Tracee Ellis Ross is known for many things (her famous mama, her former modeling career, her nice lady lumps, her legendary Girlfriends run, and a penchant for Azzedine Alaia, for example), but perhaps one of her most crucial claims to fame is her crowning glory of luscious curls. Her hair is an explosion of curly tendrils, which she has fiercely and fearlessly rocked since her TV debut in 2000. In a sea of straight-haired beauties, Ross stands out amongst the crowd. Her look is bright, playful, defiant and unapologetic; people even started calling her hair “the Joan hairstyle”, based on her beloved Girlfriends character.
Want crazy curls like hers? Ross notes that loving her wild curly hair was a long exercise in patience and persistence. But like a fine wine, they just get better with time; experimenting with different products and reducing or eliminating the amount of heat can make an enormous difference in the quality, luster and manageability of your curls.
Rules of thumb: No heat, lots of moisture, and time are the key components to soft spirals, regardless of your hair type. Curly hair is typically much more fragile than straight hair, so handle with care during shampooing, conditioning and detangling. And too much shampoo is NEVER a good thing — harsh detergents can dry out the hair even more.
Here’s to our favorite curly haired girl, Tracee Ellis Ross, and her unstoppable mane. We salute you!
