Jayèma has had a World Cup experience like no other. Who else but the London hairstylist has worked with footballers from England, Brazil, the United States, and Canada, hung out with Lamine Yamal and his family, and had no idea who Lionel Messi was until recently?
Who else but Jayèma went to her first men’s football match and left early because the atmosphere at the chaotic Mexico vs. England game at the Azteca Stadium was too “rowdy”? Who else has made so many footballers feel great about their hair and themselves, all while being the hardest-working stylist and male groomer in elite sports?
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“Oh, I’m tired,” Jayèma says the morning after flying back to Los Angeles from Mexico City. “All those early mornings, late nights, and missed flights.” She might soon be heading to Kansas City or Miami if Marcus Rashford or Noni Madueke “give me a call to touch up their hair” before England plays Norway in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. “I’m always tired, but my work ethic is unmatched. I’m always available.”
Jayèma smiles in the California sunshine when I ask if she enjoyed her short break from work after accepting a ticket to last Sunday’s intense match. “It was good, but I didn’t stay until the end. It was too much. Someone was shouting right in my ear, and people were throwing drinks everywhere. The Mexicans were rowdy. I heard the England boys had a rough welcome when they arrived. I was like, ‘God, please let them win. Make them feel like they’re not alone.’”
After the draining game, Jayèma was confused. “I still don’t get football, like how it ends with people crying,” she says in her London accent, her eyes widening at the extreme emotions. “But I won’t lie to you. Even though I’m not really into it, I did feel proud when England won. I saw real joy.”
Did she jump up when Jude Bellingham scored twice—especially since she had been joking with him earlier in the week? “No, but I was happy we won. It was my first ever football game.” Jayèma pauses. “Actually, I’ve been to a women’s soccer game because I work with some great female footballers.”
She was shocked by footage of Jordan Henderson breaking his wrist during the celebrations. Jayèma, who is warm and friendly, was surprised to find out Henderson was on the England team.
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England’s Marcus Rashford gets his hair braided by stylist Jayèma. Photograph: Jayema
“I didn’t know who he was, and he helped me carry my bags when I got to the England house. He was such a gentleman, and I had no idea he was a player. I kept going up to him when I needed help with the Wi-Fi. I was the only woman there, but everyone was so gentlemanly.
“I didn’t even know Jude was a player. But we figured out that my birthday is the same as Jude’s and Eberechi Eze’s. All three of us share the same birthday [June 29]. So it was mind-blowing to look them up and see their millions of followers.”
Jayèma, whose real name is May Jike, comes from Plaistow in east London. Her brand name combines the first two letters of her brother’s, mother’s, and her own first names. She has been on a successful business path since she was a teenager. “I was one of the first people to have an Afro-Caribbean salon in Vicarage Field shopping centre in Barking. I was only 17 and had the vision at 15. But I’ve always been focused. Even when my friends were having fun at university, I was working on a plan. Things are happening now, and it doesn’t surprise me because of the work I’ve put in. I’ve paid my dues.”
Her work was noticed by top female basketball players in the WNBA, including the great A’ja Wilson, who posted about Jayèma on social media and invited her to tAt the Paris Olympics two years ago, Jayèma was introduced to LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. “Everyone was shocked I didn’t know who they were. They liked that I treated them like normal people. I did their hair, ate with them, and laughed with them. They were really down-to-earth and easy to relate to – just like the Super Bowl guys I’ve worked with.”
Even though she’s based in London, Jayèma flies back and forth to the US. Her work has caught the attention of more footballers, like Raphinha, whose hair she braided again during Brazil’s World Cup. “I feel like we created a signature look for him. He’s such a lovely guy.”
Madueke and Rashford asked her to visit the England camp before their opening match against Croatia. “Noni is such a character. He’s so funny. I love both of them. Noni knows what he wants, but Rashford told me he was new to braiding, so he let me choose what I thought suited him. I looked at his face shape and vibe and gave him something to boost his confidence.”
“I remember the first day I finished working with them. They were about to head to their match, and I was on a flight to LA. I prayed for them and went to sleep. When I woke up and it was time to get off the plane, my phone was buzzing. Rashford had scored, and wow, I was so happy for them. He told me he loved his hair, and a lot of attention was on his look after the goal. But back then, I didn’t realize how big the World Cup was. I know we love football in the UK, but I didn’t know it was this huge – like all the love I’m getting, with people saying, ‘Thank you for looking after our boys.’ I’m like, ‘Wow! Give me another medal!'”
“I told Rashford I’m the least sports-minded person in the world, but I’ve ended up in sports. Over the last year and a half, I’ve been the only stylist who has worked across most of the major sporting events. I feel like a lot of athletes aren’t really sure what they want, and they’re also scared because their main priority is to perform well. But they’ve seen my work, and they know they can trust me to create a style that will only help their game.”
Messi proved his greatness again at this tournament, but Jayèma laughs when I mention he doesn’t have the coolest haircut in football. “You know what? The England team told me about Messi. I don’t think I’d even seen his face until a few weeks ago. I told one of the female soccer players I work with that if I saw Messi, I wouldn’t recognize him. She was like, ‘What!? He’s the only person I’d ask for a picture with.’ But I had heard of [Cristiano] Ronaldo.”
Jayèma moves among the top circles of football without recognizing many big stars – while building a natural friendship with Lamine Yamal’s family.
“I was asked to style his mom’s hair, and afterward everyone was like, ‘Oh my God! You’re big time now. How do you know Lamine Yamal?’ I was like, ‘You mean her little son?’ That’s when I realized he’s one of the biggest footballers in the world. I had been in their house, hanging out with his grandma and the whole family, eating chicken and fried rice, and they were cooking for me. I didn’t know what it meant until I posted a picture and my friends went crazy.”
Has she worked on his hair? “No, he keeps his natural hair. I just do his mom’s hair, and during the World Cup, I saw them all together. Me and his mom are cool, and Lamine’s [three-year-old] brother Keyne [who has become a viral sensation] is so smart. He loves African dancing, and I ask his mom, ‘How does he know all the songs at his age?'”She just laughs. “They’re so humble. His mom told me the story of their struggles and how she chose his name—because Lamine and Yamal were the two men who helped them when he was very young. I got goosebumps hearing them tell it. They’re lovely people.”
What about Erling Haaland? “I heard about him for the first time yesterday,” Jayèma exclaims. “He’s got that long blond hair and he’s big.”
Would it be an interesting challenge to work with Haaland’s flowing locks? “It’s possible because I went through his profile and he’s done braiding before.”
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Jayèma had opened a salon in Barking by the time she was 17. Photograph: Jessica Pons/The Guardian
There’s no chance of that happening this week because, when the Ghana squad tried to book Jayèma before playing England, she felt it was her duty to refuse. “But [Haaland] could reach out after the World Cup since he plays in the UK, right? It could happen.”
As we look ahead to the possibility that England could make the World Cup final, I ask Jayèma if she knows what happened to Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Jadon Sancho after the Euro final against Italy at Wembley in 2021. She shakes her head, and then, hearing about the racist abuse the young footballers suffered after each missed a penalty in the shootout, Jayèma looks horrified.
“I don’t understand it. These [racist] people want them to play for England, but how do they expect them to perform when they’re being abused?”
“I started seeing [racism] when I began posting about the players. I was really surprised by some of the comments. Why are people so harsh on these young men who desperately want to do well? People don’t understand the sacrifices they make. They have such a strong work ethic and are so positive.”
Jayèma smiles when I say the England team, with their mix of ethnicities and hairstyles, is an uplifting antidote to racism and divisive politics. “Exactly. Football is meant to bring us together and create unity. With my work, I just want to show that these footballers are amazing people.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the headline Give me another medal Meet the hair stylist who has taken over the World Cup
Beginner Questions
Q Who is the hair stylist taking over the World Cup
A That refers to a professional hair stylist who travels with a national soccer team to keep the players looking sharp during the tournament The quote Give me another medal is a playful way of saying their styling work is as important as winning
Q Why is a hair stylist at the World Cup
A Players want to look their best on the world stage The stylist helps them maintain their signature haircuts braids or fades throughout the monthlong tournament boosting their confidence and personal brand
Q Is this just about haircuts
A No Its about grooming beard trims and even skincare The stylist becomes a trusted part of the teams support staff helping players feel cameraready for matches interviews and photos
Advanced InDepth Questions
Q How does a hair stylist actually take over the World Cup
A They become a celebrity in their own right Social media clips of them cutting hair in the locker room or hotel go viral Players hype them up and fans start recognizing the stylist as a key figure in the teams culture and morale
Q Whats the biggest challenge for a World Cup hair stylist
A Time and pressure They have to work fast and deal with different hair types They also must handle the stress of a bad haircut ruining a players focus before a big game
Q Do players really ask for a medal for their hair
A Yes its a running joke If a player scores a goal or wins a match while looking great they might jokingly say the stylist deserves a medal too It highlights how much the players value their appearance as part of their identity
Practical Tips Examples
Q How can I get the same World Cup haircut my favorite player has
