Camila Coelho Dishes on Influencers, Future of her Brand
Brazilian influencer Camila Coelho has eight million followers on Instagram and more than four million subscribers on her English and Portuguese YouTube channels. She is currently one of the top fashion and beauty mega-influencers in the world, who has tried every beauty product and fashion trend. Coelho has recently partnered with Pantene and Walgreens, and swept through Chicago last week to share her secrets for festival hair, how to take care of your hair in and out of the shower, and why Pantene’s rescue hair shots are a must in your hair routine.
(We did talk about more than hair, so read on… )
Tell us about your partnership with Pantene and Walgreens, and what brings you to Chicago?
I am here to get hair festival ready with Pantene. Next week Walgreens is having their deal of the week with Pantene, so there’s going to be a bunch of deals. The hero product here is the Pantene Rescue Shots, which I’m obsessed with. I love hydrating my hair since I was a little girl. I would do hair masks once or every two weeks. My mom taught me that when I was younger, and I hate seeing my hair with split ends and dry. And one thing I am really lazy about is going to salons all the time. Especially nowadays, with my lifestyle and traveling so much I’m never home. I just love to do these things at home. So I am obsessed with the rescue shots. The first time I tried them was a while ago and not that my expectations were high but I was like, ‘Really, like, 30 seconds? Is it gonna work?’ [Editor’s Note: Pantene’s rescue shots promise complete repair in 30 seconds]
So when I tried it I really left it on for 30 seconds, and I massaged my hair, rinsed it off, and my hair was so smooth! And it’s the only thing I use since then. They are so practical, so little. I bring them on my travels, and I mean it’s not that I use it just after festivals or fashion weeks. I use the rescue shots every week to just keep my hair healthy. And hair is like skin, you know — the more you take care of it the better it’s going to look whatever you do with it.
So that’s the reason we’re here. I feel like I’m celebrating the rescue shots.
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Talking about festival hair — do you have a favorite style? Or a favorite trend?
I love my long ponytail. I put hair extensions on and make a straight pony. And I can move and dance and move my ponytail around. I miss long hair sometimes so when I’m playing with hair I love putting long hair on. But I also love braids for festivals. I think it’s so easy, comfortable to move around. And I also love having my hair up.
Do you have any how-to tips for festival hair?
If you are going to a festival, whatever you’re doing to your hair don’t make it too dressy or, like, party-looking especially at a festival. If you are doing curls, make the curls more like, you woke up like that. Be effortless.
Shifting gears a little bit to talk about you as an influencer, and not just any influencer but one of the top five most influential bloggers in the world. What have you learned from this experience with such huge fandom online? It could be a little intimidating, at least in my eyes.
Yeah it is. It’s a huge responsibility. The more I grow, the more responsibility I feel that I have. Because whatever I’m talking about, whatever I’m doing I’m influencing people from different ages, from different backgrounds, and different countries. I feel a huge responsibility. And that’s why I really try to always send a positive message. When it comes to brands I use, for example, I really choose carefully who I work with. Because if lose my followers’ trust, it’s forever. You know I said a lot of no’s in the beginning and that, I think, really helped me grow. It’s easy to say yes. For me it’s mostly thinking about the long-term relationship that I build with brands that I truly love, and talking about products that I really believe in. That’s the main thing you know is creating good content.
Speaking of brand partnerships, you’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in fashion and beauty. But what’s next for Camila Coelho? Where do you see yourself in five years?
I just started my own brand. It’s available on Revolve every fall. But my biggest change right now is moving to LA. I’ve been in Boston for years and I just really want to be 100 percent present on all the design decisions, and everything for my brand. Plus, LA is a place that I’ve always wanted to live in. And so I feel it’s the perfect time. But in five years I see myself running a successful brand. Hopefully still being active on social media, and hopefully with kids.
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Let’s talk about fashion. How would you describe your own style?
I am feminine, chic and edgy.
Who is your style icon?
Diane von Furstenberg. She invited me to go to the MET Gala with her this year, which was mind blowing. She is a woman that I’ve always admired. For so long. She’s an icon. She just wanted to have something of her own and created DvF, and that really inspires me. And today with her brand she inspires and empowers women in such a strong way. That’s the woman I want to be.
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Who are your favorite designers?
I have so many, but I have a really strong relationship with Dior. Maria Grazia Chiuri is a woman who always touches on empowering other women. Chloé is another brand I love.
What do you like to shop for?
I get so much [free] stuff that I barely shop but I always end up shopping for shoes. I’m obsessed with shoes. I love shopping for shoes.
Who would you want to swap closets with?
Bella Hadid because I love everything she wears.
If you were not in the fashion industry what would you do?
Own my own salon and spa.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Margot Robbie.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Pancakes in the morning. I always do that especially during Fashion Week.
Tell me something about yourself that we wouldn’t expect.
I love horses. If I could stay in the wild with horses I’ll be the happiest person.
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This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Shop all Pantene products at Walgreens including Camila’s favorite Pro-V rescue shots!
Read our latest FFInterview with buzzy designer Sander Lak of Sies Marjan.
