Tracee Ellis Ross' Hair On Girlfriends

Introduction

(L-R) Golden Brooks as Maya, Tracee Ellis Ross as Joan, Persia White as Lynn GIRLFRIENDS on The CW.

Photo: Frank Ockenfels ©2006 The CW Network LLC All Rights Reserved

Tracee Ellis Ross stars as Joan on CW's "Girlfriends".  The award winning series is returning in 2007 (Mondays (9:00-9:30 p.m.) on The CW) for its triumphant eighth year. 

Girlfriends has been an extremely successful and popular series.  The reason?  Girlfriends provides an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and life facing women today. 

Even better, with fearlessness and sincerity, the show takes on universal issues that interest all women.

Whether it's being recently engaged, exploring your career or balancing friendships or loss and a new baby, "Girlfriends" treats them all with tenderness, care and respect.

At the end of the show's seventh season, Joan was swept off her feet by a surprise engagement party given by her boyfriend Aaron (Richard T. Jones, "Judging Amy").  Many other developments from last season promise to make the latest season full of wonderful plot twists and episodes.

Besides Joan's engagement, Maya (Golden Brooks) is expecting a baby, Lynn (Persia White) has continued to focus on her music career while William (Reggie Hayes) starts the new season married to Monica (Keesha Sharp). 

Tracee's Hair Secrets

(L-R) Keisha Sharp as Monica, Tracee Ellis Ross as Joan, Persia White as Lynn & Golden Brooks as Maya in GIRLFRIENDS on The CW

Photo: Lisa Rose/THE CW ©2006 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

While it's fun to trace the show back to its very beginnings and watch the characters evolve and mature, it is also fascinating to research the hair trends of the stars.

For the purpose of this article, the focus is on Tracee Ellis Ross who is considered by many, to be the main star of the show. 

Tracee's hair has been a major topic of conversation in various hair magazines and on Internet forums.  Because of her spectacular hair, worn in a range of ever changing hair styles, hair fans are interested in Tracee's hair care secrets.

Tracing back through photos of the past seven seasons of Girlfriends I was delighted to find photos of Tracee wearing her hair in a variety of hairstyles ranging from a full blown "natural" style to sleek styles including amazing updo hairstyles. 

The daughter of African American singing sensation, Diana Ross and her first husband, Caucasian music promoter Robert Ellis Silberstein, Tracee is biracial.  While her racial heritage has no bearing whatsoever, her mixed blood definitely creates an added interest with regard to her tresses.

Essence Magazine

While it's fun to trace the show back to its very beginnings and watch the characters evolve and mature, it is also fascinating to research the hair trends of the stars.

Tracee's hair has been a major topic of interest since she first appeared as Joan in Girlfriends.  Essence Magazine interviewed the lovely star about her tresses and asked for "secrets". 

She told Essence when she goes to the beach or the pool she utilizes the opportunity to deep condition her hair before she swims. 

Tracee Ellis Ross as Joan, GIRLFRIENDS on The CW.

Photo: Frank Ockenfels ©2006 The CW Network LLC All Rights Reserved

Tracee specifically mentioned JF Lazartique Shea Butter and Rene Furterer Karite as two of the deep conditioners she applies to her hair after a shampoo but before exposing her strands to chlorine, salt or sun.

In Jolie Magazine Tracee shared a variety of hair secrets.  When she wants to wear her hair in its "natural" curl pattern, she told Jolie she uses Aveda's Cherry Almond Bark and Deep Penetrating Revitalizer conditioners. 

She also relies on Denman brushes.  Besides Aveda she alternates with Mixed Girls and applies their Leave-in Conditioner to her hair when it is wet.

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When she uses heat on her hair she uses Kerastase conditioning products and blow dries with a blow dryer that is a combo of ceramic and ionic.   She also uses curling irons that have the same ceramic and ionic combination which does not damage her hair or ruin her natural curl pattern.

(L-R) Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) and William (Reggie Hayes) decide to be just friends after one night together on an episode of GIRLFRIENDS on The CW.

Photo: Ron Tom ©2005 CBS Broadcasting  All Rights Reserved

Tracee told Jolie Magazine "my hair is actually in better condition then where it started".  She noted "I wash my hair with shampoo and then conditioner and then I put stuff in it once I've blow it out.  My hair's like glass.  I'm like WHAT! Yes, hair's brilliant".

In an interview with Black Hair and Braids, Tracee noted "I wash my hair once a week".  She uses different shampoos which include Aveda Shampure (once a month) that she couples with Rene Furterer Vinegar Rinse.  She also uses Goldwell's Conditioning Shampoo. 

Steam is another of her secrets.  She reported she goes to a Korean day spa and filles her hair up with Goldwell Kerasilk Conditioner.  She goes into the steam room.  If she can't get to the steam room, she uses a heat cap.  Tracee told Black Hair "with Kerasilk, your hair will not curl up.  My hair gets so soft that it doesn't curl up, so I have to use another conditioner. 

When she wants her best hair, she uses a Denman D-4 rubber brush.  She separate her hair into six sections in order to brush it out, starting at the bottom to prevent breakage.  She does this in the shower.  She mixes Aveda Cherry Almond Bark with Deep Penetrating and then shakes her hair so the curls can find each other. 

(L-R) Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) listens as William (Reggie Hayes) tells her his feelings in the 100th episode of GIRLFRIENDS on The CW.

Photo: Ron Tom ©2004Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved

Tracee Ellis Ross stars in GIRLFRIENDS on The CW.

Photo: Darien Davis ©2003 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved

She puts her hair up with a big clip.  She leaves the conditioner in for awhile.  Then she turns cold water on low pressure because the high pressure will break up the curls that just found each other.  The low pressure cold water keeps it shine and keeps the curl.

The best advice Tracee gives for hair care advice?  Condition, condition and condition and stay away from alcohol-based products.  It just dries your hair out.

The daughter of a rather famous singer is a graduate of Brown University and the esteemed William Esper Acting Studio. In addition to her success as an actress, writer, and producer, Ross has been a model - having worked with top photographers and gracing the pages of numerous fashion magazines. She has also hosted her own television program, the acclaimed "The Dish."

Tracee Ellis Ross stars in GIRLFRIENDS on The CW. Photo: Darien Davis

©2003 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved

Mondays (9:00-9:30 p.m.) on The CW

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