Lupita Nyong’o’s Hair For the “Black Panther 2” Premiere Is a Work of Art

Lupita Nyong’o’s hair for the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” premiere on Oct. 26 exemplified the endless possibilities of beauty. Her “hair chandelier” – as hairstylist Vernon François 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 of his work for Nyong’o.

While the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” star’s hairstyle was a full-circle moment for Vernon, it also packed a deeper meaning for the actor. According to Vogue, 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 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.

Related: Janeshia Adams-Ginyard’s “Black Panther 2” Premiere Body Paint Honors Chadwick Boseman