Meet the London hairdresser who crafted Cynthia Erivo's wig for Wicked in just three days

A NORTH London hairdresser played a pivotal role in the production of Wicked after being tasked with creating a custom wig for Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba, following a last-minute request from the film’s production team.

Maria-Josee Mampuya Yonda, owner of Josee’s Professional Braiding Studio in Seven Sisters, was approached to create a micro knotless braided wig after the original hairpiece was deemed too bulky, according to the BBC. Despite her extensive experience, including 30 years in the industry and a feature in Vogue, the urgency of the request made the task daunting.

“I wouldn’t lie, I was trembling. I was scared, I was worried,” Maria told the BBC. “I thought it wasn’t up to my strength, but I said I can do it.”

The Wicked storyline explores the complex friendship between Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman with green skin, played by Erivo, and Glinda, a popular and privileged girl, portrayed by Ariana Grande. The braided wig, designed to blend seamlessly into Erivo’s transformation as Elphaba, required precise craftsmanship.

Maria worked intensively for “three days and three nights” to complete the intricate piece, using techniques that mimic natural micro knotless braids. This style, favoured for its durability and realistic appearance, incorporates small hair extensions that create a lightweight and less bulky look compared to traditional braids.

Recounting the moment she received the assignment, Maria said, “I got the call and I told my daughters, ‘Oh, by the way, we have to do a wig that’s going to be used for a film, and the actress is called Cynthia.’”

Maria, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arrived in the UK as a refugee without any knowledge of English. She built her career from humble beginnings, drawing on her passion for braiding, a skill she learned during her youth.

“I came here as a refugee from DRC Congo with no word of English,” she said. “Braiding is like Senegal, Ivory Coast—all the French countries. It’s our hobby. When we were young, we really loved doing braids.”

Maria announced her involvement in the film on her salon’s Instagram account, sharing photos of the wig and Erivo in character. “The secret’s out!” she wrote. “Keeping this under wraps for so long has definitely been a challenge, but we can finally reveal that @cynthiaerivo’s hair was done by none other than @joseesprobraidingstudio.”

She expressed gratitude to the film’s hair designer, Sim, and Universal Pictures UK for the opportunity, adding, “When we say this micro knotless braided wig took us three days and three nights to complete—it was no joke. Let’s just say our fingers were hanging on for dear life by the end of it.”

Wicked, a highly anticipated adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, has grossed $432.9 million domestically and $643 million globally, making it the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation to date. The film, now available on digital platforms, has also sparked debate among fans over deleted scenes that were omitted from the theatrical release.

Maria’s accomplishment underscores the importance of expert craftsmanship in the film industry and highlights the significant contributions of local talent to major productions.