There’s no denying that Tracee Eliss Ross has one of the best heads of hair in all of Hollywood. C’mon have you seen her lush, thick curls lately? The talented actress was recently tapped as the new spokeswoman for the Optimum Salon Haircare Miracle Oil product line and, according to Ross, the products are miraculous indeed. We caught up with the naturalista to chat about why she loves the line so much and what she really thinks about the whole natural vs. non-natural hair controversy.
ESSENCE.com: Tell us more about the Optimum Salon Haircare Miracle Oil products. What do you love most about them?
ROSS: I am a connoisseur of products. I check out everything, I try everything. I have had a whole bunch of bad moments with products and I have to say the thing that I love about this 6-in-1 Miracle Oil is that it really goes in the hair and penetrates the hair cuticle. A lot of oils that I have used, they give you a good moment but if you put it in your hair, you’re weighed down and greasy. It just doesn’t work. With the 6-in-1 oil, I put it in a little spray bottle and I spray it in my hair when I’m in the shower and my hair is soaking wet. I flip my hair over and then I squish it so it really gets through all of my hair and I don’t need any other product. Then I let my hair dry naturally or diffuse it. It’s fantastic. It defines my curls so they are shiny yet not weighed down. I also drop some geranium oil in it and put it on my skin right out of the shower. It doesn’t look shiny, but it looks glowy. I also put it in a little dropper and used it on my cuticles. I tried it with everything! They said it was a miracle so I wanted to know what the miracle was! [Laughs] I have to say it is pretty much a miracle.
ESSENCE.com: You’ve done a lot with your hair and earlier this year was the first time we saw you with hair color? How did you like it?
ROSS: I loved being a redhead! I always wanted to try it. I was obsessed with Lucille Ball growing up. I really wanted to try it but I always thought that doing it would ruin my hair. I was really concerned about it. I worked with a colorist who is a friend of mine and he was like, “Tracee, it will not ruin your hair.” And it didn’t. I loved it, but truthfully I am at heart with what God naturally gave me. I just feel more comfortable [in my natural color] so I went back to it. But [having red hair] was fun! It was so much fun.
ESSENCE.com: There are some people who would say that there is too much division between the natural hair community and women who are not natural. What is your take on the topic?
ROSS: Just embrace your hair! I really feel like I am not an advocate for people doing what I do. I’m an advocate for people discovering and finding what works for them. For some people the relaxer is everything that made them love their hair. For some people, getting a weave is what made them love their hair. For some people getting wigs is what made them love their hair. For some people it is just a bun or a topknot. It’s all about you and it’s about what makes you feel comfortable, what makes you feel beautiful and what makes you feel good. Anybody that tells you that there’s a way to do something— whether it be hair, dating, anything— there’s no such thing. We’re all different, it works differently for each of us and I think you should really let yourself find your own way.
Get your hands on the new Optimum Salon Haircare Miracle Oil line here.