Lupita Nyong’o is continually exploring new avenues through which she can express herself.
The Black Panther actress, who is 40 years old and bald, uploaded a photo to Instagram on Tuesday to show off some new henna art that was “bold and elegant” and was done on her head. She did this in the sake of friendship and cultural respect.
When Lupita Nyong’o was invited to attend the musical rendition of the film Monsoon Wedding that was being performed by her “dear friend” Mira Nair, she knew exactly who to call to have her dressed up in great style for the occasion.
Following her trip to Pakistan for a wedding, the actress was blown away by the artistry of henna artist Sabeen, who had crafted the henna that was applied on the bride’s hands on the special day. After the wedding was done, Lupita Nyong’o is quoted as saying that she made a vow to herself, “One day I will have a reason to work with Sabeen.”
After eighteen months had passed, Nyong’o remained true to her word. After borrowing a sari in shades of sunset and jewelry to match from the bride who served as her source of inspiration, she still had the feeling that something was missing from her look. She then said in the caption of an Instagram post, “In the middle of the night, a vision SHOT into my mind of a henna design covering my bald head!!! Using the canvas that is easily accessible to me, I might be able to create something unique and remarkable in honor of the culture. Because the thought made me feel so energized, I was unable to go back to sleep.
Nyong’o said it was “all [Sabeen’s] innovation” with some slight pointers from the star, such as the request of a widow’s peak to pay “homage to the bindi, Borla / maang tikka,” and brief breaks in the session to make sure both parties were satisfied. After connecting with Sabeen, who had never designed henna for someone’s head before, the two got to work collaborating on the body art.
After a delay of eighteen months, Nyong’o remained true to her word. She felt that something was missing even after she had borrowed a saree in a sunset color and matching jewelry from the bride who had served as her source of inspiration. She then stated in the caption of an Instagram post, “In the middle of the night, a vision SHOT into my mind of a henna design covering my bald head!!! I have the perfect canvas at my disposal to create something unique and one-of-a-kind in honor of the culture. Because I was so energized by the concept, I was unable to go back to sleep.”