From the mineral-rich, technologically advanced kingdom of Wakanda, hails the mighty Black Panther…and an empire of beautiful hair.
Thanks to the talent and vision of Black Panther’s lead stylist, Camille Friend, along with the beautifying properties of Leonor Greyl’s iconic, natural treatments––the men and women of Marvel Studios’ mythical Wakanda present a striking mass of gorgeous, healthy, hair.
“What I love about the Leonor Greyl line is the fact that the products are lightweight and moisturizing. I can layer them beautifully, without buildup.” -Camille Friend
On February 15th movie audiences discovered a whole new universe in Black Panther, one that warrants a fresh crop of styles. “I had total freedom with this project,” says Friend. “Marvel Studios gives a lot of leeway to create. The inspiration was traditional and tribal, with a regal, modern twist––a futuristic, Afro-Punk vibe,” she muses.
Friend and her team turned to her top five Leonor Greyl treatments to condition and hydrate the natural styles, as well as the hair underneath the wigs and headdresses.
1. Huile Secret de Beaute
2. Masque Fleurs de Jasmin
3. Serum de Soie Sublimateur Styling Serum
4. Crème de Soin a L’Amarante Detangling Conditioner
5. Shampoo Crème Moelle de Bambou Nourishing Shampoo
“On African American hair, no matter what goes on top––wigs, wraps, crowns––it’s essential to keep the integrity of the hair underneath. One of my trade secrets is to deep treat that hair with moisturizing agents like creams, oils, conditioners and serums.” -CF
Camille’s Hair Rules
Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o)- “As a Wakandan spy who travels the world, her role demands a variety of hairstyles. Lupita’s hair is under wigs or headdresses for most of the film. I insisted on keeping her own hair well moisturized underneath with the Masque Fleurs de Jasmin and Serum de Soie Sublimateur.”
Okoye (Danai Gurira)- “Her Dora Milaje (crown guard) look requires her to be bald. We had to shave her head everyday––and fresh, bald scalps are tender, like baby skin. They need special care, so every shave was completed with a soothing oil massage (Huile Secret de Beaute) before going to makeup for the custom head tattoos!”
Ramonda (Angela Bassett) - “Angela’s white locs were a real artisanal feat, created by hand by a number of African women, with human hair. A spritz of Huile Secret de Beaute, massaged in the palm, is an ideal moisturizer for locs, it’s super light and very effective.”
Shuri (Letitia Wright)- “Her braids didn’t require a lot of product, so I used my favorite cocktail mix of the Huile de Beaute and the Serum (equal parts) to soothe her scalp.”
Even the male actors benefited from Camille’s Leonor Greyl faves
Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan)- “The serum mixture that I used on Letitia’s scalp was also used on Michael’s locs. African American hair needs shine for the camera, but not too much oil. This mixture provides the perfect mix of sheen and hydration.”
