Mielle is the Chicago haircare brand a former nurse started from homemade concoctions, and Rosemary Mint is its best seller. Here are that collection, the curl stylers and the repair and scalp care that round it out.
Mielle and the Rosemary Mint Oil That Went Viral
Monique Rodriguez, a Chicago native, worked as a nurse for eight years before she started Mielle Organics in 2014 with her husband, Melvin, after homemade hair concoctions she shared on social media drew questions about where to buy them. The company's stated belief is that healthier ingredients make for healthier hair, and it now has ten ingredient-based collections. Rosemary Mint is the best seller: the oil had been a favorite among many Black customers since 2018 before a TikTok mention in late 2022 caused shortages. In 2021 Berkshire Partners backed the company with a large minority stake that made Rodriguez the first Black woman to raise a round of that size, and Procter & Gamble announced it was acquiring Mielle in January 2023, with Monique and Melvin staying on as CEO and COO. The Rosemary Mint oil, shampoo, conditioner and masque work as a set. Massage a few drops of oil into the scalp, not a handful, and patch test first, since mint can tingle.
Four curl stylers
The Pomegranate & Honey Curl Smoothie and the Curl Defining Mousse are the brand's classic pairing for definition, and the Brazilian Curly Cocktail cream adds softness. The Kalahari Melon & Aloe Vera glaze is newer, a curl-forming formula for hydration and hold. Rake the smoothie through soaking wet hair, then scrunch the mousse over it, and let it dry without touching. That no-touch rule matters more than which product you pick. On wash day, apply stylers in sections so every curl gets coated. Use less product than you think at first, since too much can leave curls crunchy or weighed down, and add more only where hair looks frizzy once dry.
Repair and scalp, and the skip
The Babassu & Mint Bond Treatment and Deep Conditioner are for damaged hair, and the Lavender & Lychee shampoo is made to soothe the scalp. The Rosemary Mint sugar scrub clarifies buildup from oils and stylers. What I would skip is using the scalp scrub more than once a week or on a sore scalp. Scrubbing too often can irritate, so rotate it with the gentle shampoo. Deep condition under a warm towel for fifteen minutes when hair feels dry. If your scalp flakes or itches despite all this, the problem may not be buildup.
A healthy routine
Keep oils to the scalp and ends, not the whole head. Protect hair at night with a satin bonnet or pillowcase. Space out heat and tight styles, and keep your tools and bonnet clean. For thinning, shedding or a sore scalp, see a dermatologist; no oil can treat those on its own, and early help matters.
