If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and electric toothbrush. We asked actor Nicco Annan — star of P-Valley (the second season premieres today, June 3) — about the celery juice, Jordans, and Diptyque cologne he can’t live without.
Playing Uncle Clifford on P-Valley, my beard is kind of like a signature to that character. So I needed something to keep that fresh. Even when I grow my full beard out, I still like to keep it trimmed. My barber from the show, Jason Yancey, introduced me to the Wahl shaver. It keeps my neck clean, gets rid of all my ingrown hairs, keeps the shape sharp, and is much more dependable than other shavers I’ve used. The battery life on it is great, and the cleanup is easy.
First of all, I love Kendrick Lamar. I appreciate hip-hop that tells a true story, and his is really inspirational. It’s encouraging, you know, to the music world. To me. As an artist, I find it really dope. I would probably say “Auntie Diaries” or “We Cry Together” are my favorite songs so far. “We Cry Together” is an argument song, where he and his girl really go through the whole relationship thing. They’re arguing, breaking up, and fussing at each other. It’s kind of toxic. Like, “Eff you!” “No, eff you!” Then she turns it so fast, and suddenly it becomes this sexual thing, and that’s relationships. I’m here for the transparency that exists on that album.
I love the Henry masks, because they are durable and don’t break my ears. Some of the masks bend your ears so far forward — especially when you have to wear them on set for hours. These have a headgear strap, so you can wear them from the back of your head and still be supported. And not most of all but it’s very important: They’re fashionable. I can pick different colors that go with what I’m wearing that day.
Baby, first of all, I’ve had experience with juicing, and I love the benefits of it, but it wasn’t something that I was doing on a consistent basis. About ten months ago, I saw this celery juice in the supermarket, and I was like, Oh, let me give it a try. This celery juice was as good as what I’d been ordering from a juicery. And more environmentally conscious, because it’s one big bottle as opposed to the many little ones. The health benefits for me have been absolutely amazing. It reduces my inflammation. When I go to the acupuncturist, there’s less fluid on my joints. It regulates my blood pressure. And I love the way it makes me feel. First thing in the morning, before water or anything else, I have my 16 ounces on an empty stomach and let nature do its job.
When the pandemic hit back in 2020, I was in the middle of doing The Hot Wing King, the Pulitzer Prize–winning Katori Hall play, at Signature Theatre in New York. We were shut down, like most of Broadway, so I was locked inside. We thought it would be two weeks, but after those two weeks, I got a little bored. I was always praying, but I thought, How do I make better use of my time? A friend forwarded the Bible app to me, and I thought, Oh, let me check it out. It centered me. It gave me a routine. It’s kind of like social media. If you are reading a verse or chapter, you can send it to friends. You can highlight it, make notes on the highlights, and find other reference materials or videos if you want. And for me, it started to become a habit, and it has been every day since. Before I even check Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or emails, I go to that app and have my own communion.
My father was into cologne. He had his shaving products, and the colognes were always laid out in the bathroom. It was part of gentlemanhood. When I was about 13, my female cousins told me, “Nicco, you gotta smell good. You getting older now, and don’t nobody want no funky boy.” So they kept me in line. I found this on a break actually — in between the matinee and evening performance of a Broadway show I was doing. My choreographer Jamaica Craft (from P-Valley) had given me a Diptyque candle, and I really liked the scent of it, so when I walked past the store, I went in. An employee guided me toward the fig and olive. It’s soft, fresh, clean, but not overpowering. It makes you lean in a little bit, like, what’s that? I like those kinds of scents.
I’m a 313, baby, and Detroit Kids sells different Detroit items that represent the city. I have several pairs of socks from Detroit Kids. I have some hats and jackets and T-shirts, things like that, that remind me of home. I’ve been away for so long, but it’s still home to me. My family is still there. I love to go back throughout the year. It’s one of those brands that makes me happy. I don’t always think that you have to have everything out on Front Street, but wearing my Detroit Kids socks makes me happy on the inside.
One of the benefits of playing Uncle Clifford on P-Valley is that I’ve been introduced to makeup and skin care on a higher level. My makeup artist Janine Carthone, from season two, introduced me to this Shiseido eye and lip cream. It’s a great lip moisturizer. It’s not like ChapStick. It’s more like a primer and keeps my lips soft without being shiny. Then under the eye, it soothes and smooths everything out — reducing the puffiness.
I’m here in Hollywood, and people have the designer sneakers, designer shoes, and all of that stuff. And I love them. But at the end of the day, you usually will find me in a pair of Jordans, some jeans, and a hoodie. It’s the city boy in me. I was not a basketball player. I do not play basketball, but I love Jordans. They’re cool and comfortable. The Samurais I just think are fly. I like the fact that these have some weight to them. I’m a tall man. I’m six-two. They’re the newest addition to the family.
[Editor’s Note: These sneakers sold out at Nike and are only available on resale sites like Goat.]
I have the Pop Bourbon candle going in my foyer in my apartment. My sister gave me it as a housewarming gift when I moved back from Georgia to L.A. after shooting the season. It’s spicy but soft — kinda like me. It’s in a copper holder, so in the evenings, the candle reflects in the copper; on top of the scent, it’s everything. Then you have your Hue lights going, and it’s a little dim, and the music gets going. It’s definitely a mood.
I grew up with music in the house. My parents would play music every weekend when it was time to clean the house. To me, Luther Vandross is an artist. I love my hip-hop. I love my dance music. House music. But I’m an R&B baby at the end of the day, and Luther Vandross is one of those pillars in the community of true rhythm and blues. The Radio City Music Hall concert is so magical. I remember when I first heard those songs, so it’s a nostalgia thing for me for sure. I love that you can hear his passion, his commentary. You can feel his humor. He’s quite funny. It’s a full-on show. That’s something that I have been playing and christening my space with to make it feel like home, like the home that I grew up in. (I’m manifesting that I’m going to play Luther someday.) I play it on Apple Music and AirPlay on the house speakers. I still have the CD; I just don’t have anything to play it on.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
