Hair care is a big niche out there, and sure enough, Mielle Organics is one name that has made it to the high rankings in this niche, mainly because of their popular hair care products that went viral on social media. Their products are known to work well for natural-looking and textured hair, and that is why a lot of people trust this brand. But that didn’t last long. See, just a few years ago, they started going viral again on social media, but not for the right reason. Their products were causing serious hair health issues and that’s why people were making videos about them. And this whole thing has now turned into this Mielle Organics Lawsuit.
What Started It All?
Mielle Organics was on a perfect track with no problem in sight, especially after the big success of their Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil. It is the last part of 2022 when this oil was made famous on TikTok. An influencer, Alix Earle, in one of her videos, was telling how this oil was amazing for her hair growth and how fast it worked. The product’s demand skyrocketed right after that.
However, this is the point where things became complicated. A lot of loyal Black women users who have relied on the brand for a long time raised the question. A few were wondering, “Is the formula going to be changed?” or “Is the product going to be compatible with our hair type?” Such fears triggered the first distrustful mood among the users. Moreover, the rumors had not been going down yet, which was to worsen further distrust.
The Procter & Gamble Buyout
In January 2023, Procter & Gamble, a company known for brands like Head & Shoulders, took over Mielle Organics. This decision made a lot of people even more worried. Many fans of the brand thought that P&G would change the product to be more widely used. Mielle claimed that the formulas were unchanged, but some people disagreed.
People started to show symptoms such as dry skin, scalp irritation, their hair breaking, etc. In fact, some of the people experienced hair loss along with these symptoms. These complaints were not isolated incidents. More and more users complained about these kinds of issues, and most of them were customers who had been using the product for a long time without any trouble.
TikTok Amplified the Complaints
TikTok users quickly posted videos of their situation. They were showing not only their experiences but also the before and after of their hair loss. Several of these people had medical tests because they assumed that they were ill, but at the end of the day, they understood that the cause of their condition was the product in question.
Of course, not everyone suffered when the product was used. A considerable number of customers confirm that Rosemary Mint oil continues to be effective. However, the trouble they had was that they were quite vocal about it and had proof. So, the case that remains to be answered is whether this puts the company in the court of law?
Yes, There’s a Lawsuit, Actually, More Than One
Presently, there exist several lawsuits simultaneously. The one that has garnered a lot of attention was Illinois 2024. In that case, three women (Stephanie Williams, Georgina Gomes, and Krista Gillette) brought a suit not only against Mielle Organics but also P&G. The plaintiffs assert that their hair was damaged as a result of the Rosemary Mint series, and the company, in their opinion, had made no provision or given any indication that such an occurrence could happen.
In addition, the suit refers to the fact that these products have not been properly tested before they are put on the market. The plaintiffs are seeking a refund of their money, damage compensation through which the victims will be revitalized, and a stoppage of trade for the time when the issue will be resolved.