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Afew decades ago, French fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy wrote in Vogue magazine: “Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself.”

The human head of hair has become so much more than merely a means to cover the most important part of the human body (of course, with some people that’s debatable).

Hair has become a statement of a person’s inner personality — and for some an extension of the self, a form of art.

That’s the case with these two Instagram stars.

Nikiwe Dlova is a “creative hair artist, fashion lover and content creator” from Soweto, who loves to play with new concepts in hair styling, fusing fashion and hair design. She has also developed a brand of “hairts” — hats that have braided strands.

Her blog, Ownurcrown, centres on the idea of embracing your individuality through your hairstyle.

In November she was invited to Kipilipili, a natural hair movement in Tanzania that has an expo every year. There she networked a wide range of women in the hair industry in Africa.

“Great fashion is about taking risks,” she says. “And what better way to take a risk than to take a chance with your hair?” Dlova takes people out of their comfort zone and helps them add an original touch to their style.

On the other side of the continent is Ivorian hair artist Laetitia Ky, pictured, who sculpts her braids into artworks, always with a humorous edge. Sometimes it’s political, sometimes it’s beautiful and sometimes it’s simply bizarre. She’s also a proponent of women normalising body hair.