We can’t believe it took us this long to feature none other than René Daniella of OwnByFemme.com! Her photo shoot by Pete Monsanto went viral a few years ago and this international diva hasn’t looked back since. René is half American and half English, spending her younger years in Colchester, UK then moved to the U.S. and she recently left New York to live in London. We asked her how she keeps her beautiful red mane so healthy looking and her tips as a natural constantly on-the-go.
1. Why did you go natural? How long have you been natural?
Well, I went natural twice actually. The first time was while I was in high school, about 15 years old. My high school boyfriend at the time was very spiritual and self aware. He helped me learn a lot of life changing lessons throughout our experience. At some point I remember letting my hair air dry one day with no product. I remember thinking I looked “crazy” but he told me he LOVED it. After that point I kind of got to thinking about my curls in a different way.
Then I had been playing around with styling my hair and decided I was tired of all the different hair products I used all the time. The mousses, the gels, the hair sprays… all in multiple brands with multiple applications…. it just bored me and seemed excessive! So eventually I just stopped using traditional products all together and simply applied raw shea butter to my hair. That didn’t work very well haha, I needed more than just raw shea butter but it was my first step.
When I finished high school I moved to England. Before the move, I spent a month visiting family in Texas and a childhood friend I reconnected with there introduced me to texturizers. She said it would be temporary and make my hair more manageable. That combo of big hair that I hadn’t quite learned to style yet and the hot Texas sun melting me away made me think that “more manageable” hair wouldn’t be so bad! Especially if it’s temporary!
Well long story short, I almost immediately began to miss my big hair. The texturizer had a much more permanent affect on my curls than I expected. So a few months later after I settled into my life in England, I decided to cut the texturizer off in a kind of big chop fashion, and start again. Eight years later, here I am.
2. Can you summarize your current hair regimen?
I shampoo my hair about once a week. At the moment I am using Devacurl Shampoo and Conditioner as well as Palmers Natural Line Shampoo and Conditioner. I condition my hair about two times a week and do a deep conditioning treatment about once every 10 days. I do deep condition more often if my hair is feeling dry though. I detangle with my tangle teezer when I am in the shower and afterwards a bit of coconut oil is a must. I make sure my hair is wet when I apply coconut oil to help seal in the water. I also love to use hair butters and leave in moisturizers for styling. A little curl gel around the edges give almost any hair style a nice finish too.
3. What are your staple hair products?
Well I already mentioned my shampoo and conditioner so I will move onto the styling products! I love my Knot Today Natural Leave In Detangler by Kinky Curly, the leave in conditioner by Shea Moisture, and Motion’s Radiating Hair Gloss for my wash and go’s. For braids and twists I use the Whipped Butter by Big Hair and Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste by Curls. They’re a great combo for moisture and hold! I am anxiously waiting for AFARA hair care to release the product line also. I tried them on set for a shoot the other day and they were amazing! I think they are coming out soon.
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4. What are your favorite hairstyles?
My signature style is most definitely the wash and go! I love my hair to be big and voluminous so I will usually rock the same wash and go for 3 days :) Don’t judge me! More recently I have started brushing the curl definition out and embracing a really frizzy lion’s mane look. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I actually LOVE my hair frizzy now!! Its so beautiful watching my relationship with and acceptance of my hair flourish and grow.
Additionally, I like to do braid outs because they give my hair an interesting bob shape and are great for adding moisture and pairing with a hat. I can leave the product in over night and let it work its magic! I do a pineapple before bed (it’s the best!) and when I am working out. I also really do love it with a colorful scarf on a day out! It’s a great way to rock big hair while also protecting it a little bit from the cold weather as winter sets in.
5. What was the last compliment you received about your hair?!
I recently had an older bald man ask me if he could have some of my hair because he didn’t have any and my afro looked “warm” haha. I am not sure what kind of compliment that is exactly, but he was a sweet old guy and had a cheery smile to go with it so I accept it!
6. You travel a lot! How do you keep your hair on point when you’re away? Any tips for fellow travelers?
I say do a deep condition before you go! Also, I usually wash my hair before I travel, that way I don’t have to do the whole wash day routine out of my little carry on luggage. Definitely wrap your hair at night, and when selecting products, think of the climate and environment you are taking your hair into.
If it has extreme temperatures like really hot or icy cold, make sure you have some thick moisture rich products to protect the strands. And don’t forget styling materials pins and head scarves. If it’s too hot for your hair to be out then wear it in a nice little up do with pins or a scarf.
I like to take a light leave in conditioner like Kinky Curly’s Knot Today or Shea Moisture’s one and a thick hair butter like the one from Big Hair or even Curls Unleashed has some really good ones too. For in the shower I just bring conditioner or a co-wash of some sort. I try to keep it simple. Of course you also need a detangling brush and a pic or wide tooth comb!
7. For many naturals it’s a journey to fully understand their hair. It’s a process of trial and error. What was your “Curls Understood™” moment (the moment you felt like, “I’ve got this!” or any essential advice you wish you had known at the beginning of your hair journey)?
The first time I went natural I was really unsure of how to take care of my curls. I knew I didn’t want to keep brushing it into painfully tight ponytails or flat ironing the life out of it, but other than loading it up with mousse, hairspray, gel, and shine serums to “tame the frizz” I didn’t know how to style or care for it. After I got my last texturizer and found myself missing my curls, I would say that was my “AHA, I understand” moment.
I knew my hair was supposed to be big and wild and adventurous and cozy and block people’s view in the movie theaters because that is how it grows out of my head and I accept that! And it was then that I realized I really didn’t want anything other than my natural hair. From that point forward, learning how to style and care for my hair truly became a joy of an experience! And now, with the natural hair community in full bloom, I feel like I have an entire family supporting me :)
See more of Rene…
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