Shea Butter
The Best Way to Add Moisture to Natural Black Hair
Shea butter is the best moisturizer for your skin, so it follows that it’ll do wonders for your hair and scalp, after all, skin and hair are both made from the same stuff – keratin. Although our hair is undeniably beautiful, even the best cared for locks can suffer from being dry and brittle, and need a boost every now and then.
What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter consists of the fat and oils extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. Growing naturally throughout the central belt of the continent, it has been used in African cooking for centuries, adding a rich nutty taste and beneficial nutrients to food, and as a base for medicinal ointments.
Shea butter is now used all over the world for its moisturizing properties. Found in hair care products, cosmetics, body creams, soap and even toilet paper, not only does it melt at body temperature and therefore is readily absorbed, but it has the ability to lock in moisture. This makes it ideal to use on our black hair, keeping it moisturized and supple. With a sun protection factor of 5, it is also widely used in sunscreen products.
How to use shea butter
Great for any hair, shea butter is especially good for low porosity hair, providing moisture, protection and nutrients, including vitamins A, D and E
Soothing scalp treatment
Shea butter is an excellent treatment if you have a dry, itchy scalp. Just melt a small amount and mix in a couple of drops of tea tree essential oil, then massage it into your scalp, using a circular motion, for at least ten minutes. Let it settle, before rinsing out.
Moisturizing and hair growth treatment
Not only providing much needed moisture, shea butter can also encourage healthy hair growth.
Mix shea butter and coconut oil together as you gently heat them, then add a little jojoba oil and stir in. Pop the mixture in the refrigerator to harden. Once hard, beat with a hand blender, until you achieve a creamy, whipped texture. Apply the mixture to freshly washed hair, massaging it in well, and leave it on for as long as you can. Then rinse thoroughly.
My go-to shea butter shampoo and conditioner is Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Double Combo. It great for frequent washing,or if I’m in a rush, adding loads of moisture and leaving my hair feeling smooth and soft. Being sulfate-free, it’s great for my scalp too.
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Double Combo Shampoo and Conditioner
- Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Double Combo Shampoo and Conditioner.
If you enjoyed this page and would like to find out about other natural hair care products, then have a look at these other pages too!
