Renée
Garacochea
FOUNDER-BIO
Renée was born in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Truckee, California, near Lake Tahoe. Her passion for the fashion industry developed at a young age, leading her to pursue a career in fashion in L.A. when she turned 18.
After some time in the fashion industry, Renée's interests shifted to cosmetics. Working for top cosmetic and perfume companies, she eventually became the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Philip B. There, she gained valuable experience in laboratory and marketing research and developed a deep understanding of natural hair care when all-natural cosmetics were just emerging.
During her time at Philip B., Renée adopted a chocolate Cocker Spaniel puppy named Avo. Her struggle to find a safe and effective pet shampoo inspired her to research and develop her own pet care products. This led to the creation of Fauna Aromatherapy Hair Care for Pets & People, with a range of popular products for both pets and humans.
FAUNA and KNOTTY GIRL products have been featured in Vogue, InStyle, W, Allure, Glamour, Self, Tokyo, Hello, Los Angeles Times, and many other publications worldwide.
After a few years at Philip B., Renée adopted a chocolate Cocker Spaniel puppy, Avo. She found herself purchasing every pet product known to man but could never find a pet shampoo that did not come with a warning label that read, “Harmful to Humans and Domestic Animals” or that simply did not work. She began researching dog shampoo products only to find that the ingredients listed were often not in the shampoos. Her research also led to her find that pH levels in dogs and cats were similar to humans. These findings, along with her natural hair care experience, led her to discover that essential oils and plant extracts were more beneficial for pets than humans—the combination of Tea Tree and Lavender oils was an excellent natural repellent for fleas, itchy skin and hot spots for animals while the same combination provided moisture, intense shine, and treated oily scalps for humans. It was through this research and a ton of baths for Avo that Fauna Aromatherapy Hair Care for Pets & People was born. Her best sellers included Tea Tree Oil & Lavender Oil shampoo, Shea Butter & Lavender Oil conditioner, Orange Oil and Lavender Oil detangling sheen, Marigold Petals & Lavender Oil Babies shampoo (can’t leave out the puppies and babies!), and an SPF 15 Citronella & Eucalyptus spray for the body and coat.
Less than five years later, Renée’s entrepreneurial instincts resulted in her starting a second company, Knotty Girl, that specialized in adult and children’s hair care and body products. Her inspiration came from her niece who was extremely sensitive to many hair products, so Renée created a “cradle to grave” line gentle enough for children but effective for adults as well. The name “Knotty Girl” was a spin off from her niece being a “naughty girl” when she used to protest the use of other body products. Some of the signature products from this line included the yummy Pink Princess Cotton Candy Shampoo and the delicious marshmallow aroma Drama Queen Sparkle lotion that leaves a very subtle but dramatic sheen on the skin.
And staying true to her innovative spirit, she even envisioned a business opportunity for herself and her doctor…