One of the most highly anticipated appearances at the Golden Globes was from Lupita Nyong’o, the Kenyan actress who has gone from little-known up-and-comer to worldwide fashion and beauty icon with whiplash-inducing speed. Surprising to no one, she did not disappoint. And I’m not just talking about her showstopping Ralph Lauren gown or her flawless (as per usual) makeup. That hair? Gorgeous. The end result—an edgy departure from her signature, simple Afro—even caught Lupita herself off guard (in a good way). “She gasped when she saw it,” says hairstylist Larry Sims, the man behind her ‘do. I caught Sims before he hit the Globes’ after-parties to get the scoop.
Where did the inspiration for Lupita’s hair come from?
Lupita is an icon, and I thought about other women who are icons. Grace Jones was a big inspiration for me, and she’s the perfect muse. [Lupita] wasn’t wearing an over-the-top dress, so I had to keep her hair somewhat demure.
Why do you think her hair works so well with her fiery Ralph Lauren number?
Well, we talked about the dress itself: It’s simple, gorgeous, and it really inspired the asymmetrical shape with her hair. The line of the gown is minimal, and I wanted to make sure that the hair looked modern and strong. We didn’t want to go too messy or too slick. The style elongated her body even more and emphasized the drama of the cape in the back.
Give me the quick how-tos.
You would think you couldn’t do much with her hair, because it’s short, but I wanted to add a side part. I didn’t want to go too straight and deviate too far from who she is. I used Go Pro Curls Curl-Licious Mist [Sims’ own line] to prep, then I blew it out with a blow-dryer with a comb attachment. To give it more length at the roots, I used a Denman brush. Then I created a side part, smoothed the right side of her hair down, and lightly ran a bit of Go Pro Curls Butter Bouncin’ through her hair to enhance her natural texture. I finished it with Got2b 2 Sexy hair spray to hold the shape throughout the night.
What’s the best thing about working with Lupita?
I work with a lot of seasoned actresses, and this is my first time being able to see someone rise from the ground up. I feel like I’m living a dream. I can’t believe any of this. And for her to be the phenomenal talent that she is—it’s amazing to see her celebrated in this way.
—Style.com
