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Azzi Fudd for Madison Reed Forbes/Madison Reed Everyone has their own peculiar beauty beliefs. Some are pretty standard, like never leaving the house without setting spray, or refusing to fall asleep with makeup on, no matter the circumstance. Then there are the more unconventional, almost ritualistic practices people swear by: eggs and mayo hair masks, mouth tape, chin tape, and every other kind of tape meant to keep you perfectly “adhesived” through the night. But for many, our beauty beliefs aren’t just our own, they're a product of our environment, passed down from our mothers, mentors, teammates, etc. As an athlete, there’s a lot you miss out on. Many athletes skip things like prom, graduation, or traditional college parties, and they’re perhaps don’t have the best rep’ when it comes to personal style and following beauty or self-care trend. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them. Between practices, games, training sessions, constant sweating, and multiple showers a day, it’s far easier to just wash your hair and throw it up than to actually style it. And spending an hour on glam is a tough sell when you’re going to sweat it off or could use that extra hour of sleep before practice. And for UConn guard Azzi Fudd, those beauty blockages or self-care growing pains followed as such, but she’s had some help along the way. On Her Hair, Growing Up And Playing Sports "It was 100% growing pains," says Fudd in relation to her hair. "I’m not even going to say it was growing pains just growing up, it was growing pains until like, a couple of years ago. That’s when I started to love and embrace my curls." For Fudd, who recently won a national championship with her 2024-2025’ UConn team, runs her own podcast, and practices in between shoots, press and an ambassador for Paula’s Choice and Madison Reed , she says, these days it’s easier for her to just "put my hair up in a ponytail and bun" for ease and connivence. "I never had the desire to learn how to do my hair. I always just wanted to put it up because I was always on the go, whether it was to practice, games, school, etc., I was always going somewhere, always doing something," she says. "So when I had free time, I didn’t want to be doing my hair. I’d rather be hanging out with my family, watching a movie, or spending time with my friends." MORE FOR YOU Uconn Womens Basketball Team For Madison Reed Madison Reed During that time, Fudd says she stuck to her signature hairstyle — two braids and a headband — but she noticed and admired the box braids, curls, and other styles her teammates wore. Fudd, who grew up of mixed heritage but was surrounded by mostly Black teammates, remembers those beauty and hair talks that would happen between practices fondly. "They’d do my hair and edges because I wouldn’t know how," she says. But she admits she never picked up any tips or tricks from them, “I wish I would’ve learned from them when I had the resources.” "My hair was cute when I was younger ’cause it was thinner and my mom would do it more," she says. "But I’d say probably from second grade to middle school, my hair was never done nicely unless it was right after a wash. So when I look back at those pictures [from childhood], I’m like, ‘Mom, how did you let me leave the house?’" On Embracing Her Curls "I didn’t straighten my hair often , only for special occasions like my birthday, prom dances, whatever, but I was like, I’m not gonna straighten my hair again. Like, I’m gonna embrace the curls." She mentions that a part of that hair journey was wearing it naturally and out of a typical ponytail or bun as a start. “I’m gonna love wearing it down. I’m gonna love styling it. I’m just gonna love everything about it,” she’d tell herself. "And I feel like I really have these last few years, so I’m really happy about that." On Protecting Her Curls And Dyeing Her Hair Azzi Fudd, like the rest of her teammates on the UConn women's basketball team, partnered with Madison Reed in 2024 for a three-year naming rights partnership and ambassador program. With that, Fudd and her teammates have been able to do sponsored posts, star in campaigns, and even get their own Madison Reed ColorWonder color via Paige Bueckers, named “UConnic Blonde.” For this campaign, Fudd dyed her hair “Plum and Then Some” from their demi-permanent line. Madison Reed Color Wonder Madison Reed "I’ve had lots of teammates color their hair, and I always thought it looked great on them, and I was like, I don't know if I'd ever do it. I'm a very indecisive person, like I never felt confident to commit to a color," she says. "But when Madison Reed came out with their demi-permanent line, I was really excited to try that out." She continues, "But I'm also really conscious of what I put in my body and on my body. I'm working on eating clean and just living a cleaner lifestyle. So with dyeing your hair, it's all these chemicals along with damaging your hair." Fudd explained, "I didn't wanna bleach my hair while I'm on my journey embracing my curls. I didn't wanna do anything that was then gonna ruin them." Fudd remembers hearing an ad for Madison Reed on the radio when she was in the car with her mom and hearing buzzwords like ‘less chemicals’ and that the brand was made for Amy Errett, the CEO of Madison Reed’s daughter, at the time. "So it’s just knowing that a brand cares about more than how you look and your beauty, but that they wanna make sure their products are the best of the best, the cleanest, and that they want their customers to feel confident," she says. “I loved everything about that, so I was like, yeah, of course, I wanna dye my hair.” On Her Partnership With Madison Reed For Madison Reed, the brand offers a non-typical opportunity to their partners, which include providing Team ColorWonder with an equity stake in the Madison Reed business, opportunities to franchise a Madison Reed Hair Color Bar in the future, access to internships with Madison Reed for UConn students, and exposure to Madison Reed’s internal and external networks. Fudd, amidst her public obligations, school, and basketball, has taken advantage of this opportunity by pursuing an internship with Madison Reed for her MBA program. "I feel a lot of companies say all the right things, but when it comes time to back what they’re saying and provide action, many don't. But Madison Reed and Amy [Errett] follow through on everything they say, and I love that about them. Another part of this partnership also comes with an equity deal and partnership, "I think it's such an amazing opportunity. It shows how they want to build us, not just as athletes, but as people." On Her Hair Heroes "My teammates would help me do my hair because I didn’t know how to, or my mom wasn’t there," Fudd said bluntly. "I had a couple of teammates who knew what products worked well for them, and their curls were just beautiful," she says. "I looked up to that, and looking back, their curls still look incredible." Fudd said that going into college, she made it her goal to embrace her hair the same way. "I wanted to wear my hair down like they do and have styles like they do when they wear their hair," she said. She also names her hairstylist, Hayley Logan, who styled her hair for this particular campaign shoot, and says, "She never misses." Fudd, who puts her full trust in her, says she never gives directions when she sits in her chair. "She gives me tips and products — I love working with her, and she’s my favorite person to work with," she said. "Sometimes I just think about how lucky I am that I get to consider this hairstylist one of my friends," she continues. "Being able to be close with her and have these hair conversations. It’s the best thing." On Her Product Must Haves: "Deodorant: Dove, Paula's Choice Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer and Arachne Hair Ties" Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
