Kinky Coily Hair Care Creating Jobs and Opportunities : Alaffia

There’s nothing that makes my heart sing more than hair care that does great good!

Enter Alaffia. I was merely looking for a great, green toxin-free, cruelty-free, green product for our beloved hair type 4’s who require super moisturizing products for their curly, coily and kinky hair types that, (while extremely versatile) can be super dry and can tangle easily.

In the words of Joan Rivers “Can we talk?” The tangles as I write this are SOOO real!

Well, after reading all about Alaffia, reviewing their extensive and comprehensive product line, (baby’s to kids, to topical cosmetics for adults) I was sold because of the company’s intriguing backstory of a fierce husband-wife team committed to the Togolese people and the employment of Fair Trade practices to bring you and I green, ethically sourced cosmetic care.

When people say the words Fair Trade, you may think of coffee farmers in some developing country who are able to get a good price for their valuable products which eventually show up beautifully bagged and outrageously priced in your local supermarket.

Fair Trade is essentially that but its also so much more. The Fair Trade movement, began in the 1950’s and strives to ensure that raw materials that go into the products we love are sourced for a fair price throughout the chain of production. That means that the producer/farmer/factory worker or artisan doesn’t make a disgraceful and unlivable wage for their hard work and valuable product.. The Fair Trade movement mostly focuses on farm, fishery and factory workers in developing countries. However, there is another labor force that is unseen and doesn’t necessarily fall neatly into the Fair Trade movement. ‘Homeworkers’.

The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 300 million of these ‘homeworkers’ globally, most of whom are women. These women create crafts and are artisans whose production go DIRECTLY to the support of their households.

“IF A WOMAN IS EMPOWERED, THEN THE HOUSE WILL ALSO BE EMPOWERED, ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.”

Elizabeth Chepkwony, coffee farmer, Kabngetuny cooperative, Kenya

I’m excited about Alaffia because they source their ingredients from homeworkers in the country of Togo . Ingredients like black soap and unrefined raw shea butter featured in Alaffia products come from these homeworkers in an Alaffia co-op in Togo. In raw numbers, Alaffia has empowered over 14,000 lives in Togo! The sale of these products fund Empowerment Projects which fulfill Alaffia’s mission to commit to ensure that the basic needs of the people are met for a dignified life.

To date:

5,597 BIRTHS FUNDED

9,989 BICYCLES DONATED

37,521 SCHOOL SUPPLY RECIPIENTS

15 SCHOOLS BUILT

In addition to a robust product cosmetic care line this highly successful company also sells the most beautiful hand woven baskets (one of which I’m drooling over)! I’m going to get one which will be the perfect beach tote as soon as they are back in stock!

If you haven’t, check out Alaffia. On the hair care front, I myself am eyeing up the Curl Enhancing Shampoo. The product claims to gently cleanse, soothe and fortify the scalp and hair without stripping natural oils. Sounds like exactly what I need! If all that isn’t enough Alaffia contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, artificial color or synthetic fragrance. AAANNNNDDDD it’s Cruelty-free!

We LOVE Alaffia!

Do you know of any other hair care lines that are doing a great job for our global community? Please share your thoughts on Fair Trade Products below! Have you tried Alaffia products? What did you think? Would you like to see more products that have a wonderful mission like Alaffia featured on Tousled? We welcome all comments and commentary below!