Beauty covers history and science, and what I love about it is the wealth of knowledge that it continuously brings me. I recently received a press release about a company called VIORI, and I must admit that I had never heard of it. The products that they were introducing were shampoo and conditioner in the form of a bar of soap. I was intrigued, and although I did not have much faith in it, I decided to give it a try. I began researching its history and subsequently, I learned that it originated from The Red Yao tribe who has lived in the Huangluo village in the mountains of China for more than 2,000 years. Taking their name from the traditional red clothing they wear; their small tribe is made up of about 300 members and 78 families.
In the rice-terraced mountains of Longsheng, hair is at the heart of the tribe’s culture, and the Red Yao women are known for their exceptionally long, dark, healthy locks. It is not uncommon for women to reach the age of eighty without a single gray hair. Sign me up! Their secret to healthy, vibrant hair lies in the special, simple way they wash it – a tradition that has been passed from mother to daughter for centuries. Until the 1980s, no one outside of a woman’s immediate family was allowed to see her hair, that’s how sacred it was considered. If a man happened to come across an unmarried woman while her hair was down, he would be required to live with her family as a son-in-law and serve them for three years. (How do you like that?)
According to legend, thousands of years ago, a young Yao woman used her long hair to whip an unwanted suitor. Since that time, the women have upheld a constant tradition of growing long hair. A Red Yao woman cuts her hair only once when she turns 18. At that time, her hair is cut to her ears to signify that she is ready to marry.
This is how Viori premium line of hair care products was born: “Several years ago, we met the women of the Red Yao tribe in Longsheng, China. We noticed the amazing effects naturally grown Longsheng rice water has had on their skin from hand-rinsing their rice for meals and using the rice water to wash their hair. So, we used that same Longsheng rice to make premium, all-natural Viori body wash bars that cleanse and moisturize your skin,” said Himmie Lau, Executive Marketing Director from Viori. Eventually, their mission was to partner with the Red Yao on projects they believe will help their communities thrive by giving back a percentage from their sales.
I tried the Shampoo Hair Bar Hidden Waterfall™ Sweet-Musk Scented Bar:
which is a musky, sweet, vanilla-scented shampoo bar reminiscent of the amber aroma. They are handcrafted with the same Longsheng Rice, natural ingredients, and beauty rituals used by the Red Yao for centuries. It promises to moisturize, strengthen, rejuvenate, renew and volumize, while increasing natural shine. The Viori™ shampoo bars gently repairs and cleanses hair & scalp. They are sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalates-free, pH balanced, natural, 100% vegan, plastic-free, sustainable, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced. Bamboo holders are sold separately.
Next came the Conditioner Hair Bar Hidden Waterfall™ Sweet-Musk Scented Bar:
As a shampoo, it has a musky, sweet, vanilla-scented conditioner bar reminiscent of the amber aroma. Viori™ conditioner bars are sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalates-free, pH balanced, natural, 100% vegan, plastic-free, sustainable, cruelty-free, and ethically sourced. Bamboo holders are sold separately.
Longsheng Rice renews, rejuvenates, and repairs. Cocoa Butter: conditions, softens, and moisturizes. Shea Butter: conditions and moisturizes. Rice Bran Oil & Hydrolyzed Rice Protein: increases volume, shines, and strengthens. Aloe Vera: renews, rejuvenates, repairs, conditions, smooths, and increases shine. Bamboo: renews, rejuvenates, repairs, conditions, smooths, and increases shine.
I absolutely loved the shampoo and conditioner, and was so surprised to see how soft my hair was after shampooing. It was easy to comb out after using the conditioner bar. I just loved the scent. I highly recommend it. It is a great line. Works best for dry to normal hair.
LIMITED Body Wash Soap Bar Serenity™ Natural Aloe Scent:
A sweet, natural aloe fragrance that encapsulates the clean, fresh air only found on the serene peaks of the Longsheng mountain. The same Longsheng rice is used to make premium, all-natural Viori body wash bars that cleanse and moisturize your skin. Unfortunately, I did not care for the scent. The soap bar is also available in natural aloe scent or unscented.
