Tracee Ellis Ross’s Bold Vision for the Future of Black Hair Care

Tracee Ellis Ross transformed the beauty industry by championing black hair care. After experimenting with limited options for textured hair, Ross aims to change the narrative surrounding Black beauty.

She strives to empower people to embrace their natural hair and reject societal beauty standards. Ross’ vision goes beyond creating products; it’s about reshaping the way people perceive black hair.

Her work encourages confidence, self-love and inclusiveness for all people with textured hair. She seeks to dismantle harmful stereotypes and foster a more inclusive beauty landscape for future generations.

Embrace natural textures over conformity

Tracee Ellis Ross is redefining beauty by encouraging everyone to embrace their natural textures and curls. For years, society has told Black people that their natural hair is unprofessional or socially acceptable in many contexts. Even students are not immune from the impact of discriminatory policies targeting Black cultural expressions.

Word in black notes that in September 2023, Darryl George, 18, was suspended from Barbers Hill High for his dreadlocks.

The Barbers Hill Independent School District has enforced policies penalizing students with hairstyles like dreadlocks, citing dress code violations. During the suspension, George had to sit on the stools for eight hours and was unable to receive advice from his teacher or access hot meals.

This harmful narrative has led many people to alter their hair to fit traditional beauty ideals. Ross works to reverse these norms and promote natural hair as beautiful and powerful. She believes that every curl, wave and crease should be celebrated and not hidden.

Encouraging self-love and acceptance is at the heart of its mission: empowering people to fully embrace their hair.

What are the challenges of representation in mainstream media?

Mainstream media still often presents straightened hair as the default when it comes to professionalism or beauty. This bias limits representation and marginalizes textured hairstyles. Expanding narratives in films, advertising and news can reshape the public’s perception of the beauty and versatility of natural hair.

Redefining beauty through representation

Representation in the beauty industry plays an important role in shaping societal views of beauty standards. Growing up, Tracee Ellis Ross struggled to find products that suited her unique hair texture. This lack of representation motivated her to create space for diverse beauty in the industry.

FRN states that as a result, Tracee Ellis Ross founded Pattern Beauty in 2019 to embrace and celebrate the textured hair community. The brand promotes self-expression by promoting confidence in all hair types through thoughtfully designed products.

Pattern Beauty’s approach resonates with its audience, as evidenced by its continued growth and expansion of its retail partnerships globally.

She believes everyone should see themselves represented in the beauty world, especially people with textured hair. Ross empowers individuals to embrace their beauty by sharing her story and advocating for representation. Her work encourages Black people to embrace their natural hair without feeling invisible or marginalized.

How does representation affect children’s perception of beauty?

Seeing diverse beauty has a positive impact on children’s self-esteem and acceptance of their natural characteristics. Representation in media and products affirms that beauty exists in all forms. This early validation combats internalized prejudices and promotes permanent trust.

Fighting Hair Discrimination in the Workplace

Hair discrimination remains a pervasive problem in the workplace, particularly for black people. Societal norms have long pushed the idea that straightened hair is the ideal standard of professionalism.

The CROWN Coalition’s 2023 report highlights that Black women’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to face professional bias. This data shows how natural hairstyles are still unfairly considered unprofessional in work environments. Advocacy through the CROWN Act aims to combat these biases and create inclusive hair policies.

This pressure forces Black people to alter their natural hair to fit these narrow definitions of beauty. Many people use chemical relaxers to permanently straighten textured hair, which has serious long-term consequences.

If straightened hair may have once been considered necessary, its risks are now undeniable. The chemicals in relaxers are harmful and damage both the hair and scalp over time.

The dangers of chemical relaxers

Chemical relaxers contain ingredients like sodium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide, which are linked to health problems. These chemicals can weaken hair, burn the scalp, and significantly irritate the skin. Long-term use of relaxers has been linked to serious health complications, such as uterine cancer and fibroids.

According to TorHoerman Law, as awareness increases, many consumers are turning to safer alternatives to avoid long-term harmful effects. The increase in lawsuits against relaxer manufacturers advances the debate over product safety. Consumers are demanding justice for the health problems caused by these chemical hair products.

A December 2024 update from Lawsuit Legal News reports that relaxer litigation now includes more than 9,640 active lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland set discovery deadlines: written discovery by February 28, 2025, and oral discovery by September 30, 2025. These deadlines underscore the urgency of addressing growing security concerns related to lawsuit against relaxer.

How does hair discrimination affect mental health?

Experiencing discrimination for natural hair can erode confidence and contribute to anxiety in the workplace. This reinforces harmful societal narratives that marginalize black identity. Providing safe spaces and representation in the workplace helps counteract these effects.

Promote education and training for textured hair care

Tracee Ellis Ross understands the importance of education, especially in professional beauty care for textured hair. Many hairstylists are not trained enough to care for textured hair, leading to poor service and frustration.

Ross advocates for more comprehensive educational programs focused on textured hair care to improve industry standards. This ensures that stylists meet the needs of all clients.

Her goal is to raise awareness of the unique needs of textured hair, which is often overlooked. This focus on education will drive more inclusive beauty practices across the industry.

What community efforts support education about textured hair?

Nonprofit and local organizations offer workshops and resources for stylists working with textured hair. These initiatives address educational gaps and empower both professionals and clients. Community involvement strengthens advocacy for the inclusion of textured hair industry-wide.

Tracee Ellis Ross is reshaping the way we think about beauty, hair, and self-expression. Her advocacy challenges societal biases and promotes self-love by celebrating natural hair. She fights against hair discrimination in the workplace and advocates for inclusive standards that respect everyone’s authenticity. Ross dismantles harmful stereotypes while promoting equity and acceptance in beauty and beyond.

Her work empowers black individuals to fully accept themselves, thereby strengthening their self-esteem and self-confidence. This movement isn’t just about hair; it’s about creating meaningful societal change. Tracee’s bold vision for black hair care inspires others to celebrate their identity unapologetically. It’s a revolution beyond the beauty department.