Blonde extensions stacked into geometric cubes that seem to defy gravity: that is the latest creation from Susan "Susy" Oludele, and it is stopping people mid-scroll. The celebrity hair artist debuted the structural updo on an albino model, and the result looks less like a hairstyle and more like a wearable sculpture. This is the same woman behind Beyoncé's iconic Lemonade braids, so the ambition here should surprise no one.
The look is built around architectural precision. Susy engineered the blonde braids into a stacked, crown-like tower that sits at the top of the head, turning the idea of a traditional box braid completely on its head. It is a futuristic interpretation of African braiding, the kind of work that has kept her in the orbit of clients like Solange, Zoë Kravitz, and Megan Thee Stallion.
The model's beauty styling keeps the focus exactly where it belongs. A clean red matte lip cuts a sharp contrast against her skin, while chunky gold rectangular earrings and a heavy link chain bring a sense of luxury without competing with the hair.
What makes the achievement feel even bigger is where it comes from. Susy was born in the Bronx to Nigerian parents and started braiding at nine years old after her mother, too tired to do it herself, told her to figure it out. She credits "YouTube University" as part of her education, went on to open Hair by Susy salons in both Brooklyn and LA, and has navigated stretches of homelessness and jobs at McDonald's on the way to becoming a global authority on Black hair.
She also sells an "Albino Royalty" poster series that celebrates the exact intersection of albinism and artistry on display in this latest look. If this is what figuring it out looks like, we cannot wait to see what comes next.
Originally published by Bella Naija Beauty.