Menthol is another key ingredient found in Mielle Organics’ Rosemary Mint line, which, while it can be an irritant, is also found in many skin and hair care products, according to Dr. King. “Lots of people tolerate [menthol] without a problem, especially in areas that aren’t super delicate, which for most people, the scalp is not one of the more sensitive skin areas,” she tells Allure, though anyone with a skin condition on the scalp should proceed with caution. “If you’re applying something with menthol on top of an area that has active dandruff or seborrhea or something else going on, then certainly that could sting and be irritating,” Dr. King says.
Another ingredient in Mielle’s formulations, Urtica Dioica (nettle) extract, stands out as a possible factor of purported scalp irritation and hair loss, Dr. King tells Allure. “It is the stinging nettle, meaning the leaves and stems have tiny needles that can cause urticarial dermatitis—burning, stinging, itching, dermatitis, hives—because of the introduction of inflammatory chemicals like histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin and formic acid,” Dr. King explains. “Some studies have suggested that it may provide potential benefits for hair growth, but I wonder if the extract may also cause reactions like the plant does.”
Amid the concerns, some users have pointed out that with the rise in the brand’s popularity, counterfeit Mielle Organics products, the ingredients of which can’t be verified, are being sold on Amazon and eBay. The spike of fake products even triggered the company to put a disclaimer on its website addressing the issue. “We are aware of unauthorized parties selling counterfeit Mielle on Amazon and eBay,” the online shipping policy reads. “We are alerting our valued customers, retailer and distributor partners that we are aware of this issue and actively working to resolve this situation.”
When Allure directly asked Mielle for clarification on what steps have been taken to remedy the counterfeiting issue, a Mielle brand representative said, “We cannot comment on specific legal strategies, however, Mielle continues to work with retailer partners to address and minimize this challenge that all sectors are experiencing. To help ensure consumers are purchasing genuine Mielle products online, it’s important to verify that the product listing explicitly displays ‘Sold by Mielle Organics.’”
The response
Monique Rodriguez addressed the hair loss claims in a September 8 video posted to the company’s Instagram page. She doubled down on the brand’s products being “created with healthy ingredients and are formulated to deliver safe and effective results.”