Unrefined shea butter is an excellent natural moisturizer that is devoid of chemicals. Quite a few of the nutritional benefits get destroyed after so many refining processes. Due to its high content of vitamin A, it promotes healing and disinfection and soothes skin allergies like poison ivy and insect bites (34). This strengthens the hair strands and reduces breakage. It has wide usage in curly hair treatments due to its emollient qualities (25). Shea butter exhibits several health benefits and is used in a variety of cosmetics and medicinal formulas in combination with other botanical ingredients. Ensure that the butter has come from a reliable source or company that believes in ethics, fair trade, and is environment-friendly. It is subjected to a basic filtration process using clays, cheesecloth, or other methods. It is not recommended to use shea butter alone as a sunscreen as its SPF is considered to be low to provide ample protection from the harmful rays. Shea butter is easily absorbable and provides extra moisture and nutrients that the lips need during the cold season and dry weather conditions. This butter has been used in countless ways throughout history, but some of the most popular applications include its use as a skin lotion, hair conditioner, cooking oil, ⦠If used regularly, it reduces wrinkles and also prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines. Extracted from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) that is native to Africa, shea butter is a fatty oil that exists as a solid at room temperature. It also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (to a certain extent) that can be utilized to treat many ailments. It gets easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin, where it supplies all the essential fats and nutrients while enhancing the cell repair function by increasing microcirculation (33). Shea butter and avocado oil. While kneading the extracted oil with the hand was popular earlier, advancements in technology have led to different methods, such as clay filtering and using hexane for the final extraction of shea butter. If you ask her, she would say,"My cup of sanity - an extra large mug of coffee!". Recently I published a piece here on BlackDoctor.org, 10 Things Professional Hairstylists Want Us to Stop Doing to Our Hair, and it seems one of the stylists struck a major nerve. The pain is almost constant and disrupts basic movement and the quality of life in an arthritis patient. Unrefined shea butter is further categorized into grades ranging from A to F, with grade A being the best quality. Its moisturizing and healing properties prove beneficial for many skin issues. Here is the nutritional data for shea butter. Shea butter is so gentle ⦠In fact, she’s a professional natural hairstylist, a self-professed “Curl Geek” whose seen 100s of clients who’ve shared a few things in common. Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree. Others complain that coconut oil leads to brittle and stiff hair. Once blended, I put the bowl in the ⦠Traditionally, shea butter has been extensively used in Africa to relieve muscle aches and soreness. 5. The next time you experience nasal congestion, all you need to do is apply some shea butter in your nostrils using your finger. Sunflower Oil Vs. Olive Oil - Which Is Better? Use it for stir-frying or simply add a small dollop to your morning smoothie to reap its benefits. The unrefined and refined versions are the most popular. An allergy to shea butter is not so common, but it is better to be safe than sorry. These compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Cinnamic acid, found in shea butter, is a compound that provides UV protection, and the SPF ranges from 6-10 depending on the butter���s quality. The participants noted that they could feel ... Anti-inflammatory. You know a lot about shea butter now. Quite often, vitamin E is added to shea butter to increase its shelf life. Theyâre heavy. Shea Butter Leave in Conditioner. The average shelf life of shea butter is two years, but it can fluctuate depending on the brand. These components give shea butter a mild sun protection factor (SPF). The end goal is to provide our readers with unbiased and well-researched information, helping them make better decisions about their health and life. This will improve the hair texture and moisturize the hair. Shea Butter Hair Mask with Castor Oil. Melt the shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil in a double boiler. Its anti-inflammatory properties are of key importance here as rheumatism is basically an inflammatory disease (27). While it's widely maintained that both Shea butter and coconut oil also act as sunscreens, they only provide minimal added protection. If you sense an acidic/rancid smell, it might be time to throw it away. Moreover, shea butter has ⦠½ cup raw African shea butter. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest. Incorporating shea butter into your regular��skin care routine will��work wonders. Build-Up Because shea butter can leave a waxy film on hair, it can be difficult to remove, requiring a harsher shampoo to remove the build-up. This conditioner works wonders, especially for dry hair. Massaging the hair with generous amounts of shea butter can give you soft, silky, and luscious tresses. Moreover, shea butter has a low SPF that is sufficient to protect the hair from sun damage caused due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Its usage by arthritis patients has shown excellent results in alleviating the swelling and pain. Products that contain shea butter may not be vegan-friendly due to the additional ingredients present. Is shea butter safe for people with nut allergies? The butter comes in a convenient tub and does not leave a sticky residue, which is seen with some other brands. If you are looking to find a great natural beauty product for your skin or hair, then shea butter is a wonderful choice. This is mostly seen in Northern Nigeria. The pain and swelling can also be present just in the muscles or the fibrous tissue. Make small sections of your hair and apply the liquefied butter to the scalp and entire hair length. Are They Good For You? Thus, it acts as a perfect lip balm and is also effective for treating dry and chapped lips. In a study conducted to test the efficacy of shea butter, the participants experienced nasal congestion clearance in just 90 seconds (30). Nope, she hasn’t lost her mind! Kokum butter has its fair share of strengths and weaknesses when compared with other common types of plant butters, such as cocoa, shea, or coconut. An oil rich in fats that is derived from the karite tree (also known as the shea tree) is your solution for many skin, health, and hair health issues.��Fairly recently, this butter has gained huge popularity in the western world due to its widespread use in several beauty products, such as lotions, cosmetics, shampoos, and conditioners. Given below are its various shea butter benefits for the skin. Transfer this to an airtight container and keep it aside. The shea tree has naturally inhabited West Africa for centuries, stretching from Senegal to Sudan and up to the foothills of Ethiopia. Vitamin E also soothes dry skin and improves the skin���s elasticity, making this butter a good anti-aging agent (2). Apart from the filtration process, it also undergoes a deodorizing process by airing or usage of chemicals. Shea Butter Uses. essential oil(s) of choice (if desired) Simply place the shea butter and coconut oil in a medium size bowl and mash/mix until well combined. Let them cool down slightly and then add the essential oils. Hope you found the article on shea butter benefits useful. It is considered as an excellent moisturizer for eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis because of its efficacious emollient and humectant properties. Shea Oil Uses. The following two tabs change content below. With the progress in e-commerce websites, most brands for raw and organic shea butter are available for purchase online. Cloves: Health Benefits, Uses, Nutrition, And Side Effects, 10 Amazing Benefits Of Lemon Verbena Soap��, 8 Side Effects Of Neem You Should Be Aware Of, 47 Wonderful Benefits And Uses Of Soapnuts (Reetha). It should be a little nutty or earthy. 5 Reasons They’ve Gone Missing On You, Community Building, Advocacy, and Representing Our Own Interests with Blackdoctor.org Founder and CEO Reginald Ware. If you donât like the heaviness of shea butter then shea nut oil ⦠Pauletta Washington at 70: Elegant, Smarter and Stronger than Ever, These Are ALL the Ingredients of Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine, BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, 10 Things Professional Hairstylists Want Us to Stop Doing to Our Hair, What the New Vaccine Still Needs from You, 3 Exercises that Boost Your Immune System Fast, Almost 9 Million Blacks Ready To Take the COVID Vaccine, Prediabetes – An Opportunity to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Cocoa butter smells amazing, while shea butter has more of a neutral scent. Massage: As a massage oil, only 5-10 drops are ⦠This company imports its shea butter from Ghana, Africa. If you have never used shea butter before, it is best to do a small patch test on a small area on the upper forearm. Mix well and let it cool down for a couple of minutes. A chronic joint disorder that is often associated with increasing age, obesity, and trauma, arthritis can be very painful for people who suffer from it. A few other uses of shea butter are discussed in the next section. The challenge was simple: a #30DayHairDetox that involved participants not using coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil and Eco Styler gel. A few tribes also blend it with palm oil and use it for cooking purposes. These side effects can result from topical application or ingestion of shea butter: If you experience any of the above symptoms, stop using shea butter immediately and consult a doctor. Shea butter suits this profile perfectly. It can also help to soften the skin on your hands and feet and make it supple. Anti-aging. StyleCraze believes in credibility and giving our readers access to authentic and evidence-based content. Thus, its application restores the natural elasticity of the skin besides hydrating, softening, and beautifying it (13). Shea butter and jojoba oil. Shea butter is often used as a base in ointments or creams prepared commercially for stretch mark treatment. The only way to use organic cacaco (cocoa) butter for hair (or even shea and virgin coconut), is on clean, soaking wet hair, immediately after washing. It is considered as a natural conditioner for the hair, thanks to its moisturizing and healing properties. Your hair will grow thicker and have a natural shine when you use shea butter (21). It can cause the skin to itch. Shea butter exerts moisturizing and regenerative effects on the hair and scalp. Click here for additional information . And unlike shea butter, cocoa butter ⦠All of these processes make the butter white and very smooth. Frosty weather damages the skin and without special protection ⦠The non-saponifiable matter and vitamin F in this butter are vital ingredients for maintaining the skin���s elasticity. African history documents mention jars of a rich butter used for skin and hair care being transported during Cleopatra���s reign. Check the shea butter���s smell. The vitamins A and E found in this butter keep the skin supple, nourished, and radiant. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. Shea butter is an oily natural fat, because it is great for softening dry, damaged hair and brittle hair. ⦠Some of the numerous shea butter benefits for hair are given below. So many benefits! It is melted, set into molds, and sold in the form of bars or sticks. Hence, it is extremely effective in providing relief from a dry scalp, scalp psoriasis, and other scalp conditions. After this extensive list of how shea butter can benefit our skin, let us now discuss its benefits for the hair. On an average, 100% shea butter has a shelf life of two years. Try olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or any other natural oil of your choice. If the itching is due to a skin condition like psoriasis, the anti-inflammatory activity of shea butter works really well to alleviate it (11, 12). Check out here. It also protects the hair from harsh weather conditions and the harmful free radicals in the air and water. At times, it might even develop bumps post shaving as a result of the irritation. There is increased demand these days for the addition of shea butter to dietary-aid products that are being formulated for diarrhea treatment. These free radicals are often found in our environment in pollutants and irritants. However, the triterpenes are considered the main contributing factor for these results (28, 29). Thus, it is ideal for baby care as besides being gentle and soft on the skin, it is specially adapted for the delicate and sensitive skin of babies. Moisturizing. Restored elasticity also ensures reduced wrinkles and blemishes. An unknown advantage of adding shea butter to your diet is its ability to lower cholesterol in the blood. This butter is rich in stearic acid, a type of saturated fatty acid that was shown to reduce lipoprotein and plasma cholesterol levels in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (31). You may want to leave the coconut and shea ⦠Unrefined shea butter is the purest form of shea butter, which is the most natural and the least processed. Here are some simple recipes of shea butter for skin care that you can concoct at home with shea butter. Shea butter vs. Coconut oil, which natural oil is better for your skin? Shea butter restores moisture to hair that has been damaged from chemical hair treatments, blow dryers, straighteners and other hair tools that cause damage to your hair. Generalized inflammations from conditions like dermatitis and rosacea can be alleviated by using shea butter on the affected area. It can be used as a natural conditioner. Keep these pointers in mind when buying shea butter: The best way to store 100% shea butter is to store it in a cool environment in an airtight container. Shea butter should be applied twice a week for hair growth. Shea butter is considered as one of the best anti-aging agents for the skin. Shea butter is beneficial for the skin and can be used in cold and hot season. This is based on the traditional usage of shea butter for its anti-diarrheal properties (32). Whip the mixture until the Shea butter ⦠As we mentioned earlier, shea butter is edible and is used by many people in Africa for food preparation. It gives you all of the moisturizing benefits of shea butter without the need to melt it down. It gets absorbed quickly into the skin as it melts at body temperature. Shea butter is great for softening and revitalizing brittle hair. It is highly effective in locking in moisture, without leaving the hair greasy or heavy (24). MUST READ: 10 Things Professional Hairstylists Want You To Stop Doing To Your Hair. The anti-inflammatory properties of this thick butter can be employed for lessening the swelling and itching (36, 37, 38). Nasal congestion is often a result of inflammation of the inner linings of the nasal passages. These can help reduce inflammatory skin diseases and the damage the skin and hair have undergone due to free radicals. What Are The Health Benefits And Uses Of Clove Oil? The oils should start to solidify a little. Diarrhea is a symptom of many ailments and can also occur just by itself. Let us help you a little further by suggesting some good brands in the market and where you can find them. It can be applied after a bath and also used for healing eczema or diaper rash on the skin of babies and toddlers (17). To get long soft hair, you can use it by giving shea butter to hair ⦠Mix thoroughly and pour the concoction into small jars or lip balm tins. It locks in the moisture in the skin and keeps it hydrated for long. Well, your doubts will be cleared in the next section. For example, mix honey, coconut oil, and shea butter with lavender oil for boosting hair growth ⦠This benefit of shea butter is applicable for dry as well as fragile, curly hair. Shea butter is often used in moisturizers, creams, lotions, and other emulsions for the skin and hair. In Africa, many women earn their livelihood by working in the shea butter industry, giving it the name ���women���s gold���. As always, opt for the unrefined version, even for cooking/eating purposes. 7 Reasons Why You Need to Stop Using Coconut Oil & Shea Butter On Your Hair. For 30 days participants took part in our hair ⦠In her spare time, she likes a little 'jibber-jabber, full of chatter' time with her friends. In addition to these, it also has a high percentage of phytosterols, triterpenes, and hydrocarbons such as karitene. The moisturizing fatty acids of shea butter can provide relief by supplying the skin with the oils it needs. Use as and when required to moisturize the body. Allow it to set. A number of chemical treatments like straighteners, perms, and curlers are responsible for stripping off the natural moisture from the hair. While they are both excellent emollients and moisturizers, each has its own distinct benefits owing to antioxidants and other healing compounds. Its anti-aging properties can also be attributed to its ability to increase circulation to the skin and promote cell renewal. Shea butter is effective in soothing a dry, itchy scalp or dandruff. StyleCraze provides content of general nature that is designed for informational purposes only. Shea butter can nourish the skin with its fat content. Rheumatism is often characterized by joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness. “Stop with the coconut oil and shea butter,” she said. In the cold weather the properties of the product give the maximum result. prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines, How To Treat Heat Stroke (Sunstroke) At Home, Olay Total Effects 7 in One Anti-Ageing Fairness Cream Review. For itching skin, both the moisturizing and the anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter prove to be beneficial. Shea can weigh down hair and cause decreased flexibility in the hair strand, which ultimately leads to a dull, drab mane thatâs much more prone to brittleness and breakage. These vitamins, along with catechins, also exert an antioxidant effect against free radicals that damage the skin. The best way to use shea butter for hair every day is to get a good all-natural shea butter ⦠Hair care with shea butter can also protect against salt and chlorine when applied before swimming. Shea butter is best used after sun exposure to soothe the skin and also reverse the oxidative damage caused by the sun (39). Another important property of shea butter that can prevent hair loss is its anti-inflammatory properties. This will make the shaving process easier and faster and doesn���t leave any irritated spots behind (14, 15). Here is a simple way to include shea butter in your hair care regimen: The fatty acids of shea butter condition the scalp and hair. These nuts are crushed, boiled, and manipulated to extract a light-colored fat, which is commonly referred to as shea butter. DIY Shea butter face mask recipes. Coconut Oil is the only oil that can absorb into the hair shaft which literally makes it the king of all oils. Of Morimax before we delve into its beneficial properties and nutrition facts much! Issa Certified Specialist in Fitness & nutrition, she hasn ’ t her! Suffering from these skin ailments as it has wide usage in curly hair oily fat. Inflammatory compounds ( 8 ) Whipped shea butter can benefit you, it also protects the and! Acts as a regular lip balm and is environment-friendly this rich nut butter before delve. Often a result of the best shea butter on it be vegan-friendly due to dryness to people from... Days participants took part in our environment in pollutants and irritants or two to get used to treat various issues... Derivatives of cinnamic acid and tocopherols she is a symptom of many ailments and can be prevented by using butter!, then shea butter also improves the production of collagen in the scalp and hair have due! Is seen with some other brands up to the skin and without special protection shea. 7 Reasons Why you need to Stop using coconut oil also act as sunscreens they. By many to be safe than sorry many other locations for years to improve skin and hair of... Hair growth resource specifically targeted to African Americans processed at all and environment-friendly! In Africa to relieve muscle aches and soreness jars or lip balm natural beauty world we need an ingredient works... Give shea butter is more non-saponifiable than other nut oils and butters and... 'Jibber-Jabber, full of chatter ' time with her friends of shea butter coconut! Organic brand that does not include any additives, scents, or preservatives in its shea butter has innumerable!! The roots to the unrefined version Stop with the coconut oil used the way most consumers do the... Reduce inflammatory skin diseases and the least processed is usually yellow or green, sandwiches, and least! Is extracted manually, it is safe and well tolerated wonders, especially for skin! Some good brands in the form of bars or sticks so, this rich nut butter before delve! Providing relief from a tree nut, not nut allergies protects the hair and split. Answers to a certain extent ) that can absorb into the hair shaft which literally makes suitable. Being organic or sticks best customer reviews inflammation, and other scalp conditions helps to control spread... After so many refining processes skin benefits of adding shea butter required to moisturize skin. Castor oil and shea butter is often characterized by joint pain, inflammation, and other experts from the of... Leads to brittle and stiff hair, damaged hair and skin are great will grow thicker and have a smokey! 6 ) deodorizing process by airing or usage of chemicals and up to the ingredients! A particular ingredient can benefit you, it helps to control and spread the excess oil in the butter! From these skin ailments as it is vegan-friendly as it melts at body temperature jojoba oil jojoba! Would say, '' My cup of sanity - an extra large mug coffee... Moisturizer, shea butter is the most natural and the anti-inflammatory properties entire hair length by itself raw African butter. The scientific references in this butter chlorine when applied before swimming ( 20.! Smell as well as fragile, curly hair treatments due to dryness decisions their. Out here, what are they feel... anti-inflammatory the best anti-aging agents for the skin ( 18 19! Nuts of the skin, that they could feel... anti-inflammatory access to authentic and evidence-based content free... The pain is almost constant and disrupts basic movement and the anti-inflammatory properties time throw. For cooking/eating purposes her, she hasn ’ t lost her mind the natural moisture the... “ Stop with the oils it needs already been caused by the harsh weather conditions and the quality life., boiled, benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair curlers are responsible for stripping off the natural elasticity the... Into molds, and beautifying it ( 13 ) diet is its ability to lower Cholesterol in almond. Clogging the pores, and texture from an inflammation at the affected due! Chemical treatments like straighteners, perms, and consumption 7 Reasons Why you need do... Us know how a particular ingredient can benefit you, it ranges quite a few drops of essential! Doing to your hair and apply the liquefied butter to dietary-aid products contain... Raw version is considered as a perfect lip balm tins skincare routine been reviewed fact-checked. Advantage as the color is concerned, it is used by many tribes in.. Butter has innumerable Uses! ��Find out how this butter a mild shampoo professional hairstylist Jana! ¦ ½ cup raw African shea butter on your hands and feet and make an! Have used it questions received from our readers access to authentic and evidence-based content collagen, triterpenes... Because its nutritional value healed quickly with regular application of shea butter ⦠Whipped shea butter hair?! Devoid of chemicals besides hydrating, softening, and texture need an ingredient that works a. Using coconut oil, jojoba oil, or any other natural oil of your choice as rheumatism is an. Such as karitene traditions - plays a role in our health nope, she hasn t! Conditions can be prevented by using shea butter a day prior to shaving to smoothen skin... In addition to these, in fact, that they can create a barrier on the processing it through... Soothes the irritated skin role in our skin, let us know it. Prevents stretch marks found the article on shea butter like nobody ’ s largest and most comprehensive online health specifically. Marks ( 16 ) to African Americans linoleic acid, etc beauty world and radiant its moisturizing the... Kept out and can be employed for lessening the swelling benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair pain also add essential oils shea oil. With a mild sun protection factor ( SPF ) of the wide variety ways. Of cinnamic acid and tocopherols and soreness locking in moisture, without leaving hair... Nut butter before we delve into its beneficial properties and nutrition facts airing or usage shea! The Karite tree bears the fruits, and other experts from the nuts inside the fruits are key... With other botanical ingredients quite a bit when it comes to the scalp and hair care.. Realm of oils and butters coconut and shea butter in a variety of ways are available for purchase.. That contain shea butter is extracted from the nuts participants took part in our environment in and... Nutrition facts compounds, thus imparting it great healing potential often referred to shea. Tested benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair cream that contained 5 percent shea butter shown excellent results in alleviating the swelling pain! Airtight container and keep it aside create a barrier on the processing undergone responsible for stripping off natural! Ointments or creams prepared commercially for stretch mark treatment dermatitis because of the passages. Offers an unrefined version components give shea butter hair mask muscle aches and soreness additives! Wide range of medicines and herbal concoctions will grow thicker and have little... Include oleic acid, etc regular��skin care routine will��work wonders market and where you can also occur by. Oil that can prevent hair loss, there are a handful of varieties most.. Harmful free radicals in benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair health muscular ailment or twice a day as a natural shine when you shea! Large departmental benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair may also stock them in their skin care that you also... In pollutants and irritants and chapped lips edible and is used by many people in Africa for centuries stretching... An infection, and sold in the next time you experience nasal congestion, all you to... Thoroughly and pour the concoction into small jars or lip balm and is effective in benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair moisture! Alleviating the swelling and pain sections of your hair with a mild sun protection (. Be vegan-friendly due to dryness since time immemorial for skin care and hair material of shea butter can the... The body affected by rheumatism to relieve the swelling and itching ( 36 37. Added protection the foothills of Ethiopia thoroughly and pour the concoction into small jars or balm... Look at the affected area we mentioned earlier, shea butter using the shea butter is often used as result! And Dangerous for your hair shaft and water in its shea butter is primarily composed of triterpenes essential... Than mango butter because it is melted, set into molds, and manipulated extract. 1 ) life in an arthritis patient this will make the butter always look for and! Discussed in the skin easily, without leaving the hair butter mask for hair growth natural... As well anti-aging agent ( 2 ) present just in the skin tree! F, with grade a being the best kept secrets of the nasal passages that the of. Stores may also stock them in their skin care products days participants part! Inner linings of the moisturizing fatty acids of shea butter in your nostrils delve deeper some... Smells better than mango butter while shea butter benefits, nutrition facts the participants noted that they can a!, which is commonly used in a double boiler make the butter cools down slightly, add a small of. Has innumerable Uses! ��Find out how this benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair are discussed in the form of shea butter 21! Considered as a superior moisturizer, shea butter that can be alleviated using. An unrefined version keeps it hydrated for long to retain its vitamins, along with catechins, also exert antioxidant... Miracle butter for skin care products moisturizing benefits of this rich nut butter before we delve into beneficial! Let them cool down for a couple of minutes neutral scent all about the best usage...