Next Gen
Welcome to Byrdie's series, Next Gen, where we profile Gen Z celebrities, influencers, and entrepreneurs. As a collective, members of Gen Z are dynamic trendsetters and culture shifters. And when it comes to beauty and wellness, they have ushered more creativity, inclusivity, and transparency into the industry. In this column, we're stepping into the minds of some of the most notable Gen Z'ers to learn more about how they are redefining beauty, the products they swear by, and their plans for the future.
The last time I spoke with Storm Reid, she was 17 years old and preparing to start college at the University of Southern California. When we chatted in late March of this year, the now 20-year-old was getting ready to wrap up her junior year. It'd be an understatement to say a lot has happened in the young actress' life over the last three years.
In addition to juggling a full course load, she's remained a prominent force in Hollywood. She's taken on exciting new film and television roles, starring in projects like Missing and The Last of Us. Her work on the latter earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series at the top of the year—an achievement most entertainers don't attain until much later.
When she's not on camera, Reid has continued to build her brand through intentional partnerships. Many of her endorsements are in the beauty and fashion space—which makes sense considering the Gen Z icon's affinity for both (scroll through her Instagram feed, and you'll see she's always serving a look). Reid's latest ambassadorship is with the buzzy hair styling brand Kiss Colors & Care. As someone who often alternates between knotless braids and flowing bundles, aligning with the brand was a no-brainer for the multihyphenate. Ahead, Reid fills us in on her hair care essentials, life as a working actress and student, and what's coming up next for her.
How has life been since the last time we spoke?
"It's been a whirlwind, but a good one. Thankfully, I've been able to continue doing what I love and participate in amazing campaigns while balancing school. I'm finishing my junior year at USC, so that's exciting. But overall, I just try to take it one day at a time."
What's been your favorite part of being at USC?
"It's given me a sense of normalcy. I've made lifelong friends. I'm in the School of Dramatic Arts, so I've been able to hone my craft and learn new skills. My career and life as a student inform each other. I'm grateful that I get the opportunity to be a full-time student and work."
Kiss Colors & Care
You mentioned that you get to work on cool campaigns—and Kiss Colors & Care is your latest one. What made you want to work with the brand?
"Kiss Colors & Care is an amazing company, and I was familiar with its products before the partnership. I like to collaborate with people and brands that feel authentic to me. This campaign was all about the protective styles that Black girls wear and love. I've been wearing braids my entire life, so it's amazing to be in a campaign that celebrates protective styles and highlights the beauty of Black hair."
Kiss Colors & Care
You are the queen of protective styles. How do you keep your braids looking fresh?
"The products featured in the campaign are really good, and I use them daily. I love the Edge Fixer. I'm funny about edge controls because they get flaky or white, but this one delivers shine, moisture, and hold. I also use the Foam Mousse—it smells like oranges and keeps my hair from looking frizzy."
What's been the best piece of advice you've received when it comes to protective style maintenance?
"When you're in between hairstyles, washing and nourishing your hair is important. It's important to deep condition your hair as well. My mom is also very big on trimming my hair, even though I hate sitting still to get my hair cut. And even when I'm wearing a protective style, like braids, I like to use Kiss Colors & Care's Braid Sheen Refresher to help add moisture."
What's one protective style you want to try?
"Even though I've been wearing braids for a long time, there are always new braid trends on TikTok or Instagram. I recently saw a hairstyle that looked like tribal braids, but the braids weren't straight back in the front like they usually are. Instead, they had a unique design. I want to try that out next time I get braids."
How are you practicing self-care these days?
"My life is hectic, so self-care can always look different. I love being at home and listening to music by myself. I also love being with family and friends. What we're doing doesn't matter as long as good food and music are involved."
Kiss Colors & Care
What does the rest of 2024 look like for you?
"My main priority is finishing my junior year strong. In the midst of that, I'm still working. We just announced a new Paramount movie I'm doing with Teyana Taylor called Get Light. This film will be her directorial debut—and my mother and I are producing it through our production company. We're very excited about it. Many projects have come my way, but I like being intentional about my work."
