The Olympics aren't just about athleticism; there's plenty of beauty inspiration across the various competitions, not to mention beauty curiosity — including how artistic swimmers remove their hair gel, which has become a trademark of the sport.
Daniella Ramirez, one artistic swimmer from Team USA, actually answered some of the questions about the signature look for the sport, which was formerly referred to as synchronised swimming.
Ramirez, who competed with Team USA in the Paris Olympics, actually made her video answering how artistic swimmers remove their hair gel last year and posted it on TikTok in May 2023. In the video, Ramirez shows the start-to-finish process of removing the rock-hard, shiny hair gel.
First, she takes a small comb and gently breaks up some of the surface, lifting and peeling where she can. The protective gel is so thick and sticky that she can literally pull it right off, though she notes that the front of her hair had hardened, making it more difficult to remove.
Once Ramirez has a decent amount of the gel peeled off, she takes out her bun and braids to reveal curls — and a little breakage from the removal process.
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So what is all that slimy gel, you ask? Some of Ramirez's teammates spoke with Vogue US during the Olympics, explaining that it's actually made with Knox gelatin.
"Our signature hairstyle is a tight braided bun, which needs a lot of hair ties, bobby pins, and hairnets," Keana Hunter shared. “[The gelatin] is usually combed into our hair hot when it's the consistency of honey. Put a few layers to help it stay as long as possible.”
Once it's time for removal, they follow a process like Ramirez's, then take a hot shower. As for makeup, the team opts for waterproof formulas to stay in place while they're swimming.
The 2024 Summer Olympics may be over, but we'll be thinking about them for a long time. Learning about the intricacies of the athletes's professional beauty routines is an added bonus, but where else can you see athletes who have trained their entire lives for this moment, like Simone Biles, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Jordan Chiles, or those who show off their skills and become an internet icon in the process, like Pommel Horse Guy?
This article originally appeared on Teen Vogue.
