Ayra Starr on Rihanna-approved fragrances and edge control saviours

Ayra Starr is in the business of turning heads. Yes, music is her nine-to-five, the career that’s amassed her millions of fans worldwide. But as one of Lagos​’s leading It Girls, Starr is as much of a style trendsetter as she is a burgeoning global superstar.

Need proof? Let’s look back at a few weeks of beauty switch-ups. February started off strong, with Starr entering the month sporting bleach-blonde goddess braids that fell down to her waist. Things got even better when she released the video for her latest single Sability, an energising dance track that feels like a religious experience when heard on the dance floor. Braids still intact, Starr looked the camera up and down with two-tone blue and pink eyeshadow before switching to gold leaf-accented brows for the dance sequence. And let’s not forget the golden gele and eyebrow piercing combo that makes its debut during the second verse, a nod to Nigerian tradition with a sexy, subversive twist.

In the two weeks since the video’s release, the singer’s already managed to flex two new looks: straight, black, Naomi Campbell-esque locks and a strawberry blonde fringe plucked straight out of the Noughties. How does Nigeria’s brightest Starr keep up with it all? We’re about to find out…

The first thing I eat and drink when I wake up is…

Generally, I don’t eat or drink anything when I wake up. Bad habit! But when I’m in a good mood, the best thing I’d eat is probably cereal or a protein bar, and then I drink water or coffee. Sometimes I’m like, ​“Did I drink water today?” It’s so bad.

My morning skincare regimen looks like…

I put my face in a bowl of ice water, then I double-cleanse with two different face washes. I put on some Vitamin C followed by snail serum, then moisturiser and SPF. The ice water helps with the pores because I have oily skin.

The soundtrack to my morning routine is…

Sability by me. That is my morning song every day.

My go-to beauty hack for when I’ve pulled an all-nighter is…

I don’t have one. I just wake up with the biggest bags under my eyes, looking tired. I drink some coffee and everything is fine.

The product I’ll reach for when I’ve got a pimple is…

ZAPZYT acne treatment gel.

My favourite brand of sunscreen is…

EltaMD tinted sunscreen. It works like a charm! That’s the first one I started properly using and I’ve gotten too used to it to switch.

My best-kept beauty secret is…

I don’t have any beauty secrets. I was born like this! If it’s a secret, I’ll keep it a secret. Nobody has to know anything about it.

My favourite feature is my…

Nose because it’s so cute and my grandmother loves it. She takes pride in me having the same nose as her.

My first beauty-related memory is…

My mum owned a salon and spa when I was growing up, so I knew everything about beauty, the face and skin. The earliest memory I have is just me being in the spa, scrubbing and putting oil on my face.

The last life-changing product I discovered was…

Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliant.

The best tactic for getting rid of stubborn waterproof mascara is…

I just add micellar water on wipes. I feel like that works.

I keep my lips moisturised with…

Laneige Lip Mask.

The bougiest beauty product I own is…

I have a lot. I just randomly buy stuff. I have this thing called NIOD Photography Fluid. It makes you glow, literally. Under the sun, when you take pictures it makes your skin look flawless – it covers hyper-pigmentation. It’s not a foundation, it’s just what it is. Oh, and my La Mer face wash.

My favourite budget find is…

COSRX Snail Mucin.

My signature scent is…

I don’t like to say what my signature scent is because I don’t want anybody getting it. But the one I’ll give out is Burberry HER.

TikTok made me buy…

Every single thing I own! I’ll say the Love Don’t Be Shy perfume by Killian. It’s a Rihanna-endorsed scent.

My top tips for having a good hair day are…

Put some edge control in your bag. It’s going to frizz up either way, so be prepared to lay it back.

A hair product I can’t go without is…

Leave-in conditioner. Any leave-in conditioner saves my life, every time.

The very last product I apply before going to sleep is…

Moisturiser.

The secret to a good night’s kip is…

Melatonin gummies. Trust me, you’re going to sleep like an angel.