{"id":47158,"date":"2026-07-09T06:33:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/47158\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T06:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:33:13","slug":"the-perth-hairdresser-responsible-for-dallas-cowboys-cheerleader-faith-wards-headline-making-ponytail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/47158\/","title":{"rendered":"The Perth hairdresser responsible for Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Faith Ward\u2019s headline making ponytail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Never in her wildest dreams did Perth hairdresser Kirsten Smith<\/a> think she would play a small part in changing the stereotypes and \u2018hairography\u2019 of America\u2019s most iconic NFL cheerleading team \u2014 but she did just that.<\/p>\n

Smith<\/a> was responsible for Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Faith Ward\u2019s hair in the audition headshot seen in the new season of the Netflix show America\u2019s Sweethearts, in which the Perth dancer heavily features after making the team last year.<\/p>\n

Following the 2025 team announcement, DCC fans noticed that Ward was the only cheerleader with her hair styled in a ponytail, contrary to the hair-down look that has become synonymous with the squad.<\/p>\n

DCC director Kelli Finglass\u2019 decision to go against team tradition caused some uproar among hardcore fans but Ward was more than happy after admitting her head sweat didn\u2019t make for the most aesthetic look.<\/p>\n

Smith, who has been hairdressing for 13 years, said the original ponytail was born after Ward asked her to do her hair for updated dancing portfolio photos after exiting a job working on cruise ships.<\/p>\n

\"FaithCamera IconFaith Ward’s headshot submitted during her audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Credit: Meiji Nguyen<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew we wanted to do a sleek ponytail so that she could dance easily and for her photographer to capture the best content of her dancing, but also her face,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

Smith created the look with hair extensions and her signature \u201c45Degree\u201d height that allows the ponytail to be seen from the front and helps elevate Ward\u2019s cheekbones.<\/p>\n

Smith, who is based at Bayse Collective in Mount Hawthorn, said it was surreal seeing her work featured in the hit show and she \u201chad to watch it a few times to really let it sink in\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Faith first told me that she was auditioning for the Cowboys, I was so excited for her. I knew she had used the headshot of the ponytail we did together in her portfolio application, and we had spoken briefly when she was at training camp about tricks to help her get it to work herself,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing it on Netflix, and it was shown a fair few times, was surreal though. I felt so proud both of her and of myself, and the makeup artist Ella Cromey \u2014 our work was on an international platform that millions of people watched and saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Faith told me that Kelli wanted her hair to look exactly like her photo, I was like \u2018Well, when do I jump on the plane?<\/p>\n

\u201cBut jokes aside, I really feel like it was the smartest move she made. Even though my part is small, I feel a quiet pride knowing we helped change the face of DCC stereotypes and \u2018hairography\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Smith said she was a fan of the DCC\u2019s hair-down look, she was a \u201crealist hairstylist\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn individual\u2019s unique hair type and ability to hold a curl, and, as Faith said, \u2018head sweat\u2019 factor, are paramount to aesthetics,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get that some fans are up in arms about it for tradition\u2019s sake, but at the end of the day, it just shows how the DCC are open to evolving, and they obviously wanted her so much that they were willing to change this. It\u2019s a huge compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"FaithCamera IconFaith Ward outside Crown Towers on her visit home to Perth this month. Credit: Ross Swanborough\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

Smith first met Ward, who was born in Wellington, when she did her hair for her 21st birthday party and has done her hair on special occasions over the last two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you know Faith, you know that she is one of the most humble, authentic people out there,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow you see her on the show is literally how she is in real life. I think I feel most proud of how she represents herself with such authenticity and grace, and obviously the fact she is a Perth local is awesome too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward is the first New Zealander to make the DCC and the third Australian, following in the footsteps of former members Angela Nicotera Brown and Jinelle Esther.<\/p>\n

The 2026 DCC team is expected to be announced this month.<\/p>\n