Tracee Ellis Ross — Dames that Dish

Miss Ross and Her Mane for Essence Magazine

I am writing today about one of my favorite people: Tracee Ellis Ross. You might know her from the 2000’s sitcom of ‘Girlfriends’ where she played the character Joan Clayton, or as Rainbow Johnson the bi-racial doctor and mother of 5 on the hit ABC television show: ‘Black- ish’.

What I love about Tracee Ellis Ross is her joyful essence. Follow her on instagram or youtube and there is a lot of laugher in most things she does and says. Tracee, the daughter of Diana Ross, started out as a model and eventually followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an actress. Ms. Ross, has also starred in a number of films and when she isn’t acting, is currently the executive producer of a new show titled: ‘Mixed-ish’ (a spin-off/prequel of her character Rainbow on ‘Black-ish’ and her years growing up in California as bi-racial teen in the 80’s). She has also been honing her directing chops, by directing episodes for the last season of ‘Black-ish’.

As a lover of all things ‘Tracee’, one thing that you will see if you follow her online presence is her love of all things beauty: skincare, makeup, fashion - you name it, she has an opinion about it! And she enjoys sharing it with her legions of fans. But the one thing that many people have always wanted to know is how she maintains her natural mane of beautiful curls. There are many articles online that have showcased her products of choice, for eager, naturally curly girls to use. But this past Monday: September 9th, Tracee started something entirely new: she became the CEO/Founder of a brand new haircare line called Pattern Beauty aimed at the curly, coily and tightly textured community or people that have 3b-4c curl/hair texture. And as the tag line of Pattern Beauty states her company’s mission is : ‘To celebrate, empower and embrace our true patterns’.

From Tracee: “Ten years ago, right after Girlfriends finished, I wrote my first haircare brand pitch. Originally the comment and response to me was, 'what was my credibility?' I 'needed to partner with a professional.' As I explained but was not listened to, for most of us curly girls, we are our best experts. We know our hair better than anyone else." - Harper’s Bazaar

Many of us in the curly community are always trying new things to try to get our hair to do as we like. Unlike our straight haired sisters, curly girls are always seemingly fighting with something about our hair: whether it is the texture, the elements, friz, lack of moisture or plain old submission to what we want it to do - there is always a struggle. So exciting, that there is someone out there that has shown us how to truly embrace who we are, by loving the texture or pattern of hair that we were born with. In my own hair journey I have overcome disease, chopped it all off and struggled with learning and accepting my hair and it’s way of being to finally finding the beauty of acceptance and love of the CURL!

Pattern Beauty is a line of hair care products free of sulphates, and leaping bunny certified. At Pattern Beauty you can find: 1 Shampoo, 3 Types of Conditioners, 1 Leave-in Conditioner, 2 Serums, a brush, hair clip and a micro fiber towel: everything that a curly girl needs! And what I like most of all is that Tracee has stated is that you can add these products into the curl protocol you are already using. And as many of you already know how much I love samples: I have already ordered a sample of the Medium Conditioner retail $9.00 that was suggested for my hair type after taking their beauty quiz. I will happily give my thoughts on the product once I have received and used my order.

At 46 Miss Ross seems to have found her stride: Viva to the new Hair Care Queen!