Key Takeaways
- Angel Reese favors sew-ins over wigs during basketball season because braiding them into her hair keeps her signature waves secure through sweat and physical play.
- Hairstylist Jamal Brice refreshes Reese’s raw Cambodian hair up to three times a month, but she skips game-day appointments to focus on basketball and uses headbands to keep her hair out of her face.
- Off the court, Reese experiments with wigs, braids, and bold colors for appearances including the Met Gala, WNBA All-Star festivities, and Reebok collaborations.
Angel Reese doesn't leave her game-day glam to chance. And according to her hairstylist, keeping those signature waves intact through four quarters of WNBA basketball takes more than a good hair product.
Atlanta-based hairstylist Jamal Brice recently broke down the secrets behind Reese's hairstyles in an interview with CNN, revealing why the Atlanta Dream star prefers sew-ins over wigs during basketball season, how often she gets touch-ups, and why getting her hair done on game day is off-limits.
The biggest secret? Security.
“A wig is held down by an adhesive, so with sweat and makeup and whatever else, it’s more likely for a wig to slide back or move or readjust,” Brice explained.
Instead, Reese typically wears sew-ins, which are attached to braids underneath her hair. Unlike wigs, which rely on adhesive, sew-ins can withstand the sweat and physical demands of professional basketball without requiring constant adjustments.
Her current hairstyle features long, loose waves made from raw Cambodian hair, installed by Brice roughly a month before the interview. Reese liked the look enough to keep it throughout Atlanta's playoff run and into the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries.
But maintaining it requires regular appointments.
“Typically, Angel gets her hair touched up weekly or maybe three times a month,” Brice told CNN.
Those appointments generally last about an hour and can involve tightening loose threads, cleaning her roots, or switching up her style. Reese can wear her current waves wet, blown out, curled, or pressed, depending on the occasion.
However, she won’t schedule an appointment before tipoff.
“She does not get her hair done on game days,” Brice revealed, explaining that Reese prefers to keep her routine simple so she can concentrate on basketball.
Even her trademark headbands serve a practical purpose. Brice said Reese often ties back the ends of her hair or wears a headband to keep her waves from falling into her face during games.
Of course, Reese's relationship with hair extends far beyond the court.
The WNBA star has become a fashion fixture, appearing at the Met Gala, walking in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and making history by wearing her signature Reebok AR1 sneakers on the cover of Vogue Australia.
Those appearances allow Brice to experiment with looks that wouldn't necessarily survive a basketball game. He revealed that many of Reese's hairstyles for Reebok collaborations, the CFDA Awards, and the Met Gala were wigs.
She also sported a bright pink wig during the WNBA All-Star festivities and opted for braids during September's FIBA Women's World Cup.
The attention to her appearance isn't new. Reese has been known for her elaborate game-day styling since her LSU days, when she earned the nickname “Bayou Barbie.” Her wardrobe has continued evolving, from tailored red-carpet outfits to elaborate pregame looks featuring statement accessories.
Brice said Reese's love of glamorous hairstyles reflects a personal style she established long before they started working together.
“She loves her weaves. She loves to keep her hair done,” he said, adding that she also takes good care of her natural hair.
While Reese’s hairstyles may change from one appearance to the next, Brice said the person underneath remains consistent.
“Angel knows exactly who she is, and that's something that I love about her,” he said. “Hair is always evolving, so I feel like she's always evolving. She's always growing.”
