Lupita Nyong o Stars in "Braids"

When I was in undergrad here in the U.S.

I really wanted to get my hair braided.

I took this Peter Pan Bus to New York

to get it braided at the African salons

and I was so morbidly disappointed.

I went home for the summer and an aunt of mine

who has a hair salon, I went and asked her to teach me.

I learned how to cornrow and box braid and twist.

Now, I really enjoy braiding hair for my friends.

(upbeat music)

I have six friends with me today.

Miriam, Hallie, Jennifer, Tashal,

Nontsikelelo, and then Stacey.

When I got back to school from learning

how to braid hair in Kenya, I also decided

that it was gonna be my side hustle.

I was gonna make some money (laughs)

braiding people s hair.

So I went to the great troubles of creating a poster,

but I just didn t have the heart to charge anyone

so my friends would make appointments with me

and I d spend the whole weekend braiding their hair

and then I just couldn t charge them.

So I never made any money from it.

Lupita used to braid my hair in class.

Well, sometimes getting my hands busy

would be a nice way to stay in the room. (laughs)

And not asleep.

The trick I m learning is that you have to keep it loose.

I ll take note of that.

Whereas with African hair, that s exactly

the thing that is the enemy.

What I love about my hair texture and this kind of hair,

you can do all sorts of interesting angular shapes with it.

Braiding just tells a story.

It s just like sculpting the locks really.

These are known as Bantu knots or China bumps.

Your hair is your frame, it s so important.

If you jack someone s hair up, (laughs)

the world sees it.

[Woman] Please don t jack my hair up. (Lupita laughs)

No, I trust you.

For me, braiding hair is an intimate thing.

It s like getting up close and personal

and I like to do it for people that I know

and love and trust.

I think I m just attracted to people who are honest

and expressive.

I like playful people as well.

People who are not afraid of their inner child

and these friends of mine are that.