Hair Story: Tracee Ellis Ross

Tips and tricks from everyone's favorite curly girl.

Legendary Hair - Bodacious. Vibrant. Life of the Party. And that’s just her hair! We could go on and on about why Tracee Ellis Ross is our eternal style crush, and her enviable mane is certainly near the top of our list. We caught up with the actress, who stars in the new ABC comedy Black-ish, in Atlanta recently, and she shared with us a few tips and tricks on how she keeps her curls red carpet-ready. By Britt Middleton (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

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Legendary Hair - Bodacious. Vibrant. Life of the Party. And that’s just her hair! We could go on and on about why Tracee Ellis Ross is our eternal style crush, and her enviable mane is certainly near the top of our list. We caught up with the actress, who stars in the new ABC comedy Black-ish, in Atlanta recently, and she shared with us a few tips and tricks on how she keeps her curls red carpet-ready. By Britt Middleton (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

Hair Journey - After launching her “Hair Love” campaign on her blog last summer, she continues to encourage fellow curlies to embrace the ups-and-downs of their hair journey. “One of the things I discovered about my hair, because I do my hair myself and I have a ton of it, is that in order to keep it in good shape I have to really work at how I do my hair, and who I let touch my hair and what I put on my hair. Because I’ve had really bad experiences. My hair was dead, dry and damaged and not what it is right now for many, many years."(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

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Hair Journey

Hydrate and Conditioning - “I really discovered that a styling tool of any kind, or any kind of products I use, has to also hydrate and condition my hair at the same time. Otherwise, it will work for a couple of tries and then your hair starts to dry out,” she says, adding that she loves Optimum Alma Legend styling products. "They hydrate and condition the hair while being a good styling tool, and that’s been the key for me.” (Photo: D Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)

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Hydrate and Conditioning

Multi-Tasking Products - “This one is my favorite because you can use it in different ways,” she says of Optimum’s Amla Legend Rejuvenating Oil. “You can use it as your hot oil treatment before your shampoo, or you can put a little bit of it on if you wear your hair curly when it’s wet and let it dry.” She adds a few drops to just-fluffed curls every morning for shine and nourishment. (Photo: Softsheen Carson)

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Multi-Tasking Products

Tools of the Trade - “If my hair is in good condition and hydrated, I can diffuse it, but it’s not a rushed experience,” she says of her signature hairstyle routine. “The main thing is that I put my hair in the shape that I want it. Putting the part [in my hair] happens in the shower while there’s conditioner in it. I rinse with the water pressure and then, if I’m going to diffuse, I use medium-power.  Another thing is that I don’t push my hair up [with my hands], I just sit [the diffuser] underneath. And then on the top, I use high-power and point it downward.” (Photo: Devacurl)

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Tools of the Trade

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Sleep Pretty - For nighttime care, she favors sleeping on a satin pillow case, or she wraps a silk scarf around her pillow. “I personally don’t like to wrap my hair because I don’t like when the front is flat, even if my hair is blown out. [Because] then my tendency is to go in with more heat. And I love Day 2 and Day 3 hair. By Day 3, that’s when I start doing those tie-up styles, braids and buns.” (Photo: Walmart)

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Sleep Pretty

Respect the Curls - “You have to respect the curls. You gotta honor the curls,” Tracee says. “They have their own life, their own language. You have to go, ‘Curl, who do you want to be today? Talk to me.’ And some days my curls say, ‘I don’t want to work today, I’m not gonna work today.’ And then I have to respond and say, ‘Ok, we’ll put you in a bun.’ And we do.” She adds with a smile, “This is no joke. It’s a science, it’s a project, and I work for it.”(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for MOCA)

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Respect the Curls