The Surprising Hair Tool Leah Williamson Got Her England Teammates Hooked On For a Quick, Smooth Look.

The Surprising Hair Tool Leah Williamson Got Her England Teammates Hooked On For a Quick, Smooth Look.

 

When Leah Williamson isn’t captaining Arsenal or leading England with her trademark calm authority, she’s quietly shaping another area of the Lionesses’ culture: their grooming routine. Off the pitch, Williamson has become something of a style whisperer, and the latest obsession sweeping through the England camp is thanks to a surprisingly simple tool she swears by—a compact mini hair straightening brush that tames flyaways in seconds.

It started, as most training-ground trends do, with one teammate borrowing something out of convenience. According to those in the camp, Williamson kept the tiny gadget tucked into her kit bag, pulling it out between media duties, meals, and team meetings to smooth the edges of her slick bun or tidy any rogue curls. Its efficiency—and the fact that it heated instantly—caught the eye of players who value anything that cuts down prep time before a match.

For a squad balancing early call times, recovery sessions, and sponsor obligations, speed matters. And this small styling brush, no larger than a glasses case, delivers exactly that. Unlike a traditional straightener, it works like a brush, meaning there’s no faffing with clamps or wrist-twisting angles; you simply glide it over your hair and it leaves things sleek, polished, and camera-ready. Within days, Williamson’s teammates were asking to borrow it, testing it on fringe pieces, ponytail flyaways, and even full styles before heading down to the team bus.

The appeal is obvious. Footballers may be elite athletes, but they’re also public figures constantly photographed, livestreamed, and scrutinised. The rise of behind-the-scenes content—everything from tunnel cam to locker-room TikToks—means they’re being seen in moments that were once private. A tool that can clean up a hairstyle in under a minute is gold.

What makes the brush even more popular is that it works across hair types. In a squad as diverse as England’s, this versatility matters. Players with textured hair have praised it for easing frizz without disrupting natural curl patterns, while others love it for creating a smooth base for braids and buns. Williamson herself reportedly loves it because it doesn’t leave hair looking overly styled; instead, it creates a natural, tidy finish that suits her understated aesthetic.

Teammates have been teasing her for essentially becoming the squad’s unofficial hair-tech influencer, but they’re also grateful. With travel-heavy schedules and limited time to get ready between training and media duties, small conveniences make a big difference. Several players have since bought their own versions of the brush online, with some keeping one in their locker and another in their suitcase.

The trend reflects something bigger within the women’s game: the emphasis on individuality, confidence, and empowerment. The Lionesses have become style icons in their own right, and their grooming choices—on the pitch and off—have helped normalise the idea that athletes can care about fashion and beauty without compromising competitiveness. Leah Williamson, always thoughtful about how she presents both herself and the sport, has helped drive that cultural shift.

It also speaks to the camaraderie within the squad. Passing around the styling brush before team events or match travel has become a small ritual—a quiet bonding moment built around shared mirrors, laughter, and the desire to feel as strong and put together as they play.

In the end, the tool might be tiny, but its impact isn’t. From a practical timesaver to a squad-wide favourite, it’s proof that sometimes the simplest things catch on the quickest. And in true Williamson fashion, even her offhand recommendations carry influence. After all, when your captain shows up looking effortlessly polished, it’s hard not to want in on the secret.