Gabby Douglas hires top stylist after hair-do criticism at Olympics

London, August 17 (ANI): US gymnast Gabby Douglas has booked top celebrity stylist Ted Gibson after she was criticized for her unkempt look during the London Olympics.

And judging by the extremely sleek locks the 16-year-old Olympian has showed off during a string of television appearances this week, Gibson may very well have worked some of his magic already.

The sportsperson's team of managers and agents had approached Texas-born Gibson, who owns the Ted Gibson Salon in Manhattan's Flatiron district, last week.

It was right before the athlete commenced a jam-packed publicity tour that saw her appear alongside First lady Michelle Obama on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' as well as 'The Late Show with David Letterman' among other programs and activities.

The hair stylist admitted that styling Douglas' hair will prove challenging, telling the website: "It's tricky because Gabby is 16 and I don't want to do anything to make her look 25 years old."

"Together with her vision, I hope we can create something that's easy and looks great no matter what she's doing or where she is," the Daily Mail quoted him as telling to The Daily Beast.

"I hope to create something that makes her feel good about herself as well. That's so important and a big part of what I do for all the women I work with," he said.

He further labelled the criticism over Douglas' hair "shameful."

"I couldn't believe it and still can't. You have this young girl doing amazing things, and the conversation becomes about her hair? It was ridiculous and shameful," he said.

As the teenager's mother, Natalie Hawkins, pointed out in the past, Gibson too believed that many of the sporting champion's critics are African-American women themselves, who are known to go to great lengths to keep their dark hair under control.

"Women of color spend millions and millions of dollars on their hair to look good, so we know how seriously we take the issue of hair," he said.

The stylist also said that he hoped to help the teenager "feel good about being in her own skin."

"Women know coming to me is a soothing and nurturing experience that compliments the styles I give them,' he said. 'It's about the hair, and then it's about much more," he said.

"I'm excited because she's so young and I have a chance for input in the brand of Gabby.

"There are so many opportunities for someone like her to shine, and I get to be part of that on the ground floor. It's pretty cool," he added. (ANI)