An Honest Review: Viori Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Shampoo and conditioner bars are taking the world of sustainable haircare by storm. I've always loved my liquid hair-wash routine, so I was more than a bit skeptical on how well they'd work and how long they'd last. Sooo when I was contacted about testing a shampoo and conditioner bar set from Viori Beauty, I (nervously) jumped at the chance!
That initial trial was over a year ago now, so one could say I'm pretty familiar with the Viori routine now. No first impressions here! Let me fill you in on everything you need to know about the Viori shampoo and conditioner bars!
Who is Viori Beauty?
Viori is a Utah-based haircare brand. Their products are all formulated with Longsheng rice water, which they source entirely from the Red Yao Tribe in China (more on that later). Viori offers a variety of shampoo and conditioner bars for all hair types, including purple-toning and sensitive skin formulas. They also sell body soap, pet wash, dry shampoo, and various wash-routine accessories.
Much of the Viori brand identity revolves around their partnership and subsequent relationship with the Red Yao people. While one could (and should) question the ethics of wielding ancient rituals to sell shampoo, it seems to me that Viori is coming from a place of genuine care for the culture.
Who are the Red Yao people?
To fully understand where Viori and their products are coming from, we first need to take a quick look at their muse- the Red Yao Tribe.
The Red Yao Tribe has lived in the mountains of southern China for over 2,000 years. Their women are known for having very long and healthy hair, which they attribute to shampoo made from the Longsheng rice they grow. Hair care for the Red Yao women is deeply rooted in tradition and social status.
Unfortunately, like many small and traditional communities, the Red Yao people face economic hardship and culture drain as young people leave to find work. Some villagers have taken to showcasing their hair to tourists as a means of supplemental income.
Where does Viori fit into this?
According to the Viori website, their mission is "to help preserve the Red Yao culture and bring their haircare traditions to women around the world". They do this in a few ways:
- The rice-water in Viori products is created from Longsheng rice, which they purchase "from Red Yao families at a 2x markup". Their bamboo holders are handmade and "purchased directly from local villagers".
- Each year, 5% of Viori's profits are donated back to the Red Yao in support of rural education, ecological sustainability, and care for the elderly.
The company is small but somewhat diverse, which helps ease the "white savior" vibe.
You can learn more about Viori’s commitment to preserving the culture and economic prosperity of the Red Yao here.
Viori Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Alright, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. All of Viori’s shampoo and conditioner products are in solid, bar form. Everything is packaged in paper (no plastic!) and is vegan and cruelty-free. Their products are also free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. If you’re into clean and/or sustainable beauty, Viori is a pretty safe bet!
I personally use the Hidden Waterfall shampoo and conditioner bars. This particular formula was designed to work well with all hair types, and I’ve had zero issues using it on my fine, easily dehydrated hair. It also smells AMAZING.
Presentation
The shampoo comes pressed in a round, embossed shape. It’s almost too pretty to use. My first conditioner bar was a slightly lopsided rectangle reminiscent of farmers market hand soaps, though I believe they've since polished the shape up a bit. The difference in shape is the only way to tell the two bars apart, and it’s a pretty efficient system.
A few of the Viori starter kits include a bamboo holder (reminiscent of a rice steamer) to keep your bars covered and out of water puddles. I love this concept in theory, but each holder is only large enough to comfortably fit one bar (unless you turn them on their sides and ditch the lid). On the plus side, the holders can be stacked! You could neatly store both bars with two bottom pieces and one lid.
The holder itself is round and about five inches across, making it too big for most shower ledges. Mine sits on the floor next to the tub 🙂
Using the Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
If you’ve ever used a bar of soap, you’ve got all the skills you need! I like to swipe the shampoo bar across my head a few times before lathering it in my hands and massaging it into my hair. One of my biggest concerns about shampoo bars was that they wouldn’t lather nicely, but Viori quickly put that fear to rest. It doesn’t take too many swipes of the shampoo before I have a lovely, sudsy lather. And when I’m ready, it rinses clean without leaving behind any noticeable residue.
Viori’s conditioner bars work much the same. I like to focus the product a bit more on the ends of my hair before working it all the way to my scalp. It immediately detangles and smoothes my hair, leaving it incredibly silky and hydrated. My dry hair needs a rich conditioner that won’t weigh it down- it’s a fine line to walk, but the Viori conditioner bars manage to nail that perfect lightweight hydration.
As a downside, the bars can be tricky to hold on to. Just like any bar of soap, they get slippery! They also get tougher to use and tell apart as they get smaller. Though frustrating, these downsides are standard for shampoo and conditioner bars and are not unique to Viori.
Results
My hair is always noticeably softer after using the shampoo and conditioner bars together! It feels clean but not stripped. It also smells nice, but the fragrance is subtle (and pretty)!
Is Viori Worth It?
No matter how lovely a shampoo bar is, it's all for naught if it's out of your budget.
Viori shampoo and conditioner bars retail for $18 each. The price drops to $12 with an auto-ship subscription, which could potentially be cancelled before a second shipment (but you didn't hear that from me).
A $40 haircare routine ain't cheap. BUT.
Each Viori bar contains approximately the same amount of product as three bottles of liquid hair wash. So if $18 gets you 3 hypothetical bottles, $6 each is pretty good! If you can afford a larger up-front cost, these shampoo and conditioner bars may save you more in the long run.
My Thoughts
If you have a haircare routine that you know and love, there's no harm in sticking with it. I wouldn't say these shampoo and conditioner bars are life changing. But Viori might be worth a shot if:
- You're looking to reduce your plastic waste
- You want TSA approved haircare that won't leak in your bag
- You want to incorporate rice water into your hair routine
- You're just looking to mix things up
So what do you think? Would you give these shampoo and conditioner bars a try?
If you do decide to try Viori out, let me know what you think! I'd love to hear how the products work on all different hair types. Feel free to leave a comment below or find me on my socials (@ourwildbeauty everywhere).
As always, thanks so much for reading. I'll see you soon!
xoxo,
Lindsay
