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

Tracee Ellis Ross has transformed the beauty industry with her advocacy for Black hair care. After experiencing limited options for textured hair, Ross aims to change the narrative surrounding Black beauty. 

She is focused on empowering people to embrace their natural hair and reject societal beauty standards. Ross’s vision goes beyond creating products; it is about reshaping how people view Black hair. 

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

Embracing Natural Textures Over Conformity

Tracee Ellis Ross is redefining beauty by encouraging everyone to embrace their natural textures and curls. For years, society told Black people their natural hair wasn’t professional or socially acceptable in many settings. Even students are not safe from the impact of discriminatory policies targeting Black cultural expressions.

Word In Black notes that in September 2023, 18-year-old Darryl George faced suspension at Barbers Hill High for his dreadlocks. 

Barbers Hill Independent School District enforced policies penalizing students with hairstyles like dreadlocks, citing dress code violations. During the suspension, George endured eight-hour stool seating and lacked teacher guidance or access to hot meals.

This harmful narrative led many to alter their hair to fit mainstream ideals of beauty. Ross is working to reverse these standards and promote natural hair as beautiful and powerful. She believes that every curl, wave, and kink should be celebrated, not hidden. 

Encouraging self-love and acceptance is central to her mission of empowering people to embrace their hair fully.

What challenges exist in mainstream media representation?

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

Redefining Beauty Through Representation

Representation in the beauty industry plays a significant 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 a space for diverse beauty in the industry. 

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

Pattern Beauty’s approach resonates with its audience, reflected in consistent growth and expanding retail partnerships globally.

She believes that 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 accept their natural hair without feeling invisible or marginalized.

How does representation affect children’s perceptions of beauty?

Seeing diverse beauty positively impacts children’s self-esteem and acceptance of their natural features. Representation in media and products affirms that beauty exists in all forms. This early validation combats internalized bias and fosters lifelong confidence.

Tackling Hair Discrimination in the Workplace

Hair discrimination remains a pervasive issue in professional settings, especially for Black individuals. Societal norms have long pushed the idea that straightened hair is the ideal standard for 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 deemed unprofessional in workplace environments. Advocacy through the CROWN Act aims to combat this bias and create inclusive hair policies.

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

While straightened hair may have been once seen as necessary, its risks are now undeniable. The chemicals in relaxers are harmful, causing damage to both the hair and scalp over time.

The Dangers of Chemical Hair Relaxers

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

According to TorHoerman Law, as awareness grows, many consumers are turning to safer alternatives to avoid harmful long-term effects. The rise in lawsuits against hair relaxer manufacturers is pushing the conversation forward about product safety. Consumers are seeking justice for the health issues caused by these chemical hair products.

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

How does hair discrimination affect mental health?

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

Promoting 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 inadequately trained to care for textured hair, leading to poor service and frustration. 

Ross advocates for more comprehensive education programs that focus on textured hair care to improve industry standards. With this, she ensures that stylists meet the needs of all clients. 

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

What community efforts support textured hair education?

Nonprofits and local organizations offer workshops and resources for stylists working with textured hair. These initiatives bridge education gaps and empower both professionals and clients. Community involvement strengthens advocacy for textured hair inclusion industry-wide.

Tracee Ellis Ross is reshaping how we think about beauty, hair, and self-expression. Her advocacy challenges society’s biases and promotes self-love by celebrating natural hair. She confronts workplace hair discrimination, pushing for inclusive standards that embrace everyone’s authenticity. Ross dismantles harmful stereotypes while fostering equity and acceptance in beauty and beyond. 

Her work empowers Black individuals to embrace their true selves, boosting self-esteem and 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 aisle.