Main menu

Pages

The many benefits of shea butter for the body, hair, skin and scalp

The many benefits of shea butter for the body, hair, skin and scalp

The many benefits of shea butter for the body, hair, skin and scalp

Shea butter is a seed fat that comes from the shea tree. The shea tree is found in tropical East and West Africa. Shea butter comes from two oils inside the seed of the shea tree. After removing the kernel from the seeds, they are ground into powder and boiled in water. The butter then rises to the top of the water and becomes solid.


People use shea butter on the skin to treat acne, burns, eczema, dry skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods, shea butter is used as a cooking fat. In manufacturing, shea butter is used in cosmetics.


Taking care of your scalp is an important, but often overlooked, part of your hair care routine. Even if you lather well and get a good scrub, the shampoo will wash out quickly, and the conditioner is rarely applied to the scalp. But treatments designed for scalp care can meet your scalp's needs and provide real benefits.

Some of the benefits of scalp treatments include:

1. Remove dead skin cells from the scalp that can cause inflammation and dandruff.


2. Activating blood circulation around the hair roots, which stimulates the scalp and promotes hair growth.


3. It nourishes and re-hydrates the scalp to prevent split ends.


4. Scalp massage can relieve stress and promote an overall feeling of peace and well-being.


5. Take that extra step toward self-care to make you feel refreshed and confident.

Shea butter properties

Shea Butter is a powerful moisturizer that softens and soothes the skin. Its moisturizing properties are due to its fatty acids that are easily absorbed into the skin and form a protective layer that helps prevent the evaporation of the skin's natural moisture and increases skin hydration by trapping water in the upper layers of the skin. Aside from its moisturizing properties, butter is anti-inflammatory and helps soothe the skin.

Benefits of shea butter for the skin

Shea butter is a natural and effective skin care remedy that can help moisturize, nourish and protect your skin. It is full of fatty acids that nourish the skin with healthy fats and act as an emollient that softens and softens the skin. Shea butter is nourishing because its composition is very similar to the natural oils that our skin produces on its own and can help open the cells and draw moisture into them.

Anti-inflammatory properties

Shea butter is a natural product that has anti-inflammatory properties. It can also help reduce swelling and redness in the skin caused by various factors, such as dry weather, sunburn, chapped lips, or eczema. Shea butter contains plant esters and a chemical compound called amyrin, which are bioactive ingredients that stimulate inflammatory cells to slow their production and react to fewer irritants.

Benefits of shea butter for hair

Shea butter contains vitamins A and E as well as essential fatty acids, and has moisturizing and healing properties for the skin. Some of these ingredients, such as the high fatty acid content of shea butter, are also thought to help add moisture to your hair. Shea butter intensely nourishes and moisturizes the hair. Its benefits for hair include:


1. Deeply moisturize the hair.


2. Create an occlusive barrier on the skin and hair to prevent water loss.


3. Leaves hair softer.


4. If you suffer from scalp irritation, Grover says the nourishing benefits of shea butter can reduce inflammation and irritation in the scalp, without clogging pores.


5. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants and together are responsible for the antioxidant properties of shea butter. Antioxidants are important anti-aging components that fight free radicals.

Benefits of shea butter for the scalp

1. It has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin and scalp and may help repair the skin barrier.


2. It helps the skin and scalp respond less to irritants, reducing itching and irritation.

How to use shea butter on hair and scalp

Most of the time, when using shea butter on your hair, less is more. Sure, this theory may seem easy enough but when put into practice, challenges may arise. It is recommended to do a shea butter allergy test first to see if it is right for you. If all looks good, the doors are open to adding it to your hair care routine:


1. Use it as a hair mask: For a quick, easy and mess-free application method, Raslan tells us: “Shea butter can be used as a weekly hair mask in the shower and then rinsed out.” Chimento agrees, adding that you should wash it with a mild shampoo. “When using shea butter, you should make sure to wash your hair with products that can help deep cleanse your scalp, rather than sulfate-free co-washes to avoid buildup,” she advises.


2. Whip it: In its natural form, shea butter is somewhat solid; However, whisking it makes it easier to take out of the bowl and apply to the hair. You can mix whipped shea butter with a number of carrier ingredients such as coconut oil to prevent it from re-hardening. Once you whisk it, you'll get a fluffy, ultra-moisturizing natural product that gives your hair a healthy shine. Here is the step-by-step guide to the shea butter whipping process:


Ingredients :


1. 2 oz. From shea butter.


2. 1 tablespoon. From coconut oil.


Preparation method :


1. Take the shea butter out of its jar or bowl, then put it in a glass or metal bowl.


2. Put a small amount of water in a pot and then boil it. When it boils, remove it from the heat and place the bowl of shea butter on top of the pot. It will melt very quickly, which is why you need to remove the pot from the heat. Alternatively, you can also microwave shea butter in a microwave-safe bowl, but you may lose some of the nutrients this way.


3. Remove the bowl from the pot and add the coconut oil to the melted shea butter. Mix well. (Note: It's okay if the shea butter doesn't melt into a complete liquid. Whisking will break up any bits of butter.)


3. Use a regular hand mixer to start beating the shea butter and coconut oil mixture at medium to fast speed for about 20 minutes (you can take short breaks between mixing if necessary).


4. After about 20 minutes of whipping (if you have a large amount of shea butter, it will take longer), the mixture should be light, fluffy and thick, almost meringue-like. Store shea butter in a cool, dark place in a glass or plastic container; It is not recommended to put it in the refrigerator as it may become grainy. Natural shea butter mixed with coconut oil or jojoba oil may last for about six months to a year.

Studies and research

1. Various plant and seed extracts are used for skin care, beauty and skin replacement therapy. One of the most widely used butters in Nigeria and many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa is shea butter, a thick, yellow butter produced from the nut of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).


2. Shea Butter is a popular multi-purpose skincare ingredient in many African countries and is believed to have many skincare and healing properties. Shea butter has been shown to have properties that enable it to lock in moisture in the epidermal layers of the skin.


3. Shea butter is superior to mineral oils in preventing dry skin. Shea butter is recommended for repairing dry, inflamed skin caused by dermatitis.

Final thoughts

Shea butter can improve the condition of the scalp and build a healthy environment for your hair roots to thrive. Using shampoos or hair masks that contain shea will remove dirt and ensure that your scalp does not become dry or clogged. A rejuvenated scalp removes dead skin, produces stronger hair, maintains hydration, and becomes less oily.


Shea butter contains essential fatty acids and vitamins that can transform your hair. You should mix this ingredient with coconut, olive, or tea tree oil to get maximum effect. Always use unrefined shea butter to protect your hair strands and maintain a healthy hair texture over time.

Comments