By Jim Servin
JIM SERVIN: It’s clear you were born with gorgeous hair. If there were any issues with it, what were they, and how did you care for it?
BROOKE SHIELDS: I have always had long hair, even as I have gotten older. When you are younger, you do not always think about the damaging products and heat from tools that you use on your hair, and it is not until when you are older you have to deal with those consequences.
JS: What was the moment in the timeline of your life when you noticed a change in the appearance and texture of your hair? How did you address it?
BS: After menopause, I noticed my hair was beginning to thin and became dry and lackluster. I couldn’t understand why that was happening, and when I talked to other women my age, I realized that most women experienced this happening to their hair once they hit menopause or over the age of 40. Since hair health was consistently seen as an issue for other women and there were no products targeted for that demographic, I knew that was the space I wanted to fill.
JS: How did you experience the marketplace’s response to these issues? What was the genesis, the aha moment that inspired you to create the Commence line?
BS: I started my platform, Beginning Is Now, during COVID to create an online community for women during a time of uncertainty in the world. When I asked my community what they were looking for, or a product that they wanted, all conversations led back to hair. Most women over 40 in the community were experiencing the same issues with their hair, which is where Commence was born to address those problems.
Between hot tools, chemical processes and daily environmental exposure, hair damage—and the need for prevention and repair—starts as early as the teens and persists throughout the 20s and 30s. But after 40, biological hair changes enter the picture: Hair becomes thin and fine due to decreases in follicle density and strand diameter. Dryness is persistent as sebum production slows. Hair growth becomes sluggish. Scalps become more sensitive and prone to inflammation. Popular solutions like reparative and bond-building treatments address damage along the strand without getting to the root cause, which can leave the hair still brittle with overuse.
JS: What was it about the dry shampoo in the Commence line that makes it particularly attractive to your audience?
BS: The Commence 2-In-1 Instant Dry Shampoo is the first instant shampoo (dry shampoo) that leverages quaternized hyaluronic acid, the smallest and most effective type of hyaluronic acid for hair care in a powder formula, that upon application demonstrates the immediate effect of short-term sebum-reducing properties while also enhancing scalp hydration. This lightweight multitasking shampoo instantly refreshes both hair and scalp by absorbing excess sebum and oil, working from the scalp out, while moisturizing dry areas of the scalp, leaving hair voluminous, lifted and clean.
JS: Was there a moment in your life where you noticed a remarkable change in the glow factor of your skin and hair? If so, could you tell us when that was, and how it affected other aspects of your life?
BS: I truly started to see a difference in the overall health of my hair after using Commence. When your hair looks good, you feel good, period. But things change after 40, so it is important to use products that are not only efficacious, but targeted for your needs.
JS: Does having a healthy, glowing appearance affect other areas of well-being, such as mental and emotional wellness?
BS: Commence is a reminder that new beginnings can happen at any age, and a call to action for us all to embrace our next chapter and age optimistically. What started as Beginning Is Now has evolved into Commence, a platform and products made to support one another and empower aging honestly and on our own terms. When your hair looks good, you feel good, period.
JS: Your line is proudly eco-friendly.
BS: Our products are responsibly created with thoughtful, clean ingredients that are good for your health and the planet. Our products are never tested on animals, and are phthalate-free, sulfate-free and talc-free. Commence is safe for all hair types, and colors, as well as color- and chemically treated hair.
JS: As the mother of two daughters, what wellness guidance do you give them?
BS: Listen to your body. You know your body better than anyone. Never be afraid to ask questions of your medical providers. You have to take care of your own body, mind and soul. No one can do it as well as you!
JS: Is there a favorite quote or motto that you live by?
BS: The only way to ensure you’ll fail is if you don’t try.
JS: Do you have any upcoming acting projects? What kinds of roles are you most drawn to?
BS: I’m drawn to strong women, and comedic parts. I love doing rom-coms! I have a few in development. Keeping my fingers crossed that they are green lit.
JS: How do you take care of you hair and your overall wellness in winter?
BS: Lots of moisture! I wash my hair less frequently, and with Commence, of course! I use the root serum every day. And if I’m not working, no styling or heat. Sometimes I’ll put in a conditioning mask, braid my hair and sleep in it overnight. As for overall wellness, working out is necessary for me. I love PIlates. And lots of broth!
JS: You have a great sense of humor. How are you bringing some laughter, a lighter side to these fraught times?
BS: If you don’t laugh, you’ll just cry. I surround myself with people I trust and love, who keep my spirits high.