Dana B. Myers is founder of Booty Parlor, America’s premiere beauty and lifestyle brand helping women to feel empowered and beautiful. She is an award-winning product developer, entrepreneur and media personality. Her advice has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Self and Nylon..just to name a few. She has changed the lives thousands of women by inspiring them to boost their self-confidence and feel beautiful, inside and out.
Myers is a natural redhead with gorgeous curly locks. She sat down with us to give exclusive confidence advice, beauty tips and more!
H2BAR: Many redheads have a difficult time embracing their red hair. What advice can you give to those still struggling?
DM: My quick answer is that… Life’s too short to spend precious time and energy hating your hair! But, the truth is that I hated my hair at times! I didn’t quite know what to do with it until I was about 17. I spent years trying to “tame” it into submission. As a kid, I’d been called Orphan Annie and Shirley Temple more times than I could count. Even a few years ago, some stranger said, “Hey, are you Carrot Top’s sister?!” Nice, right?! But it all changed when I found a stylist who really understood my hair and gave me an amazing look just right for my curls and color. I started to fully own it, and I never looked back. And when you truly own something, no one can take you down because your confidence is so rock-solid. So, I encourage anyone who’s still struggling to embrace their red hair to find a stylist who can help them discover the best look for their hair and themselves. Sometimes all you need is a little help to bring out the magic and the unique beauty that already exists in your “red”!
H2BAR: Why do you love being a redhead?
DM: Red is sexy, spunky, smart and a little edgy. Red makes me stand out, it makes people wonder. It’s a little wild, a little untamed, and it’s just wholly me. I love it even more now that daughter is a redhead too!!
H2BAR: What are your top tips for exuding confidence?
DM: I spend a lot of time in the mirror, showering myself in positive, self-loving affirmations. It felt silly at first, and I’m sure it might look ridiculous to someone walking in on me! But it works. I pay myself big, wonderful, fantastic compliments. That practice of self-love shines up my confidence, and it pumps up a rock-star energy within me that I then take out on the street. I make my hair as big as possible, I keep my chin up, I look people in the eye. And I smile (a lot!) whether I’m dressed up or in sweats, with or without make-up. And for the occasions where I’m feeling really down or disheveled, I always let my hair do the talking. The color says “confidence” on it’s own — and the curls take it to another level!!
H2BAR: We love your hair! Can you tell us how you maintain those beautiful curls?
DM: Thank you! I’m actually very grateful for my curls – they’re a big part of who I am. That said, my hair has gone through lots of changes over the course of my two pregnancies! When you’re pregnant, you don’t “shed” your hair, then a few months after the baby comes you experience a hormonal change and you shed a TON of hair. I lost half my volume BOTH times. And each time, I felt devastated to lose all that hair, day after day in the shower, especially because as that shedding process happens my style got very funky and lopsided. Obviously, I’m so grateful that I’m healthy and my hair is now growing back — but funky hair is hard because “good hair” is such a big part of who I am! Regardless of all the motherhood-induced hormonal changes, I’ve used the same kind of products for over a decade. I use a drug-store brand shampoo and conditioner in the shower, like Pantene, Herbal Essences, or even TRESemmé.
Here is how I get my curls to stay maintained and healthy:
1. After shampooing, I towel dry it pretty roughly for volume and apply a series of products while my hair is wet: first, a root lifting spray (right now, I used Redken‘s or Sally Hershberger‘s).
2. Next is my “secret weapon” product that I’ve used for over a decade: Yanai Van’s Strong Hold Gel, which is a light glaze that smooths and holds my curls like nothing else. It’s AMAZING, the absolute best.
3. Then I diffuse it while massaging my scalp with my fingers to get lift. If it needs some shine, I use a bit of hair smoothing product (like a cheap drugstore serum, or something fancier like Jonathan’s ‘Dirt’).
4. Then, I use a bit of hairspray to hold it all in place!
H2BAR: If you can give just one piece of advice on how to ‘Rock it like a Redhead’…What would it be?
DM: For me, red is the color of love, fire and passion. That inspires me! Connect with what “red” means to you and then let it inspire you!
