Lupita Nyong'o's hair for the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" premiere [1] on Oct. 26 exemplified the endless possibilities of beauty. Her "hair chandelier" — as hairstylist Vernon François [2] called it — was the perfect mix of artful materials and top-notch styling.
From the front, Nyong'o's hair looked like a crown from a faraway land. It was pulled back in a headband of intricately placed macramé and cowrie shells. Flush against the seashells, her own hair sat in a voluminous ridge, behind which you could see thick sections of her hair wrapped in an arch shape. From the back, her hair intertwined in a chandelier-like design, fastened by ropes that funnel down into a V-shape at the base of her neck.
"I used to play with rope and string when I was learning how to finesse the intricacies of hair at the age of eight. This image fills me with so much joy," François captioned an Instagram post [3] of his work for Nyong'o.
While the "Black Panther [4]: Wakanda Forever" star's hairstyle was a full-circle moment for Vernon, it also packed a deeper meaning for the actor. According to Vogue [5], Nyong'o's entire premiere look strived to embody two places all at once: Africa and the fictional country of Wakanda.
Between Nyong'o's Balmain gown, reminiscent of classical statues of North Africa, and her earth-toned makeup embodying the land of Wakanda, we'd say she succeeded. Makeup artist Nick Barose [6] told the publication he "wanted to draw inspirations from the past, present, and future."
Keep reading for a look at Nyong'o's hair chandelier from all angles.
