Spotlight On Rahua

Spotlight On Rahua

Born and raised in Ecuador Fabian first came to New York with a dream of opening his own hairdressing salon and he did just that. This is the first step in discovering the amazing journey Fabian and Rahua have been on..

Liliguin always shared a love for the rainforest and when he found that an oil company had destroyed a pond by filling it with cement he decided it was time to take action and formed Ecoagents, an NGO dedicated to protecting the Amazon Rainforest, its people and its culture. It was working with Ecoagents that Fabian discovered the secret of Rahua Oil, derived from the ungurahua nut and introduced to him by the women of the Quechua Tribe who use the natural oil to keep their hair healthy and shiny.

We caught up with Fabian to find from why sustainability is so important and the secret to healthy, shiny hair!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about how Rahua began?

A: Rahua® |Amazon Beauty is a business born through the environmental work of Ecoagents® Fabian Lliguin and Anna Ayers in protection of the Amazon rainforest. Lliguin and Ayers’ approach to founding their company was to establish a business model with philanthropy built into the DNA. Prior to creating the company, they were brought together through environmental passion and preservation establishing the non-profit organization, Ecoagents®, with a mission to create awareness about the Amazon Rainforest and the importance of protecting it, the people that live there, and their wisdom. While on an environmental mission, Lliguin, a New Yorker of Quechua-Inca descent, was introduced to Amazon women and was amazed by their extraordinary long, strong, healthy hair. The women shared their use of a natural oil, called Rahua, derived from the ungurahua nut. This rare oil is made through a highly sustainable and regenerative process using ancient wisdom and ceremonial practices. A hairdresser by trade, Lliguin brought the Rahua oil back to his New York salon and when he started using it on his clients was amazed at its potency and what it did to replenish and restore the hair. The introduction of the Rahua oil served as the method to channel the mission’s work in helping the Amazon tribes sustain their environment and create their local economies. Research followed to develop a hair and beauty line to honor the rituals and a business was born!

Q: Rahua® is known for being a sustainable brand, can you tell us a little about why sustainability is important to you?

A: Sustainability is top priority for Rahua®. Everyone should be concerned with sustainability as it relates to our own health and well-being as well as respecting the earth for future generations. Humans are disconnected to how the choices we make damage our health and environment. Every single ingredient and package that ends up in the landfill has an impact. Any synthetic that run into the rivers, oceans, etc., pollutes our habitat.

Q: What does Rahua® do to be sustainable?

A: Rahua® is a brand inspired by Mother Nature and uses plant-derived ingredients that are safe for humans and do not pollute our oceans and rivers. Plant based ingredients are generally much safer than synthetic counterparts and prevent environmental contamination. We are committed to choosing the most environmentally logical and friendly options available to package our products and choose glass whenever possible and where it makes sense for consumer usage. Rahua® product packaged in plastic is made of PET #1, the most universally recyclable packaging available. Our white pumps have no metal parts which makes it more recyclable. Additionally, our highly concentrated formulas lower consumer consumption and the sleek design of our packaging requires less space when shipping, reducing our own carbon footprint.

Q: Can you tell us about the work you do with the Quechua-Shuar, Achuar and other tribes?

A: Our philanthropic approach is to empower the indigenous people to create and sustain an economy based on preserving their traditions. Rahua® purchases raw ingredients directly from the makers in the Amazon Rainforest that help build sustainability for the inhabitants, supporting their economy and simultaneously remaining strong as the forest’s guardians nurturing its abundance for generations. By organizing workshops that bring expert Rahua oil makers to different communities and teach the ancient techniques and processing methods of Rahua oil, we increase the number of tribes who can grow their economies. By producing ingredients through these revived traditional methods, the tribal communities have established economies and take great pride in their culture and land. In addition, Rahua® provides tools for indigenous tribes and leaders to protect their land rights. We have preserved 37,500 hectares (roughly 100,000 acres) of pristine and biodiverse tribal lands deep in the Amazon Rainforest for perpetuity. Ultimately, this produces oxygen and offsets the carbon footprint. Rahua® created a sustainable economy in the Amazon Rainforest which didn’t exist before.

Q: Renowned for your shampoo and conditioner, which would be your favourite and why?

A: Rahua shampoos and conditioners are created in categories for specific needs and I would say that our Classic Shampoo and Classic Conditioner, created for normal hair types, is the one I gravitate towards the most. The Palo Santo preservative system makes it particularly great for balanced scalp health which helps promote hair growth.

Q: What other Rahua product can you not live without and why?

A: It’s so hard to choose as I can find everything I need within our line. However, I will say that I cannot live without Rahua® Shower Gel which makes my daily ritual a luxury experience! Two of my favorites hair styling products are Rahua® Enchanted Island Salt Spray and Defining Hair Spray which I choose depending on how I am styling my hair.

Q: What would your favourite ingredient be and why?

A: Rahua oil, rich in Omega 9 nutrients, is no doubt my favorite ingredient. It’s the basis of Rahua products and I am always amazed at how the powerful restorative treatment restores hair and scalp health and helps hair grow longer. The secret to the potent Omega 9 rich oil is in the science of the extraordinarily small molecular structure and its ability to deeply penetrate the hair’s cortex – bonding and repairing, while simultaneously smoothing the cuticle. Hair is replenished, shiny, vibrant and healthy.

Q: Other than Rahua, do you have any other skincare/haircare brands you love to use?

A: My skin happens to be very oily, so what works best for my face is a rinse with real Lemon Grass. I boil it, making a tea, and then splash it on my face. I sometimes use other herbs, as well. After that I apply Rahua Body Lotion and let it do its magic! If I’m in a pinch, I’ll grab some of my wife’s clean beauty products, such as PAI.

Q: What does the future look like for Rahua?

A: The future looks extremely bright for Rahua. As a brand, we will continue to deliver highly effective, clean, non-toxic, plant powered beauty products to the marketplace. As we expand our product portfolio, the sales of our products go directly to our philanthropic work. This enables us to save thousands pristine Rainforest acres and provide economic stability to the tribes that produce our Rahua oil. We also continue to protect the Flamingos in the Villamil port en Isabela Island of the Galapagos Archipelago.

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