Hairstyles and Headdresses by J.D. Okhai Ojeikere

londonprintstudio presents Nigerian photographer J.D Okhai Ojeikere’s images of ornate hairstyles and headdresses.

The elaborately sculpted hair of female African models is captured in meticulous detail through beautifully composed black and white photography. The series simultaneously celebrates hairstyling as a transient artwork and forms an extensive visual archive reflecting Nigerian cultural traditions.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest 20th century African photographers, Ojeikere earned international acclaim through his Hairstyle series; a personal project begun in 1968, which grew to encompass 1,000 photographs spanning 40 years until his death in 2014.

Ojeikere elevates hair design from fashion to a fine art form, celebrating their intricate patterns, sculptural qualities, and abstraction. In contrast to the variety of complex hairstyles represented, Ojeikere’s photography uses a consistent and understated visual language. In these literally back-to-front portraits, softly-lit hairstyles occupy the majority of the composition without distraction from props or backdrops.