2023 was a big year for Kahh Spence. In just 12 months, he got out of a relationship, had buccal-fat removal, and left his eight-year career as a celebrity hairstylist (his clients included Jhené Aiko, Cardi B, and Kelly Rowland) behind. The 31-year-old told me over Zoom that he had been dealing with work-related injuries that sent him to physical therapy. “That, mixed with not wanting to chase girls down red carpets, not being able to control my schedule, and being at the beck and call of someone else’s everything, made me want to live a more sustainable life,” he said.
Just those three milestones in one year would be overwhelming for anybody, but Spence didn’t stop there — he barely took a breath before taking the first steps to building a life on his own terms. The beauty veteran enrolled in UCLA’s business school to develop his next venture: Samir Grey, a fragrance brand that debuted in 2025 with One, a warm, sweet scent. His decision was partly inspired by his childhood, during which he regularly caught whiffs of Victoria’s Secret Love Spell, DKNY Be Delicious, and White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor from the women around him. “Through this career transition, I’m able to make multiple people feel beautiful and not be so focused on a singular person,” he added. “And I feel so much happier, because I’m able to live a fuller life now.”
Below, Spence shares more about his skin-care routine, his daily makeup essentials, and his surprisingly painful buccal-fat removal experience.
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A.M. Routine
Once I open my eyes, I sit there for a little and go into meditation. Something that Jhené Aiko taught me is this breathing technique: Breathe in for four, hold for seven, breathe out for eight. Because I had buccal-fat removal, I also typically massage my face and do some mouth exercises in bed. I go to the bathroom to remove any waste from the night before, before I do a little bit of stretching. I then read the Bible. I don’t touch my phone for the first hour. I just want to be present with myself. Then I wash my face with warm water, use the Tower 28 hypochlorous-acid spray, and go to the gym in my building. I do Pilates weekly, strength training three days a week, and cardio two days a week.
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After my shower, I use the Prequel Gleanser, which I’ve been loving since it launched. Then, I use Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 1970. I’m pissed they discontinued it in the States. I use the Medik8 vitamin C cream and the Mara Pearl Peptide Glaze. I also use the Cocokind Electrolyte Water cream and the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-fresh sunscreen. I know it’s technically discontinued in the U.S., but I go to a spot in Brooklyn that still has it and buy five at a time. I use Vaseline, which is my favorite, or the lip balm from Primally Pure, which is this vegan, plant-based beauty brand that I absolutely love.
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P.M. Routine
First, I use Sofie Pavitt Face’s micellar cleansing pads to remove my makeup. I’ve been using them since the day they came out. Then, use the Prequel Gleanser and the Pai Skincare Century Flower mist, which I’ll spray on a cotton pad. I wipe my face with that to remove any excess makeup or sunscreen, and then I’ll spray it directly on my face. Then, I go in with Experiment’s Super Saturated serum and let that completely dry down. My aesthetician, Tanya Thomas, has her own brand, and so I use her retinol, which is pretty gentle. I use Sofie Pavitt’s moisturizer, some Vaseline on my lips again. I also do red-light therapy at night — my aunt got me the CurrentBody mask. Then, I’m off to bed.
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On his earliest beauty memories
I remember going to the salon when my mother would get relaxers or her wash-and-set. I would sit there with her as they put the rollers in, and those were our one-on-one bonding moments. I would give her my opinion, and when she’d get her nails done, she’d be like, “Oh, do you like this design?” I’d be like, “Mm, I don’t,” but she’d still get it anyway. I think subconsciously, that’s what pushed me so deep into beauty and caring about my own personal care. Now, I’m a routine person down — my nails and eyebrows are always done.
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On shower essentials
I love Dr. Bronner’s bar soap. My favorite scent is either the almond or the rose. Then, I use the Nécessaire Olibanum body wash and the L’Occitane almond shower oil, which is the best. I haven’t towel-dried in two or three years. I go straight in with pure jojoba oil when I’m damp, get out of the shower, let that dry, and put on the Nécessaire Olibanum body lotion. If I’m going to bed, I’ll stop there because I don’t want anything to transfer onto the bed, and I don’t want to slip and fall. But in the mornings, especially in this weather, I use Josie Maran’s unscented body butter. On top, I use the TPH by Taraji body butter for a little more gloss and shine. And if I’m going out and I’m wearing something that’s revealing or has skin showing, I’ll use Kaer dry body oil.
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On fragrance layering
I first use a body mist, and the one I wear depends on the day. Usually, it’s Phlur’s Vanilla Skin. I feel like that’s a base for everything. Nemat has these roll-on perfume oils — I usually use White Musk. Finally, I’ve been layering Lore’s Sublimity and Samir Grey One.
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On makeup favorites
I usually use Saie’s Super Glowy Gel in Roseglow. I just started using the M.ph contour palette, and I love it. I do wish the brand would extend the shade range, because I use the deep palette, and I’m not deep at all. I use the color corrector first, and then I layer the concealer. On top of that, I’ll use Merit’s tinted sunscreen, which is superb. Right after that, I’ve been going back to trusty dusty Nars, because who doesn’t love Nars’ Radiant Creamy concealer? Then, I use the Westman Atelier contour stick all around. Between each step, I spray the LYS setting mist to keep my skin hydrated.
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Lately, I’ve been floating between Rhode’s Pocket blush and Saie’s blush. I like Saie when I want something that’s a little more flushed and natural, but I like Rhode when I want something that is a step up from that. I use the Saie loose powder and the Westman Atelier bronzing powder to warm my face back up. I apply the Ami Colé — rest in peace — highlighter on top of my blush and on my eyelids to give me a glossy lid. After I use the Dior eyebrow pencil, I also still use Ami Colé’s brow gel, because it’s the best. I fill in a little more with the Urban Decay brow marker, and then go back in with the brown gel to make sure it’s perfect. Finally, I use the Westman Atelier mascara.
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On beauty treatments
I get facials from Tanya Thomas, who’s a great aesthetician in New York. I used to get microneedling a lot. I got a lymphatic massage once with Michaella Bolder, the facial-massage expert. It was amazing. That’s really what made me start going to Sage + Sound and get facial and body massages frequently. In Paris, I go to the Nolinski hotel spa.
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On injectables
I got filler under my eyes, and I noticed there was a big bubble under my right eye. Then, I started going to Dr. Harold Lancer in L.A., whom I love and who really helped correct what that looked and felt like. When he dissolved it, my under eyes felt really hollow, so we just added a little bit more. I also did a PRF treatment with another specialist. I would get under-eye filler again, but I’d start with Dr. Lancer.
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On buccal-fat removal
I still ask myself why I got it done. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. Imagine somebody has on the platform Doc Martens, and their foot is in the middle of your chest, and they’re grabbing your uvula, and they’re pulling your uvula and kicking your chest in and trying to pull your uvula out — that’s what it felt like. At the time, I was about to do a big project, and I thought it would help. Then, I didn’t do the project. I think my face looked fine before. I didn’t have too much fat. I didn’t have any insecurities about any of that. If I’m being really honest, living in L.A. can make you want to be experimental and try things out. I don’t want to say the entire city of L.A., but I think it can create this “perfection exists” mind-set. I was so young while living there and so impressionable. In the scene that I was in, someone was doing something. After a while, I just was like, I don’t want to do this anymore.
That’s why I love being back in New York, because I feel like I can be as raw and rugged as possible. I haven’t done anything since I’ve been back, and I look fine. I love what I see when I look in the mirror. My face looks great now. One of my friends asked if I had a face-lift. I think buccal-fat removal just made everything feel and look so tight, which I’m not mad at. I guess that means when I get older, no surgery will be needed. I didn’t plan on getting any more surgery, anyway.
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