"A Celebration of Versatility": The Gorgeous Beauty Details Behind Lupita Nyong'o's July Cover Shoot
Straight from her hairstylist and makeup artist.
Framed by rich drapery, layers of outdoor-printed scenery, and regal solid backdrops, our July cover star, Lupita Nyong'o, sparkles. Whether she's decked out in head-to-toe Chanel or a bold yellow-and-black uniform of Luar, the star of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey commands attention, and her collaborative, highly engaged spirit shines brightly. You can read the Oscar winner's full cover feature here, but I'm spending time with Nyong'o's hairstylist Vernon François and makeup artist Nick Barose to discuss all of the behind-the-scenes beauty details, from expert hairstyling and makeup application tips to specific product IDs. Below, we're diving into all of the glamour.
"My inspiration for Lupita's hair was rooted in celebrating versatility while allowing each look to feel authentic rather than performative," François tells me right off the bat. "Lupita has an extraordinary ability to embody completely different energies while remaining unmistakably herself, and I wanted the hair to reflect that. Some looks felt sculptural and architectural, while others embraced softness, texture, and movement." Across all of them, François noted a sense of confidence, elegance, and quiet strength. Rather than the hair being the dominant fixture, he wanted the actress's strands to become another layer of storytelling that could work in harmony with every creative element.
"Any look I create begins with understanding the intention behind the image," says François when I ask him to reveal his prep and styling process. "Before I touch the hair, I'm thinking about silhouette, proportion, movement, and how the hair will interact with light, wardrobe, and the story we're trying to tell." Of course, preparation is everything. Healthy, well-conditioned hair responds beautifully, so he always begins by ensuring the hair is hydrated and protected. From there, he tailors each technique to the specific look—whether that involves sculpting, defining, stretching, or creating softness and movement. "Throughout the shoot, each style evolved organically while maintaining the integrity of Lupita's hair and the kinky-straight Afro wig we used," he adds.
For products, François relied on Olaplex's No.5L Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner ($34) to hydrate and protect the actress's strands, the No.10 Curl Defining Frizz Reducing Hair Gel ($32) to create definition and hold where needed, and the No.7 Bonding Oil ($32) to add lightweight shine and polish. He says he uses these three products on practically all of his celebrity clients and recommends them to just about anyone due to the excellent foundation they create for healthy, versatile styling regardless of hair texture.
Styling tools were equally important, and François's arsenal included a rattail comb, a wide-tooth comb, sectioning clips, brushes, a diffuser, and a medium-sized Olivia Garden curling iron to create shape and movement. "My hands remain my most important tool," says François. "They allow me to respond intuitively to the hair and refine each look in a way that feels effortless rather than overworked." According to François, it's always important that hair isn't treated as an afterthought. "Hair has the ability to communicate identity, emotion, culture, and personality before a word is even spoken," he adds.
When it comes to Nyong'o's makeup, Barose tells me that he always wants to make sure that the actress's beautiful natural glow can show through the makeup, even when it's super dramatic. "The skin is never suppressed by heavy, opaque foundation or powder that's too matte," he says. "When the skin looks fresh and touchable, the rest of the makeup will always look better."
To prep Nyong'o's skin for our cover shoot, Barose massaged Chanel's Sublimage Le Sérum ($560) into her face and neck. Once it absorbed, he added a small amount of the brand's Sublimage La Crème ($505) to her complexion in addition to eye cream, the Sublimage La Crème Yeux ($320), and lip oil, Sublimage L'Extrait Huile Lèvres ($365). He shares that it's necessary to let all of the skincare sit and absorb for about five minutes before patting away any excess.
"For dark skin like Lupita's, it's important to make sure the T-zone stays matte but to leave any glow that's on top of the cheekbones," Barose explains. "There's a Mehron Makeup product made for the stage that I love called TouchUp Anti-Shine Gel ($15). I used a tiny bit of the Dark Tint on Lupita's forehead and T-zone, which allows me to rely less on powder and to control any extra shine." For foundation, Barose used Chanel's Les Beiges Foundation in B140 ($69) and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in B140 ($61). He prefers to apply liquid foundation with a dense goat-hair brush, like the premium handmade Japanese Hakuhodo model S5555 ($173). This brush is ideal, he says, because it allows more control so you can effortlessly layer or sheer out foundation. To create a beautiful pop of color, Barose reached for Chanel's Joues Contraste Intense Cream-to-Powder Blush in Grenat Profond ($56), a rich, deep red, on the apples of Nyong'o's cheeks.
Since the actress's wardrobe was quite dramatic, Barose didn't want the overall color palette of the makeup to get too vibrant or too busy, which would compete with what Nyong'o was wearing. Instead, he complemented the wardrobe by mostly using neutral brown tones to define and sculpt Nyong'o's features, which he loves to play up.
"I especially like to emphasize her eyes, lips, or both," he tells me. "I love Chanel's Le Crayon Yeux in 01 Noir Black ($36), which is a rich, pitch-black eyeliner that doesn't turn gray on dark skin like most black eyeliners; Chanel's Inimitable Extrême Mascara ($40), which adds volume and length in just a few coats; and I-Envy Cluster Palette Lashes ($8), which look so natural and are easy to use." Last but not least, Barose used Lisa Eldridge's Elevated Glow Balm Concentrate in High-Key Light ($38)—a favorite from the brand's new Marilyn Monroe collection—as a topcoat for eye shadow.
For Nyong'o's lips, Barose's product arsenal included Chanel's Le Crayon Lèvres in 192 and 194 ($37) as well as Lisa Eldridge's Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss in Sorcery ($28) and Chanel's Rouge Coco Hydra Gloss in 448 Opulence ($45) to add shine.
Barose and François agree that the strongest editorial work comes from authentic collaboration. "Every department brings a unique perspective, but the goal is always the same: to create one complete and visual story," François tells me. "Working with artists who trust one another allows everyone to elevate the final image. It never feels like individual contributions competing for attention. It feels like one creative language."
Throughout the day of our cover shoot, Barose and François stayed in constant communication, sharing ideas and making small adjustments as each look evolved. Sometimes, François explains, that meant softening the hair because the wardrobe was making a stronger statement or adding more structure because the makeup had shifted the overall mood.
"We looked at the clothes and discussed with Lupita, and since I frequently work with Vernon, we just try to complement each other's work," adds Barose. For example, when he noticed François was going bigger with the hair at one point, he adjusted Nyong'o's eyeliner to be longer and thicker, even adding lengthier false lashes to ensure everything stayed balanced.
"Working with Lupita is always inspiring because she's deeply engaged in the creative process," concludes François. "She welcomes exploration and thoughtful collaboration, which allows every look to feel considered rather than simply styled. When everyone on set shares that same intention, the final images become more than beautiful. They tell a story."
