|
{% render_variable preview_text %} ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Words of body-care-affirmation are the ultimate love language of Team Soft Services. And the origin story of a good shower routine deserves to be shared. Meet
Taylor, a Hawai’i-born stylist rediscovering dance and creative depth in Los Angeles. Today he’ll be telling us a tale of two showers: one for business and one for pleasure.
|
|
|
There are two times I always take a shower, no exceptions: immediately after a workout, and right before getting into my clean sheets at night. I’ve always been like this, maybe because I’m from Hawai’i. Personal hygiene has always been extremely important in our culture, so we always smell good and stay fresh. The beauty standards are different compared to the continental United States, with more appreciation for your natural state and less emphasis on looking manufactured or “perfect.” My night routine starts with a double-cleanse (if it’s been a long, greasy day) with
1
Good Light’s Water Cleanser. I exfoliate my face and body 2-3x times a week (love
2
Buffing Bar, but only for body). After toweling off, I layer on
3
Speek Soak for hydration (yes, on my face; sue me), then
4
Loulu AstaFusion® Radiate PM Oil to lock in moisture overnight. I recently picked up
5
Sana Nameraka’s undereye cream in Tokyo, so a dab of that. The very last step is
6
Carea Cream all over my body and, of course,
7
Theraplush right before bed.
|
|
|
LA air is very dry, and the water is hard, so I have to really be on my moisturizing game. I notice I require a lot of apparatus here: a stainless steel
8
gua sha, filtered showerhead, overnight humidifier,
9
Japanese shampoo brush. Hawai’i is the complete opposite—my hair and skin thrive there, so I can relax a bit more. I’ll always feel the most at home in Hawai’i. New York is where I learned to live my truth and Los Angeles is where I’m reclaiming my joy. But when I miss Hawai'i, I miss the culture, the people, the way we interact with one another and the land. I go home quite often, nearly once a month.
|
|
|
I recently started dancing again after a (very) long hiatus, and I’m still training my muscles to move in a way that’s been dormant for so long. When I was younger, dancing saved my life. The environment I grew up in didn’t allow me to be comfortable with my sexuality, so I thought I had to present more “masculine” and I stuck to dance styles like hip-hop. Now I’m drawn to a choreographer’s style instead of sticking to a specific genre that makes me look a specific way. Dancing is true athleticism, and always makes me feel like I’m alive. I don’t exactly dance in the shower, but I’ll do headrolls and bodyrolls when a good song comes on. Maybe bend over and touch my toes. I’ll spray
10
Clearing Mist after my workout shower, during weeks of intense workouts and long dance rehearsals to keep my skin clear.
|
|
|
I’ve got a full day of styling prep ahead, so my morning routine has to be simple and streamlined. I start with a gentle face wash and, if I shave, sometimes
11
Shiseido Men Toning Lotion. Loulu AstaFusion® Radiate AM Oil for light moisture and
12
Lightsaver SPF, a little
13
eyebrow gel from Cosme in Tokyo, and
14
Good Light Lip Balm. I decide my fragrance right before I walk out the door—today it’s
15
Wonderoud by Comme des Garçons. I’ll be busy all day prepping for a brand shoot: creating moodboards, pulling references, setting showroom appointments. There’s a lot to do and thankfully I love the work, but I’ve had my brush with burnout. The thing about styling is that the client always comes first—it’s about making them look and feel their best on their schedule. Years ago, this led to me not taking care of my own needs. Sure, I’d show up well-dressed, but inside I was dying. I realized if I wanted long-term success in this field, I had to start prioritizing my health and mental well-being. Sounds cliché, but moving to Los Angeles gave me the space to reset and be creative again. Now I take jobs that don’t deplete me and avoid the monsters who do. | |
|
|
|
|
