In 2016, droves of tourists trekked through the rainforest to the banks of a river in Longsheng where they watched the women of the Red Yao tribe wash their hair.
Here’s what made that moment so special...
It was the first-ever Long Hair Festival, hosted by the women of the Red Yao tribe.
Prior to 1987, the Red Yao women never allowed anyone but their immediate families to see their hair because it was so sacred to them. Now, they’re famous for their long, healthy hair, which often reaches their ankles.
An Uncertain Future
Sadly, the Long Hair Festival was started as a response to harsh economic pressures facing the tribe. Yet, despite opening their village and performing for tourists, the income they receive has not been enough to lift them out of poverty. Many young people have left the village in search of work, and the culture and rituals of the Red Yao women face extinction within a generation.
Our Mission
Our love for the Red Yao people was immediate. We feel privileged to have been welcomed so warmly as friends. The vibrant, resilient Red Yao women and their impossibly gorgeous hair are the inspiration for Viori. From the start, our mission has been to create highly effective, natural cosmetics that preserve the values and traditions of the Red Yao women. Our products are 100% vegan, sustainable, ethically sourced, cruelty-free, and pH balanced. They’re also free of sulfates and parabens.
Your Beautiful Reason
At Viori, your purchase is a beautiful one. And we mean ALL around. Not only do you get a premium product you’re sure to love (our hundreds of happy customers can’t be wrong!), you also get the satisfaction of knowing your purchase puts some good into the world.
We work directly with two Red Yao families who have their own rice farms, and we have close relationships with other members of the tribe. The rice we use in our products is purchased directly from these families, and we pay an additional 2X markup to their normal price.
At the end of the year, we calculate our profits and donate 5% back to the Red Yao via projects to (1) help improve educational opportunities for children living on the mountains, (2) clean up and preserve the mountains where the Red Yao live, and (3) help support their elderly.
Meeting the Red Yao women was so inspiring that we created a business to help preserve their culture and bring their haircare traditions to women around the world. We hope our mission becomes your beautiful reason to choose Viori, and we’d love to hear how our products have helped you look and feel good while doing good.
We are committed to helping the Red Yao tribe, who so generously shared the secret to their awe-inspiring hair with us.