Issa Rae / Sienna Naturals / Byrdie
The One Thing
Our series, The One Thing, is a Sparknotes version of the products, rituals, and moments your favorite celebrities and influencers swear by—their go-tos, must-haves, and can’t-live-withouts. So go ahead—take a brief, intimate peek into the lives of your favorites through the things (and people, and moments) they hold dear.
Issa Rae's unbounded creativity has taken her many places in life. Her passion for creating authentic, resonant content catapulted her from YouTube success to television and film stardom—she debuted her HBO series Insecure in 2016 and most recently starred in Greta Gerwig's Barbie in 2023. And when the 39-year-old is not on camera, Rae works behind the scenes via her production company, HOORAE Media.
Outside of influencing the entertainment landscape, the multihyphenate is making her mark in beauty. Throughout her career, Rae has always showcased the beauty of natural hair on-screen and IRL, so it's kismet that she became the co-owner of the textured hair care line Sienna Naturals in 2020. The brand—also led by Rae's sister-in-law and Wharton MBA alum Hannah Diop—has become known for creating hydrating shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for curls and coils.
In the brand's newest campaign video, Rae shares that keeping her hair hydrated has always been one of her biggest concerns on wash day. "Ever since I was a kid, wash day has been an ordeal because you're trying to detangle and style your hair," she tells me. "Working with Sienna Naturals has made the process more enjoyable and easier."
Ahead, the actress, producer, and entrepreneur fills us in on her wash day routine, the best hair care advice she's received, and what she's working on this year.
The One Product That Makes Wash Day Easier
"I've been testing many of Sienna Naturals' products for years, and they've become core parts of my routine. The Untangled Conditioner allows me to run my fingers through my hair easily. I also use the Dream Curl Cream in the shower because it works best on wet hair."
The One Product That Refreshes Her Curls
"The Dew Magic Leave-In Conditioner is a huge part of my routine. You don't need much of it to add moisture to your hair; it defines curls well. That's my go-to daily product."
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Sienna Naturals
The One Thing Her Hairstylist Taught Her
"Felicia Leatherwood is very loving. She has taught me to love my hair and texture in many ways. She's also taught me that you have to give each curl love. Sometimes, you have to isolate your curls and apply the product directly to them. It's time-consuming, but the results are worth it. Whenever I do it, I'll turn on a podcast or show like Love Is Blind to make the time go by faster."
The One Red Carpet Hair Look She Loves
"I went to [the American Black Film Festival Honors] recently, and my hair was like a work of art. It was a pulled-back style, and Felicia wrapped individual braids around the bun."
The One Beauty Product She Always Takes With Her
"I always need to have a lip gloss with me. I use the Noorface Skinglass in 1999 Liptone. That is my go-to. Sometimes, a meeting will pop up in the middle of the day, and I need to make sure my lips aren't dry."
The One Thing She Does For Self-Care
"I've been doing a lot of retreats lately, especially this year. I'll go somewhere super local, like Malibu or Palm Springs, or somewhere far, like Mexico. I can work from anywhere sometimes, so I want to be by the beach when I can. Those retreats will be time for me to journal, recenter, and get my thoughts together.
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Sienna Naturals
The One Project She's Excited About
"I just turned in the first draft for a new show that I'll hopefully get to work on. There are other fun film projects in the works on the producorial side—so be on the lookout for those."
The One Piece of Advice She Has for Black Creatives
"Make sure you know your 'why.' Don't do it just to do it. Be intentional. Make sure you understand that each thing you build comes with a new set of responsibilities and people. Before you build out, make sure you are building up and are prepared for that.
The One Thing She's Looking Forward to This Year
"I made so many resolutions. I'm a resolution girly. I'm doing well with them so far. I want to read more books. I used to be more set on non-fiction, but the fiction books I've been reading have been inspiring me in many ways. I've read five books so far this year. This year, I'm also looking forward to really making my mark. The strike stopped so much work, and it feels like, in many ways, I have a clean slate. I'm looking forward to putting out what I hope will be someone's new favorite show."
