Tracee Ellis Ross is celebrating more than just curls this year. In honor of Girlfriends’ 25th anniversary, her beauty brand Pattern is reuniting the beloved cast for its first-ever commercial. While a reboot of the iconic sitcom may still be a dream, this joyful moment of nostalgia—wrapped in coils, curls, and community—is a gift to fans who’ve been waiting for the gang to get back together.
A full-circle moment for Pattern
Twenty-five years after Girlfriends first aired, its themes of sisterhood, self-discovery, and cultural affirmation continue to resonate. Tracee Ellis Ross, who portrayed Joan Clayton in the original series, channels those very values into Pattern Beauty—a brand created to celebrate and support textured hair in all its natural forms. Now, that journey has culminated in a full-circle campaign that honors the show’s legacy and the beauty rituals that connect generations.
Pattern’s first commercial campaign, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker child, stars Ellis Ross as the “Chief Curltender”—a playful nod to both bartender and haircare expert. She’s seen helping women, including her fellow Girlfriends stars—Golden Brooks (Maya), Jill Marie Jones (Toni), and Persia White (Lynn)—find their perfect hair product pairings in a space that feels more like a spa-lounge than a traditional salon. The visual storytelling merges nostalgia with a message of self-love, empowerment, and the practical creativity of “hair cocktailing.”
Hair as heritage, hair as joy
“Hair cocktailing is a common practice in our community,” Ellis Ross explains in a press statement. “We layer curl gels, creams, oils, and more to create a personalized formula that works best for our own hair.” This blending of products mirrors the individual identities of Black women—each hair journey as unique and dynamic as the person behind it.
In the campaign, that narrative is brought to life not only through performance but through styling: Jill Marie Jones stuns in glossy finger waves, Golden Brooks rocks voluminous curls, and Persia White embraces a soft textured updo. Each look is paired with Pattern’s products, which span from moisture-rich conditioners to precision stylers and tools. With Ellis Ross guiding the cast like a joyful curator of care, the commercial feels less like an ad and more like an invitation into the sisterhood.
Why this reunion matters
For longtime fans, this moment isn’t just about beauty—it’s about visibility. When Girlfriends premiered in 2000, it filled a glaring void on television: a nuanced, stylish, and intelligent depiction of modern Black women navigating love, work, and friendship. As show creator Mara Brock Akil once told Harper’s Bazaar, the goal was clear: “I wanted to shift it to the chosen family of sisterhood… Black women did not have any seat at the table on Sex and the City. And although I still really enjoyed the show, I didn’t see that as a rejection; I saw it as an opportunity.”
That opportunity now continues through Pattern, where the intersection of beauty and identity is not only acknowledged but celebrated. The commercial is playful and polished, but it also delivers a deeper cultural resonance—affirming that the rituals surrounding Black hair are not just personal but political, expressive, and inherently joyful.
The next chapter for Pattern
Since its launch in 2019, Pattern has expanded its lineup to include cleansers, treatments, heat tools, and accessories—all tailored specifically for textured hair. With the debut of this first commercial, the brand signals a new era of visibility and scale. But at its core, Pattern remains rooted in the values Ellis Ross brought from her days on Girlfriends: sisterhood, authenticity, and the belief that beauty should reflect the diverse faces of the world.
In celebrating 25 years of Girlfriends through the lens of Pattern, Ellis Ross isn’t just looking back—she’s looking forward. The commercial is a love letter to the past, a reflection of the present, and a bold step into the future of beauty.
