precise, fast-paced system designed to fight frizz and protect the strands during play. The process begins with his signature Restore hair treatment to manage texture before any tension is applied to the hair. He then utilizes sculpting gels and specific products containing UVA protection to shield the players from sun exposure. Additionally, he ensures all products used are scent-free so that nothing irritates the athletes' eyes while they are competing.
Why do professional tennis players need specialized hairstyling?
Professional tennis players require specialized hairstyling because they must maintain a polished appearance while battling intense physical movement and environmental factors. Unlike standard styling, tennis hair needs to endure three to five hours of high-intensity cardio, extreme heat, and heavy sweating without losing its structure. Specialized techniques ensure that hairstyles like architectural braids or slicked buns remain functional and brand-ready, preventing hair from becoming a frizzy distraction that could interfere with their performance during a match.
Which tennis stars have been styled by Julien Farel?
Several iconic professional tennis players have been styled by celebrity hairstylist Julien Farel to ensure they look polished on the court. He is responsible for creating high-performance looks for major stars such as Serena Williams and Coco Gauff. His work also includes designing specific styles for other top competitors like Aryna Sabalenka. By applying his engineered movement technique, he ensures these athletes remain snatched and professional from their very first serve until they lift their final trophy.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Elle