'I grew up in Arizona, but I moved to LA when I was 18 to model. I was doing work for American Apparel and then got cast in the Yeezus tour. Vanessa Beecroft did the creative direction, and they hired three American Apparel models and nine dancers—it wasn't a lot of dancing, we were mostly just walking. It was more of a performance art thing. A few months before Yeezus I had started writing music, and it was through that tour that Kanye got to hear it. After that, things started to come together. The tour lifestyle was so weird...it's like, there's not a lot of light in your bus bunk, you're sleeping until 3pm, eating terrible things, staying up late. But it was such an amazing experience.
My skin wanted to jump off of my face when we were on tour. We had to wear these mesh masks on our faces everyday, and we'd also have to wear makeup underneath because they would do these close-up shots of us for the big screen... So it was just terrible. I have really sensitive skin so all I use is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Moisturizing Cream, and then during the day I’ll use Cerave with SPF, but nothing crazy. My skin also gets really dry, so I do a mask from time to time—or if my skin is feeling dull then I'll put one on. The Suqqu Stretch Masks are amazing, but look really scary when you have them on. I was doing one this morning at the hotel and the minibar guy knocked on the door... I was like, 'Give me a minute!' Terrifying, but they work.
Because I have freckles, you can always tell when I'm wearing makeup. They'll just be under a layer of stuff! It's always been mascara and moisturizer and a face mask. I have the Eyeko Eye Do Mascara that I like, and sometimes I'll use the L'Oréal Voluminous one—that's good. Sometimes I'll do a bold lip, like a darker red or a deeper purple. Or I'll just do a little illuminating stuff on the cheeks to look glow-ier.
My hair, though, is very directional. As a kid I had really blond hair, and I've just colored it for so long. I try to stay away from really pink tones. I dye my hair maybe four times a year, max, and it fades to a copper more than a gross pink color. I use this really cheap shampoo that I found, but it’s the best–it's called Renpure Argan Oil Shampoo and I bought it on accident. I wash my hair with it twice a week to preserve the color. And I love the It's A 10 Miracle Hair Mask. Back when I was modeling, I would use that a lot. You leave it on for a while, but when you take it off, your hair is perfect. I've also been using argan oil a ton and it’s so good. Mine is called U Luxury. I would sleep in it overnight! I'd put it on my head, put a little shower cap on, and sleep with it. Your hair feels amazing when you wake up.
Chris McMillan did my bob, and I really like it. I used to have a super blunt haircut, but Chris gave me some layers and now it shapes my face more. It's a good change. Sometimes I'll wear it wavy, which is how it naturally is—I'll do a little argan oil and scrunch it up and then I'll let it air dry. If I'm wearing it straight, I'll do the same thing with argan oil, blowdry, do a little more argan oil, straighten it, and then you're good to go! I use a Rusk Blowdryer—I've had it for so long. When it starts shooting flames, then I'll throw it away.
I take these vitamins that make my hair grow like crazy. They’re called Herpanacine and I get them on Amazon—they've got echinacea and vitamins A and E. They're really good for your immune system, too. You don't get sick, and they really help your skin, hair, and nails. So I have these long nails, but I literally do nothing to them! The thought of filing my nails drives me insane.”
—as told to ITG
Kacy Hill photographed by Tom Newton in New York on October 5, 2015.
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