Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Three-Pronged Wellness Routine Helps Her Stay #1 on the Track

At just 25, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has accomplished so much: four-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion, world record holder in the women's 400-meter hurdles—need we say more? And while much of her time is spent sprinting over hurdles on the track, the next race she's running is the one toward holistic well-being.

Now with the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in her rear view mirror, she has *some* free time to re-prioritize an important part of her life: herself. We had the opportunity to chat with McLaughlin-Levrone to hear more about her daily wellness practices, and here's what she had to say about the three most important parts of her routine: hair care, skincare, and self-care.

Learning how to take care of her curls

McLaughlin-Levrone recently added commercial actor to her resumé, as a partner in Olaplex's new haircare campaign, Designed to Defy—a campaign dedicated to showcasing the limitless potential of their products, and the confidence and power you step into when you have healthy hair.

So when McLaughlin-Levrone was approached by the brand to participate in the partnership, she says it was organic. "I have been a fan of Olaplex for a long time," she says. "As someone with curls, who loved using heat for a long time, I was really excited when I found their brand and was able to bring my hair back to life."

The track star explains that her confidence in her natural hair didn't show up until later in life. "For some reason in my mind, I felt more confident with straight hair, because I just didn't know how to manage my curls," she explains. And with many people who have curly hair, this is often a relatable sentiment. She adds that the pandemic was a good time for her to reassess herself, which inspired her to embark on her curly haircare journey.

"Since COVID, it's been a journey of figuring out what works for my hair type, what works for me— especially being an athlete and wearing a lot of ponytails and buns," she says. "I feel like it's been a journey, but I'm really starting to feel confident in what I've found."

And she gave us the scoop on what her Olaplex haircare routine actually looks like. "So in the shower, I'll use No. 8 and No. 3 at the same time, and then I follow up with No. 4 and No. 5," she explains. "For me, it just works. My curls really love it—they feel hydrated, they feel clean, they feel moisturized."

Let's back up a bit and talk a little bit more about what those numbers actually mean. Olaplex has a slew of numbered products ranging from No. 0 to No. 10. While No. 1 and No. 2 are meant for salon use, No. 0 and No. 3 to 10 are made for people to use right at home.

Want to follow McLaughlin-Levrone's exact routine? Then consider adding the following products to your next hair care haul:

• No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask (100 mL, $30)
• No. 3 Hair Perfector (100 mL, $30)
• No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo (250 mL, $32)
• No. 8 Bond Maintenance Conditioner (250 mL, $32)

And for better deals, you may want to check out Olaplex's bundles, too. And just in case you're unsure which products will be best for your hair care needs, you can also take Olaplex's Routine Quiz to learn which of their hair care items will suit your hair type and hair goals.

But for McLaughlin-Levrone, the shower routine is just one piece of the puzzle. The aftercare is just as important, too. "There's a lot of sweat and grime and dirt that can go into [my hair] being outside on the track all the time. So I used to do one wash day a week, now I'm closer to two," she says. "Being out in the sun can definitely dry out my hair, so I stay on top of it with the moisture, even if it's just a leave-in. At home, I try not to put [my hair] up into a ponytail and keep it out as much as possible."

She also adds that a silk scrunchie is an absolute must if she has to put her hair up, and that a silk pillowcase or bonnet is just as important to keep her curls healthy throughout the night. We like the Slipsilk Skinny Scrunchies (3-pack, $24), Suatien Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($12), and Kitsch Black Satin Sleep Bonnet ($22).

Embracing her natural beauty

But McLaughlin-Levrone's au naturel philosophy also extends to her skincare. "I keep [my skincare] very simple," she says. "I think there's so much information, especially on Instagram or TikTok, that makes you want to change your routine every single day. But I've really just learned consistency in this simple routine is what works best."

And her main priority right now is all about skin protection. "I think the biggest thing for me recently has been sunscreen," she explains. "I've been the worst when it comes to sunscreen, if I'm being honest with you, but that's like the number one thing I'm incorporating—both in the morning and out on the track." Her go-to sunscreen right now is the Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen Face Lotion, SPF 70 (2.5 fl oz, $13).

Once she's out the door and ready for the day, McLaughlin-Levrone also shares how important it is to have easy ways to keep her skin clean. "I always keep the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes (2-pack, $10) in my bag as an athlete. Even if I'm like in between practice and weights, and I don't have time to go home and do a full skincare routine, I wipe my face off and at least I feel clean," she says. "That's the number one thing for me—I just want to feel clean. And as an athlete, that's not always very easily accessible to do."

At nighttime, McLaughlin-Levrone has a speedy routine (still not as fast as her, though!) that helps her skin rejuvenate from the long days she spends out in the sun. "I've been very big into some retinol products that I think just kind of work the clock back, considering how many hours I spend outside every day," she explains. "Neutrogena also has their Collagen Bank Moisturizer (2 fl oz, $22), which is really great, lightweight, and easy to put on."

McLaughlin-Levrone also explains that as she's learned how to take better care of her skin, her makeup routine has evolved with it. "I used to, every single day, have like the full beat. But now, I don't wear makeup if I don't have to," she says. "Now it's a very minimal concealer, brows, lip gloss."

And there's a reason her makeup routine has simplified through the years. "I'm working on being okay walking out the house without [makeup]," she explains. "I'm trying to remind myself like, this is who you are. This is who you were made to be. There's beauty in that, so just be confident."

Don't mistake that sentiment to mean that she doesn't ever put makeup on, though. "I love to get cute, and I love to go out," she emphasizes. "But we're embracing the curls, we're embracing the natural skin. It's important to feel confident in who you are created to be naturally. There's things to help enhance, but we don't have to change it overall, you know?"

And if there are a few words of wisdom she wants you to take away, it's this: "Wellness is being content with who you are, and then beauty is able to exude that to the world," she says. "I think it's a journey that a lot of us have to figure out. But I do think it's the contentment within that allows the natural beauty to shine outwardly."

Making intentional time for rest and recovery

For McLaughlin-Levrone, being content with herself also includes taking care of her mind and body. Especially for a high-level athlete, who is always in training and waiting for the next race, McLaughlin-Levrone has really had to learn to make time to rest and relax.

"I have some races coming up with the Gland Slam Track and World Championships and Nationals," she says. "When you have these big years back to back, it can just be overwhelming. So I'm just taking it one day at a time." Fortunately, her support system fully agrees with this mindset. "My coach always says that 'rest' is not a bad word," she explains.

While rest is essential for her, so is body recovery. And this one practice helps keep her cool—literally. "I love a good ice bath, even though I hate them," she says laughingly. "They're so good for just kind of, like, resetting the whole nervous system, clearing the mind, and getting ready for another day on the track."

And with the Grand Slam Track meets happening across the U.S. this year, the World Championships in September in Tokyo, and the 2028 LA Olympic Games not too far away, McLaughlin-Levrone is no stranger to competition.

But there's an area in your life that she says isn't worth competing against anyone with: your well-being. "Whether it's career-wise, beauty-wise, whatever it is—you need to run your own race," she says. "It's so easy to look at the person next to you and worry about what they're doing, but everyone's pace is different. The most success that you can have on your journey is to just focus on what's ahead."