You won' t believe this lion' s stunning curls: meet Nzuri, the hair king of the wild

It’s not every day the king of the jungle becomes a hair icon, but one lion from the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya is turning heads online for his perfect curls, and you might want to ask this lion for its curl routine.

Captured by wildlife photographer Samwel Loigero, the majestic lion, known as Nzuri, has everyone wondering if he woke up like this or has a secret grooming routine humans don’t know about. 

The reel of the lion walking around in its habitat while rocking a curly mane was shared on Silent Whispers Photography’s page on Instagram and has since gone viral, reaching 1 million views.

Normally, one does not expect to see a lion with a curly mane; however, Nzuri’s curl game has left many in awe. Shared on Instagram, the post describes how the look might have been achieved. 

While Nzuri is showing off his curls, there is actually some science behind the mane. According to research by Patterson (2007), the size, colour, and texture of a lion’s mane are shaped by both genetics and environmental conditions. 

Lions living in cooler climates often grow thicker, darker manes, while those in hotter regions tend to have lighter and shorter ones.

The study also found that a mane’s appearance can serve as a kind of social signal. A fuller, darker mane is often linked to better health, higher testosterone levels, and dominance among males, which can make them more attractive to females and more intimidating to rivals. 

However, it also comes with trade-offs, as heavier manes can increase body temperature in warmer areas and attract more parasites.

Humidity and rain can affect a mane’s texture, too. When a mane gets wet and dries in the wind, it can form waves, which explains Nzuri’s bouncy curls.

And, of course, netizens could not resist weighing in on Nzuri’s effortlessly stylish mane.

@rooikoos_ said, “His Majesty looks like he takes showers, uses expensive cologne and looks down on other male lions.” 😂

“Teenage boys these days would pay top dollar for this hairdo lol meanwhile this lion is unapologetically suave and rocking this look 🤣🔥,” wrote @gelliace28.

While @wadehendricks96 added, “Imagine nature just took it a step further and gave the lion green eyes or something 😂.”