Legend. icon. superstar.
These are all words that could be used to describe Brooke Shields. Now, there is another entrepreneur. This week, Shields, 59, launched a three-product hair care system called Commence that aims to repair hair damage caused by styling, environmental exposure, and age-related biological changes.
This is a very personal project for SEALs. “At this point in my life, I started noticing hair thinning, changes in texture, and of course gray hair. I have to get my roots done every three weeks,” she tells Women’s Health. And as an actress and entertainer, she says years of coloring, styling, and overall manipulation have taken a toll. “My hair was so tired.”
The SEALs were also tired. I was tired of trying product after product to solve my hair problems, only to end up disappointed or worse. “I’ve used other ones, but they actually clogged my pores and my hair started falling out,” she says. “We felt like there was a space for brands that communicated positivity to women of a certain age, the beginning of a new, fresh and vibrant phase in life. It’s clear that we need a problem-solving product.”
And Shields partnered with two beauty industry veterans to create her line. A Women’s Health editor tested the collection for several weeks. This is her honest opinion.
Comment All products in the hair care line
Hair care designed to solve common problems for women over 40 includes common problems such as shampoos, conditioners, masks, deep conditioners, serums and other treatment products. The SEALs deliberately steered left from these conventions. “I wanted to start with hero products,” she says. “Women love their favorite shampoos and conditioners and tend to already have giant bottles in their bathrooms. But how many of them I, as a consumer, couldn’t find a standout version of?” And that’s where the Commence team focused their efforts.
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Each of the three products in the Commence collection (dry shampoo, leave-in conditioner, and scalp serum) is designed to improve specific deficiencies found in other versions of these items. First, it’s a non-aerosol dry shampoo. Shields calls it 2-in-1 Instant Shampoo. Who wants to have a product with the word “dry” in the title near their hair? “This is a rice-based powder with moisturizing hyaluronic acid that we’ve encapsulated so it can be absorbed from the roots of the hair,” she says. “When it opens up, it recognizes where your hair and scalp need moisture.” Shields uses it as a volumizer, and promises it won’t leave your hair dry or frizzy.
When it comes to 3-in-1 leave-in conditioners, Shields was adamant that the product needs to be lightweight so it doesn’t weigh down the hair. This has been a problem with other leave-ins. “My hair always feels greasy and makes me want to wash it again,” she says. Commence’s version contains a cocktail of ingredients like heat-protecting molecules, coconut fatty acids, and botanical extracts to provide benefits ranging from damage protection to smoothing frizz to improving shine. And they do it without leaving the lock limp and lifeless. “I put it in my hair as soon as I get out of the shower as a little pick-me-up,” she says. “My hair always feels less greasy, bouncier, and more bouncy.”
Last but not least is the root serum. It’s part of a line of non-styling products that Shields sees as an antidote to the age-related changes in hair that she and many other women experience. “At Commence, we focus on scalp health, so we wanted to approach the hair from the root,” she explains. Water kefir rich in 5 minerals and antioxidants Formulated with PHA and peptides, this product aims to nourish the scalp and create the perfect environment for healthy hair growth.
Pamela Hanson
The science behind starting
The promise behind Commence is big, but the brand claims there’s science to back it all up. At the heart of each product is Commence Complex, a proprietary blend of active ingredients that promote scalp and hair health.
Contained in this complex is alfalfa extract with peptides designed to support hair growth and quinoa peptides that volumize and thicken from the roots. Lactobacillus ferments nourish and soothe the scalp, while acai stem cells have antioxidant properties that protect the scalp from damage from environmental aggressors.
Fragrance is another important element of Commence’s products. It’s light, refreshing, and has a very pleasant scent. “We wanted something that would bring a smile to everyone’s face,” says Shields. “It has citrus and floral notes, as well as a bit of musk and amber. Creating balance was very important, and it was very clean.”
Editor’s Thoughts on Commence by Product
Commence is a line that appears to have been created specifically for Women’s Health executive editor Abigail Cuffy. Her hair is long and she says it’s thinner than before she had children. “I’m always looking for products that make my hair look fuller, healthier, and have more shine,” she says. “It seems like I’m on an eternal journey to get rid of my dull skin.”
For Cuffey, leave-in conditioners and scalp serums were a big draw. Product build-up tends to make hair look thinner, so she found herself washing her hair daily, applying leave-in to damp hair after a shower, and blow drying it. “It instantly made my hair look so shiny and full,” Cuffey raves. Sometimes, she would mix the serum and conditioner together, squirt a small amount of each into the palm of her hand, and run the combo through her hair. “It worked too, it was a really powerful combo,” she added.
Abigail Cuffy
The left side of this image shows the tester’s naturally air-dried hair. The one on the right is blown out and styled with Commens products. You’ll feel radiant and fulfilled for days!
Cuffey obviously doesn’t use a lot of dry shampoo, but she appreciates having one specifically designed with satiety in mind. “I’m happy with the results. All I had to do was massage when using it.”
She’s also a big fan of this fragrance blend. “The scent is really nice and not overpowering at all,” says Cuffy. “Even though I wash my hair every day, it smells even more beautiful. You should make a fragrance mist out of this scent.”
Conclusion: Is Commente worth the purchase?
According to our testers, that’s a clear yes. Cuffey finds that this powerful trio makes her hair look shinier, bouncier, and fuller. “During the time I was testing Commence, I didn’t have to use any other styling products,” she says. For Cuffey, who struggles with adding volume to her roots, serums and leave-in conditioners have been powerful products that have worked just fine. Although not a fan of dry shampoo in general, she was happy with Commence’s products.
Shields was probably hoping for this kind of reaction, but he wasn’t surprised to hear it. She was inspired to create the product after listening to the opinions of women in the online community “Beginning Is Now.” “I wanted to call the brand Commentence because I wanted it to be something positive,” she says. And as he reaches middle age, Shields knows it’s time for a new beginning. “Especially for women who have left home or have children who have left home. They’re finally at the point where it’s all about them. And I want to help women embrace that. ”
Brian Underwood is the Beauty Director at Women’s Health. He is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle for multiple national media outlets and previously served as Director of Beauty and Wellness at Oprah Daily. His work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Life & Style Weekly, Good Housekeeping, and more. He also serves on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Celebration Committee and lives in New York City with his daughter.
