“I want to first say thank you for all the time you give in sharing your knowledge about products and other natural hair topics. I have found your blog so valuable and enjoy seeing what is next. My current issue is my Shea butter. I am not sure if I should melt it, whip it or what. I am currently just using as is and it is so HARD. If you melt it, what is the best way to do so? Do you mix it with other oils? Thanks in advance for your help!”
I asked this same question of my readers a few months ago. To check out their responses, click HERE. I simply melt it between my palms and apply…I’m not much of a mixtress. If I want an easier application process, I use Jane Carter’s Nourish and Shine- it’s Shea Butter based, but also contains Kokum, Mango and illipe butters, as well as essential and carrier oils, to thin things out. It’s much smoother than straight Shea, and the smell is intoxicating!
I've been looking into unrefined whipped shea butter. I'm currently transitioning and I'm finding that it's a pain to mix oils and make my own spritz and make sure I use them before they go rancid or trying to figure out when they are rancid. It's just too much. So as you can guess from my rant, lol, I've already fallen off the all natural banwagon and I'm definitely tired of mixing things at home.
Anywho, I haven't tried the whipped shea yet because I'm still searching for the best one but everyone seems to LOVE whipped shea butter. Here are some links I'm looking into:
Nature's 8 oz. for $16 http://www.naturessheabutter.com/Unrefined_Whipped_Shea_Butter_p/wsba8.htm
Oyin's 8 oz. for $16 http://oyinhandmade.com/oyin/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=22
I've been having a hard time finding unrefined whipped shea butter where shea butter is the main ingredient. A couple of these whipped shea butters list water or aloe as the primary ingredient. They wouldn't be good to use as a sealer.
You have definitely got to melt the Shea Butter. I usually add apricot and mango butters for firmness; I live in a humid environment. A little sage oil and wheatgerm oil are also added to the mix. When the mix is firm it causes some friction when I am applying it to my hair.
Definitely melt the shea butter, I add usually add apricot butter, wheatgerm oil, a drop of sage oil, and mango butter for firmness.
At www.sheabutterhut.com they sell East African Shea Butter. It is very soft and it penetrates the skin very quickly and easily. It leaves your have very shiny. $11.95 for 4oz
I was just wondering if the Shea Butter is enough to hold the twistout on its own… would I need to use something else while I’m twisting in order for the twistout to stay defined? Thanks =)
Coastal Scents sells a shea butter that is very soft. I usually mix it in a food processor with various oils to create a even smoother all purpose hair/body butter.
If you don’t mind spending that extra cash you might want to look into Nilotica Shea Butter.
http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/07/shea-butter.html