Social media users have taken to various platforms to call out Mielle Organics, a beloved haircare brand in the Black community. Specifically, the brand’s Rosemary & Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil became an overnight hit in 2022, with many women boasting about its effects on growing hair. However, recently, some users have reported that they have experienced an unfortunate change in the product that has led to hair loss.
Several TikTok users went viral after claiming that the oil caused them to lose large clumps of hair. To add fuel to the fire, a licensed cosmetologist known as @laura_beautycoach on TikTok also gained attention after calling out Mielle’s founder, Monique Rodriguez, for “selling out” following her partnership with a white-owned corporation, Procter & Gamble (P&G).
“The number of people who have reached out to me personally, either in DMs or in comment sections, saying they experienced scalp irritation, hair loss, or breakage after using Mielle is insane,” Laura said.
Other social media users also accused Mielle of joining the “black hair tax,” a term used to describe products designed for Black hair being priced higher than those for Caucasian hair. This accusation comes after influencer Alix Earle shared a video of her using Mielle products, which allegedly led to an increase in white women purchasing the products.
Amid the concerns, Rodriguez took to Instagram to address the situation and clear up some rumors about her partnership with P&G.
“When I made the decision to partner with P&G, it was driven by my vision to take Mielle to new heights and become a global beauty brand,” Rodriguez said. “That vision remains as strong as ever today.”
She also spoke on the brand’s success and highlighted the positivity that has come with the partnership, including their support for HBCU sports teams and becoming the first textured haircare brand to partner with the WNBA. As far as the major misconception of the brand changing its chemical formula, Rodriguez made it clear that Mielle has “no formula changes” and encouraged users to compare the current ingredients to the ones listed on the 2019 products to verify your statement.
In a follow-up post, which seems to have been deleted, Rodriguez spoke about the fear typically associated with change within the Black community. She highlighted that within the community, “fear of growth and success” can trigger “survival instincts, leading to the creation of false narratives.” Rodriguez also mentioned that she “faced persecution, often from those who look like me” and revealed that “there have been individuals who have attempted to bring my brand down.” But, nonetheless, Rodriguez says that the brand will continue to fight for “equity and representation.”
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