"Spring" Into Fabulous Hair - Free Product Giveaway

Don't you love contests? I do. Especially when I have an opportunity to win the things that I use on a regular basis, or even specialty things (like airline tickets) to take that long-needed vacation I've been dreaming about. Well, AfroVeda has one we know you will love!

Our "Spring" Into Fabulous Hair contest giveaway begins today, April 1st and will end at 11:59pm (CDT) on April 30. One very lucky winner will receive an AfroVeda Hair Care Collection to include our Hair Butter Collection, Hair Oil Collection and our Hair Lotion Collection. A $60 value! These 2oz containers make traveling with all your hair care needs a snap! Right at your fingertips is everything you need to make sure you have a "good hair day"! What about a cleanser, you ask? No problem! We'll even throw in one of our Carrot & Rice Bran Shampoo bars! That's 13 different products! Now how's that for a prize!!

To enter, just send your name, email address and the words "Spring Into Fabulous Hair Contest" to contests@afroveda.com before 11:59pm (CDT) on April 30, 2009, and you could be the lucky winner! Yes, it is that easy!! Winners will be announced on our blog on Monday, May 4th.

Here are the rules:

(1) No purchase necessary.

(2) US Residents only.
(3) IMPORTANT: Provide a valid email address (no email means your entry will not count).

(4) Only one entry per person.

(5) Prize is not redeemable in cash, nor can be substituted for other products.

(6) By accepting this prize, AfroVeda may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injuries associated with accepting or using this prize.

(7) Entrant grants AfroVeda the right to: (A) Use his/her personal information for the purpose of administering the Contest; (B) Use his/her first initial and last name, and city and state/province of residence for publicity and promotional purposes without further compensation unless prohibited by law; and (C) Use his/her name and his/her respective city and province of residence in connection with the Contest Website, other related websites and/or any other media now known or hereafter devised. Personal information will not be provided to any third party other than as provided for in these Contest Rules.

(8) The winner will have one week to claim their prize by contacting contests@afroveda.com; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

And that's it !!!

Good luck ladies . . . you’ve got nothing to lose but perhaps some damaged, dry, dull looking hair!!

Grow It! -- By Chicoro

"Grow It: How To Grow Afro-Textured Hair To Maximum Lengths In The Shortest Time"
(by Chicoro)

I have personally tried all my life to grow my afro-textured hair to unimaginable lengths. I can remember as a child tying a towel around my head and pretending to have long hair -- swishing it around and making it "flow in the breeze". That was so much fun! Then, as I grew older, anything to make it look that way was my pseudo-obsession. My hair was fried, dyed and laid to the side (as my mother used to say!), and I was just amazed at what my hair could do (and endure).

Adulthood (and damage from all that "fun" I had in high school with my ever-changing hair styles) brought me to micros and weaves, yet I still hadn't learned my lesson. I didn't know there was a proper way to take care of my hair so I continued to disrespect it..although not intentionally. Now that I am a mid-lifer I finally am aware of the extreme care and pampering that my hair had been crying out for, and I am more than happy to show it much love!

The book that I am highlighting in this blog was written by someone I truly consider a mentor. She is an incredibly beautiful person, inside and out, and I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge concerning the care of afro-textured hair from her. When she told me that she writing a book about how to grow afro-textured hair long, I almost fell off my chair! Chicoro, with her long, beautiful locks, is going to share her secrets? Done deal. In my mind, the book was already mine. I knew I had to have it, but needed to exercise a little patience and wait for it to become available. As soon as I found out it was on Amazon, I snatched one up. If you don't have this book already, and you are trying to grow your hair, shame on you! :-) Try it out. I'm sure you will love it as much as I do.

Manifold peace & blessings!!!

Who is AfroVeda?

It's a strange thing, being in business for yourself. Throughout our lives we are encouraged to pursue those things that bring us joy. And if those things happen to be a positive influence to others, well then all the better. We often times search the world over for that lucrative career, perfect mate, our 'purpose' for being here, all to find out that what we really need to do is just be still.

AfroVeda began almost 10 years ago with my desire to break out of the mold I found myself in, and allow my hair to be what it was intended to be. Granted, I loved my relaxed hair and the way it moved with the breeze. But inside I was looking for a more holistic way of life, and growing out my relaxer just seemed to follow along. There was no thought of forming a business around my hair care regimen, I only wanted to 'do right' by my hair.

During the years that followed, I tried my hand at massage therapy as a way to bring a more relaxing atmosphere into my life, and provided care for people living with cancer. In my mind, it was my ideal job and I loved every minute of it. I had been looking for a way to honor my father who passed away from colon cancer, and this seemed like the perfect way to do it. I considered it my own personal escape as well -- those moments when aromatherapy, spa music, and tranquility seemed to take over. I knew I was providing this same escape for my clients, and I was filled with gratitude at every appointment. These sessions were fulfilling that inner cry for freedom, and I searched high and low for every opportunity to inch closer to that ultimate goal.

However, after seven years as a massage therapist, I still wasn't fulfilled. I began to wonder if this was truly meant to be, and my passion for this art started to diminish. Not because of the wonderful benefit I was providing (I still loved doing it), but because I had spent thousands of dollars and endless hours trying to make a business out of the thing that I loved, only to have doors repeatedly shut in my face. At the same time, I was stuck in a rut with my hair regimen, not realizing the true potential I had to grow stronger, healthier hair. Basically, I was just stuck -- mentally, physically, emotionally.

I had visited several hair care boards over the years and enjoyed reading about the many success stories others were having. I basically had one homemade product that I used on my hair religiously (because it worked!), and knew nothing about synthetic chemicals, unnatural preservatives, or the structure of hair strands. It was a whole new world to me, and the knowledge seemed to flow from women all over the world. I was astonished and overjoyed! Finally, here was my opportunity to learn about how to care for my natural hair....and be successful at it!!

The word Ayurveda came up on one of the boards and I was extremely intrigued. I began to research this 'new' technique (actually it's been around for thousands of years) and found out that it means "knowledge of life". I am a very spiritual person and the thought instantly came to me that I was meant to pursue this. More research (books, internet, and my own Indian friends) brough me to the conclusion that this was truly my 'purpose', and that it was something I was meant to do. I began using the herbs and oils recommended for various hair ailments (itchy scalp, malnourished & porous strands, damaged hair) and found that my hair loved it! So much so, that it responded almost immediately!! I went back to the hair boards and posted a picture of one of the homemade products I had concocted and, as they say, the rest is history. Several emails came in saying "if you make it, I will buy it". One week later, the name "AfroVeda" was given to me and I posted a website with the Curly Custard (the product I posted on the hair board), a hair growth elixir, and an oil to be used for hot oil treatments.

That was eight months ago. And because of the tremendous love and support from the ladies on the hair boards, my friends and family, AfroVeda has grown and now offers 20 products for taking care of hair, the Ayurvedic way. The products are all made by hand, by me, in my home and it is truly a joy. I am somewhat of a perfectionist and do all I can to ensure that AfroVeda products are made with the utmost care and safety. There are no parabens, sulfates or other harmful ingredients in the products. The products do contain Ayurvedic herbs, oils and botanicals that are proven to have a positive health benefit. They are all formulated according to your body type (or "dosha" as explained in Ayurveda), which takes into consideration all things necessary to maintain equilibrium in the body. It doesn't matter your race, hair texture, or whether your hair is natural or relaxed. What it does consider is YOU.

AfroVeda is still a baby. Although we are no longer in the infant stage, we are still growing and maturing in this industry as each day passes. You will see changes happening -- with the website (it is being updated as we speak!) and the products we offer. Please, don't be dismayed. I now have an incredible support group of both professionals and everyday folks who are overjoyed right along with me about this new venture, and are eager to help me with its success. I've always heard that it takes a community to raise a child, and I am grateful for those who have encouraged me to step out on faith. Rest assured that we will continue to provide the best quality Ayurvedic hair care products imaginable, and do everything in our power to remain humble and appreciative of this gift.

I'd like to take this time to thank you and invite you to visit AfroVeda.

With manifold peace and blessings, I wish you a good day!!

In perfece peace,
Mala Rhodes

CocoLatte Moisture Mask

It is so important to know your body type (or "dosha", as termed in Ayurveda) in order to know which AfroVeda products are right for you. Why, you ask? Because we make products that are specific to YOU, not your hair type or hair texture. Packed with our own Ayurvedic Herbal Complex containing herbs known for their hair growth properties, oils to soothe the dry/itchy/flaky scalp, and botanicals to nourish hungry strands, AfroVeda products are the perfect addition to any healthy hair regimen.

For example, our CocoLatte Moisture Mask (perfect for Pitta doshas) has an abundance of moisture packed in! No parabens, sulfates or glycol in these products! No siree!!

It's so great at increasing the hair's moisture level that we've named it "Product of the Month"! Why not try some for yourself? Your hair will LOVE you for it!!