The Tokyo Olympics Games are inspiring us on so many levels (including our beauty looks)
Tokyo 2020 is still wowing us with many moments of strength, power, camaraderie, and pure talent. It makes sense: the Olympics is the most hotly-anticipated and most prestigious sports event of them all, with the best athletes on the planet coming together to represent their nations and showcasing their athleticism to compete for the greatest title in their sport.
The event, which takes place every four years, is never short of joy, heartbreak, suspense, drama and, of course, gold medals. This year is no different, and after a long five-year wait (after it being postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19), it's perhaps even more inspiring than ever.
As well as inspiring us in sports, determination and dedication, the Olympics also serves some seriously chic beauty looks, from statement nail art, to neon eyeliner, to every hair colour imaginable. This is – of course – not to discount or overlook the profound beauty of seeing athletes attain ultimate excellence, while battling through the hardest competition of their lives, however, some of the lewks alone deserve a medal.
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These Olympians' beauty looks go well beyond serving a pretty face, or a camera ready photo-finish, they also represent confidence, self-expression and freedom to be their best selves, breaking down any stereotypes or glass ceilings in their way.
This year, we’re seeing a lot of electric colours on hair (think tennis player Naomi Osaka with an edgy red and black blend of box braids), long patriotic nails from Namibian sprinter Christine Mbomathe and striking cat-eye liner from Portuguese medalist triple jumper Patricia Mamona. We're also obsessing over American Sprinter Gabby Thomas XXL hair, and can’t stop talking about British long jump finalist Jaz Sawyer and her blond space buns.
For more from Glamour UK Beauty & Features Assistant Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
We've collated some of our favourite Tokyo Olympics 2020 below. Prepare to be mesmerised!
Getty ImagesOsaka opted for a blend of red extensions with her brunette hair to match the Japanese flag and we're totally into it.
Getty ImagesJazmin Sawyer
Team GB's Jazmin Sawyer opted for this cute and contemporary space buns look, with train-track braids and loose blonde afro puffs.
Getty ImagesAthing Mu
The American Olympic champion made sure her space buns were laid on the semis, with a cross over semi-crown braid. For us it's all about the details, so we're loving the USA flag colours on the rubber bands.
Getty ImagesSimone Biles
The champ that is Simone Biles is sporting a gold eyeshadow, to match all the gold medals she has in her roster (spoiler alert, there are many). We are also loving that high ponytail with train track braids.
Getty ImagesStephanie Mawuli
Japanese basketball player Mawuli is serving us Olympic Rings plus a silver/white braids number. Very aesthetically pleasing!
Getty ImagesLu Yufei
Chinese Gymnast Lu Yufei bringing us glitz and glam with glitter over a smokey eye and a punchy red lip. Yes! Bring on the glamour.
Getty ImagesEbrar Karakurt
Just when you think you've seen all the colours of the rainbow on these athletes' heads, here enters Karakurt with a gorgeous pastel-peachy pink. Screenshots to take to hairdressers
Getty ImagesMegan Rapinoe
Rapinoe who plays football for the USA is making us all scramble to find the best lilac hair dyes out there. With good reason!
Getty ImagesSunisa Lee
The newest IT girl of gymnastics Sunisa Lee did not miss this years beauty look with her American-flag-red scrunchy, a crown braid and her big wispy lashes.
Getty ImagesYulimar Rojas
World record holder Rojas is sporting a popular hair shade in the Games this year – a bleach blond pixie cut with a hint of baby pink. If you look close enough you will see it and potentially be obsessed with it. You've been warned.
Getty ImagesPatricia Mamona
Portuguese National sweetheart and triple jumper Patricia Mamona opted for her perfectly groomed brows, signature cat eye and clear lip combo that has never let her down! We are all fangirling right now. Au-naturel!
Getty ImagesNicole Yeargin
Team GB's very own Nicole Yeargin is giving us slick and elevated bun braids with a hint of burgundy. We approve this message.
Getty ImagesChristine Mboma
We are loving Mboma's braid design. The nail designs are icing on the cake. The 200m silver medalist came, saw, and conquered all our hearts and nails-inspo Pinterest boards.
Getty ImagesKenyan volleyball team
The Kenyan volleyball team didn't just come to play, they came to serve lewks. Check out all the fun hair shades, braid styles and nail colours combos between them. This is what kaleidoscope dreams are made of.
Getty ImagesShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Fraser-Pryce opted for a fiery orange/yellow blend for the 100m final, and we couldn't keep our eyes off it.
Getty ImagesShaunae Miller-Uibo
The 200m and 400m sprinter was rocking an electric mermaid blue to match the clear waters and the flag colours of her homeland of the Bahamas.
Getty ImagesGabby Thomas
Thomas is giving us max XXL hair in an auburn shade and we can't get enough of it.
Getty ImagesRaven Saunders
This American shot putter came to the games with a statement and left with a statement. We could not keep our eyes out of her purple and green hair and visually striking masks. That's SO RAVEN!
