Mielle Organics

Mielle Organics is an American haircare company founded in 2014 [5], specializing in products for textured hair. It was started by registered nurse Monique Rodriguez and her husband Melvin Rodriguez, and built its reputation as a Black-founded brand serving curly and coily hair before scaling into mass retail. Since January 2023 it has been owned by Procter & Gamble, though it continues to operate as an independent P&G Beauty subsidiary under its founders [7].

The company, often styled simply as Mielle, describes its approach as rooted in science and built around clean botanical ingredients, with a stated focus on scalp health and hydration across every hair texture.

Mielle Organics grew out of Monique Rodriguez's own search for healthier hair. A registered nurse by training, she began the brand in 2014, which the company describes as "a kitchen vision that grew into a global beauty brand." Her husband Melvin Rodriguez co-founded the business; she serves as chief executive and he as chief operating officer.

From the start, the brand positioned itself around textured hair — coily, curly, wavy and straightened — and around community and education as much as products. According to the company, its purpose is "to care for every curl and every crown with purpose and performance."

The brand scaled quickly through the late 2010s. By 2020 it generated roughly $40 million in sales [7]. In March 2021, the private-equity firm Berkshire Partners made a growth investment in the company, supporting an expansion of production, infrastructure and new product collections [6].

The defining event in Mielle's history came in January 2023, when Procter & Gamble acquired it from Berkshire Partners [6]. Sources differ slightly on the exact date: Berkshire Partners records the sale as closing on January 12, 2023 [6], while the trade publication WWD reported the acquisition on January 11 [7]; the difference likely reflects announcement versus close. Both place the deal within January 2023.

Mielle Organics is owned by Procter & Gamble, which bought the company in 2023 and operates it within its P&G Beauty division. Rather than being absorbed, the brand was kept as an independent subsidiary, with Monique and Melvin Rodriguez remaining in leadership. Within P&G's haircare portfolio it sits alongside brands such as Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences and Aussie.

As part of the acquisition, Mielle and P&G each committed $10 million to Mielle Cares, a nonprofit supporting education and economic opportunity in Black and brown communities [7].

Mielle frames its products around the idea that, in the company's words, "healthy ingredients create healthier hair." It markets formulas it describes as ingredient-rich and botanically based, organized into collections built around hero ingredients such as Rosemary Mint, Pomegranate & Honey, and Kalahari Melon & Aloe Vera. The brand's stated mission centers on scalp health, hydration and what it calls real results for textured hair, and it presents education — through its "Texture Toolkit" content and community initiatives — as central to its identity. Its marketing tagline is "Science Backed. Scalp Approved."

The company's range spans shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, oils, masques and styling products. Its two most frequently cited bestsellers are the Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil and the Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo [7].

Mielle says its products undergo testing by both internal and third-party laboratories, and that its Rosemary Mint oil and shampoo are dermatologically tested. The company states that its Rosemary Mint line is accredited by the Skin Health Alliance, an independent not-for-profit that works with dermatologists and scientists [3].

Founder Monique Rodriguez was named to CNBC's "Changemakers" list in 2024 in recognition of her impact on the beauty industry and her support for Black women entrepreneurs [5]. In 2023 she also launched a venture fund offering financial and mentorship support to minority-owned businesses in the beauty and wellness industries [5].

Mielle Organics remains an actively trading brand and, since the 2023 acquisition, a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble. It maintains a live e-commerce operation and, according to the company, distribution reaching more than 87 countries and over 100,000 US stores, including Ulta Beauty, Target, Walmart and CVS [6].