On how she wakes up in the morning
This is going to sound strange but I use my tongue scraper before I drink any water or eat. Then I like to have a glass of lemon water and take my supplements. I will also usually go and work out, and beforehand will try and eat something – you’re supposed to eat a little sugar, like apple sauce or something, and then take a protein shake after. I’m not a coffee drinker, so I don’t have a major morning routine, nor do I have kids or a dog right now – so it’s all about me.
On the inception of Pattern
Pattern started from my own personal hair journey and my experience with not being able to find products or see myself and my hair texture mirrored back to me in a way that felt celebratory, supportive and beautiful. My childhood and teenage years were filled with me trying everything, searching everywhere and eventually creating a fruitful relationship with my hair – I nursed it back to health. I learned all the tricks that worked for me and figured out which products worked. But during the whole process, I was flabbergasted by the limited amount of [haircare] choices. Plus, the products that did work were so expensive.
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When I began working on Girlfriends, I realised how many people were like me. I realised I was part of a vast community and so I started on my journey to create this line of hair products – but it took 10 years. [It took so long because] the industry did not understand the importance, power or beauty of this vast community, but it also didn’t understand the need or the money that was being left on the table, and didn’t understand the customer, period. So many of us had become our own best experts in our bathrooms because the products didn’t exist. As the internet took off, this natural hair movement blossomed, and we started to hear about this community. The convergence of my career and the industry happened at the right moment.
It’s always been my desire and vision for this brand to be accessible and available to everyone – across the globe. The curly, coily and tight texture community existed long before Pattern and long before it became a “movement”. We are everywhere in this grand diaspora, so I wanted the products to be available everywhere. It’s a really exciting moment to be finally coming to the UK.
On working out
I am still a Tracy Anderson fiend – what I love about Tracy Anderson is the studio and the absolutely insane heat. It’s like 97 degrees, so it’s like a sweat box. The music is so loud, and it’s the best environment because you can’t think. You’re just in your body and it’s really hard but what I love about it is you feel so beautiful, sexy, long and strong – and that’s all the things I want to feel. You feel connected to your body – you can’t do Tracy Anderson if you don’t have the mind-body connection.
During the pandemic, I also started going regularly to Rise Movement, which is a private gym – we do weight training. They use a lot of movement that reminds me of what you used to do when you were a kid; it’s using your own body. We push a sled, throw a ball, and things like that, rather than using gym equipment. It’s functional movement. I love that.
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I’m 49-years-old and I had some injuries during the pandemic from so much sitting and not working out in a supervised way, with a mirror and a trainer. I tore my labrum in my hip, and got a torn meniscus in my knee. It was not great, but I’m healing now. I’m 49 and you’ve got to be mindful of your body, but I’m a real disciplined lady and I love a workout.
On her own hair routine
For me, personally, I don’t wear any make-up on my skin. It’s usually earrings, lipstick and hair – they are my best accessories. I believe for both my skin and hair that it’s all about hydration, hydration, hydration – I focus on the water I put in [my body] and the moisture that I put onto my skin and my hair.
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I wash my hair maybe once a week, but because I work out so much I do a co-wash. I’m really big on deep conditioning so I will pick one of the conditioners and fill my hair with it. Often I’ll put on the moisture mask and do house chores. My hair routine is pretty simple: I wash, condition, and use the Pattern shower brush, which is my favourite. It creates the curls, then I use our leave-in conditioner and either let it air dry or diffuse it – I like it when it gets really fluffy and big. I often make it even bigger once it’s dry by using our hair pick and really getting into the root of the hair.
My hair is usually best on day one, so I leave it out and then that night, before bed, I brush it out with a paddle brush and put a little bit of our Jojoba Oil in my hair. I don’t sleep with a cap or anything on. Then towards the rest of the week, I either braid or slick back – I love a slicked-back look. I think it’s so elegant. I travel and work out in a slicked-back look, and use the styling cream in the front so it gets nice and shiny, like satin.
On celery juice
Someone [on set] told me to drink celery juice. I did it for a little bit, then I forgot about it, then I was just on this movie and the first AD [assistant director] told me – because I’m going through perimenopause – that it really helped her to regulate her body. So I’m going to try it again. She said to drink it about half an hour after the lemon water.
On her go-to hairstylists
When I do press, I use different artists all the time and we just play and do things I could never do to my own hair. I’m pretty good with my hair – I can braid and things – but we do so many beautiful things to it, thanks to all the artists and their creativity. Nai’vasha is incredible, and so is Marcia Hamilton. Chuck Amos is really good at making my hair big and delicious, but he can do anything. Everyone I work with brings a different thing – I love the creativity of their ideas combined with mine.
On her evening skincare routine
Oh, my skincare routine is extensive. At night, if I’ve worn make-up when I’m working, I use Bioderma to remove my make-up. Then I use CosMedix Benefit Clean, which is a bit of a soapy cleanser, and I use it with a mitt. After that I do a Terri Lawton Serum Toner. Usually at night, I’ll apply the Retrouvé Intensive – it’s a really hydrating moisturiser – and then I put Biologique Recherche T.E.W.L. serum over that.
In the morning, I use Retrouvé Gentle Cleanser, and while it’s on my face I use the Pause Well-Aging Gua Sha for about three minutes. After I’ve rinsed the cleanser off with a warm washcloth, I put the Biologique oil on my face, and then use the the brand’s Cryo Sticks – they look like little teardrops and I keep them in the fridge. I do about two minutes on my face with them.
When I’m out of the shower, I use the Retrouvé Chamomile Tonic, as well as the Terri Lawton serum. After that, I use the Le Grande Creme Sérum and Cream from Biologique. And then depending on what I’m going for, I will take another drop of T.E.W.L. oil and just put it on my cheeks. Then I’m out the door. Now, that’s morning and night. If ever I have time, I will also add a mask into that routine. I just want to have life in my face! Yes, it’s insane. But you know what? I think it’s working.
On aeroplane travel
I play a game on the plane – how much water can you drink? I drink as much water as possible – no alcohol on the plane. Some people can’t wait to get on the plane to drink, but I did that once and I had a headache for like three days, I was so dehydrated. I also wear compression socks, the ones where your toes are out. Mine come right up under my butt. It makes such a difference. Oh and I also always do a sheet mask on the plane – I have a collagen one that I love.
On social media
I really enjoy it. I haven’t yet figured out TikTok – I tried really hard to go on there, but I’m a person who likes to use TikTok on Instagram. I just took Instagram off my phone – it is wonderful when I’m at work because I can just do something mindless without distracting me from my lines, but now I’m back home and I have work and some writing to do, I take it off my phone. I leave it on my iPad and check it there instead.
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I don’t actually do anything for Instagram [intentionally]. Every once in a while I capture what I’m doing in my life. I’ve always loved taking pictures of myself, I loved self-timer back in the day. I love making stupid videos, I’ve always been that person, so this kind of leans into that. Last night, for example, I was FaceTiming with my friend and she was helping me make a whiskey sour. In the middle of it I go, “Should I be recording this? Should I just hang up with you and try it because this feels like a comedy routine?” So I hung up with her, recorded, hung up with her, recorded… stuff like that.
On colourful make-up looks
Romy Soleimani, Lisa Storey and Raisa are three make-up artists that I work with whose use of colour blows my mind. I don’t really know how to choose colour for my make-up but I’m always blown away by the way they do it on me. When I work with Raisa, it’s like she’s painting watercolours on my face.
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As for products, obviously I am a die-hard Ruby Woo lipstick fan. I use it with Mac’s Cherry Lip Liner – and there’s always one that sits by my computer so I can touch up. Dries Van Noten also just did a line of matte lipsticks with unbelievable lipstick cases. The hot pink is so good – that’s a new favourite. I love About-Face – which is Halsey’s make-up brand – they make these matte pigments which are stunning, and Raisa created a teal blue on my eyelids with them, which was beautiful. I love getting my make-up done, but personally, I do a lip and call it a day.
On her wellness routine
I meditate. I haven’t been as diligent recently because the pandemic messed with my routine, but I am very much one of those people. I also do gyrotonics and gyrokinesis – it’s sort of a connection to the body. I really believe that staying connected to my body is where I gain a sense of wholeness for myself.
On her star sign
I’m a Scorpio and I’m also a rat! In Chinese astrology, that is. I’m a 29 October Scorpio, and a Scorpio through and through. I don’t really know anything about astrology but I do love to ask people their signs. The make-up artist in Vancouver for the movie I have been filming was also 29 October. Mind blown! I was like, “You’re a great person!”.
On rituals that help her to relax and switch off
My biggest is a bath – I love them. I will take a bath at 5.30 in the morning, before work. I put magnesium flakes in because I work out so much. A really hot bath is a great gentle start to the day, and I also do this thing where I stand up in the bath and do a full cold rinse with the shower. It’s really good for you.
On her secret to a life well lived
Joy, as much laughter as possible, good sleep. [Being around] as many trees as possible and eating as much whole and beautiful food and you can. Friends and family. Oh, and beautiful clothes!
Pattern Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross is available in-store at Boots and online at Boots.com and Patternbeauty.com from 29 June.
