In a match made in brand heaven, New Zealand filmmaker, actor and Oscar winner Taika Waititi was recently appointed as the Chief Creative Officer of Taika, a California-based beverage brand that creates canned adaptogen-infused coffees.
The “Next Goal Wins” director first heard about Taika through a friend of a friend and shares that the creative collab was born after the brand sent him a box. “I’m a real snob when it comes to good coffee. I used to drink so much traditional coffee during the day and then have a big burnout,” says Waititi. “It’s a big lie that you need to be absolutely wired on terrible things to get stuff done and be creative. These drinks are delicious, full of great organic ingredients and I like the idea that they are gentle on your body while unlocking its potential in a natural way!”
Below, Waititi shares seven of his everyday essentials with CNN Underscored.
Known — in his words — for his “signature big hairdo,” Waititi shares that before he shaved his head, he used to use this forming pomade from Davines to keep his strands under control. The key, Waititi adds, is to apply the product to damp hair: “Why are there people out there that use it on dry hair?” The pomade, which works best on short hair, has a lightweight formula that molds hair into place without leaving any greasy or sticky residue behind.
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As for the filmmaker’s signature scent? “I have many, but the one I've been wearing a lot this year is Ombre Leather by Tom Ford,” he says, adding that the fragrance resonates with the “New Zealand cowboy in me." Housed in a chic matte black bottle, the parfum has black leather, violet, jasmine, amber and moss notes.
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“There's not many books that I’ve come back to, but I read this lately and it's become a favorite,” Waititi shares. This New York Times bestseller by Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro explores what it means to love while offering a look into how artificial intelligence could shape our future.
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When it comes to his style, Waititi says people associate him with bold, colorful shirts. “I did the colorful shirt thing for a bit, but what I love most, especially coming from a cold country, is a jacket,” he shares. “I've got more jackets than anything because all you need is a T-shirt, then you throw on a jacket and you’re OK.” In his wardrobe, you’ll find a bomber jacket, an old leather flight jacket and his go-to: a medium-wash Levi’s jacket. “The more washed and torn up, the better they look.” For a similar look to Waititi, opt for this relaxed-fit faded jacket from Levi’s.
Now 48, Waititi confesses he’s “reached that age where there’s a random tiny little hair poking out on my head, neck, and ears.” Obsessed with getting rid of them, he plucks rogue hairs from the root with these slanted-tip professional-grade tweezers.
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“When I come home, I’m still working,” Waititi admits, which is why he shares that he "loves a good pen." Waititi’s favorite pens for tackling his to-do list and jotting down those strokes of genius come from Paper Mate. “They have this fun little felt tip,” Waititi says of the colorful, smear- and fade-resistant felt tip pens.
Waititi likes to start his day with a can of Taika Black Coffee. “I have my first meal, something light around 1 p.m., then I have one of their Oat Milk Lattes or, if I’m feeling really daring, a Macadamia Latte,” he shares. “I used to feel so lethargic at the end of the day, but since drinking these, it’s gone away.” Free of sugars, unnecessary carbs and artificial additives, these plant-based drinks are also keto-friendly.