Design Essentials
The flagship salon-professional line, born in 1990.
The company behind Design Essentials
Textured-hair science, formulated in Georgia.
McBride Research Laboratories is the family-owned company behind the Design Essentials family of brands. Since 1990 we have formulated professional-grade hair care, reaching salons and retail shelves in the United States and, through our distributor network, more than 30 countries.
1990
Founded in an Atlanta basement
30+
Countries served by distributors
25,000+
Stylists in the salon network
6
Professional hair-care lines
For thirty-five years the science has stayed in one family. What began in an Atlanta basement now reaches stylists and shelves across the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe, still guided by the family that started it.
Our brands
A family of textured-hair-care lines.
Every line is developed for a distinct need in textured and natural hair, then carried to salons, retail, and distributors worldwide.
Design Essentials Natural
The retail natural-hair line, on mass shelves since 2011.
Wave by Design
Grooming and definition for waves and short styles.
Therapeutics Rx
Treatment-minded care with nourishing vitamins and proteins.
pHusion
Part of the McBride Research Laboratories family of lines.
Colaura
Demi-permanent conditioning hair color, shade by shade.
Our story
A pharmacist, a formula, and a family that stayed.
Cornell McBride Sr., a registered pharmacist, started the company in an Atlanta basement in 1990. Today the second generation leads: Cornell McBride Jr., with Sholanda, Andre, and Harriet McBride. A signature purple and the initials S.A.M. on every bottle honor Sheila McBride, and in her memory the company supports kidney research.
Read the full history
Where we go from here
Built for professionals and partners.
For professionals
More than 25,000 stylists carry the lines. We pair premium formulas with salon education, backed by the Pro Shop and the salon locator.
For stylists and salonsDistribution and wholesale
A direct-distribution model reaching mass retail (Target, Walmart, Sally Beauty, Ulta) and distributors across the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Distributor inquiries
Community and impact
Rooted in family, invested in community.
$1M
To Howard University's School of Business, establishing the Design Essentials Community Fund in December 2024.
- DeKalb Chamber Apex Business of the Year.
- Bronner Bros. ICON honors for Cornell McBride Sr.
- Kidney-research support in memory of Sheila McBride.
Contact
Let's talk.
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