Mielle Organics going viral isn't a bad thing
Mielle Organics going viral should be celebrated
A few months a go, I picked up a bottle of Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil while browsing Duane Reade. I’ve actually made my own hair growth oil for years using rosemary based off a recipe from YouTuber turned natural hair entrepreneur Curly Proverbz, but wanted to get something lighter and easier to travel with. The oil has great reviews from women who claim it helped them grow their edges back, and as someone who has struggled with thinning edges for a variety of reasons, I was willing to give it a shot for $10.
I was very lucky to get a bottle when I did because apparently the oil is hard to find in stores now after TikTok star Alix Earle mentioned it in a video. I’m not going to rehash all the drama (The Cut has a pretty comprehensive breakdown here), but to me, the “controversy” and discourse around this has been extremely toxic and Chronically Online.
The success of Mielle Organics is not only inspiring to me as a Black woman in the beauty space but in my opinion great for the natural hair community. According to a McKinsey report, Black brands make up 2.5% percent of revenue in the beauty industry and Black consumers are 3x more likely to be dissatisfied with their options for hair care. Black hair is still an extremely underfunded and under researched industry. We need more large beauty conglomerates to see Black hair care as not just a niche but an important and valuable sector that deserves investment in quality, safe products that actually work.
Black-owned natural hair brands I swear by
To me, there’s never been a better time to have natural hair. What’s even better is that many of the brands that have become part of my rotation are Black-owned.
Here are some of the best Black-owned hair brands and the products I personally swear by:
Kinky Curly. This is the first brand to become a staple in my routine. Knot Today leave-in conditioner and detangler is a miracle product. The knots literally melt out of my hair and my hair stays moisturized for days. In combination with the Curling Custard, I get the softest, most-well defined twist-outs and wash & gos, never crunchy. What I really love about this brand are the ingredients. My hair can’t tolerate drying alcohols and Kinky-Curly products are free of alcohols, silicones, and petroleum. Both Knot Today and the Curling Custard contain marshmallow root, which provides incredible slip and hydration.
Curly Proverbz. Farida Sharma, aka Curly Proverbz, is the first natural hair YouTuber I started following. Her recipes for oils and masks using Ayurvedic herbs like henna and alma helped take my hair from dry and damaged to finally retaining moisture and length. That’s why I was so excited when she launched her own brand, the Curly Proverbz Collection. Her Henna and Aloe Masque is a must have. It is the perfect combination of strength and moisture and leaves my curls bouncy and defined straight out the shower with no product.
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