How to Use Shea Butter for Hair, Face and Body?

Shea butter is an extract of the seeds of a shea tree native to West Africa, from whose fruit, when ripe, are derived nuts. These are seeds covered with a shell and rich in fatty acids, vitamins A and E. The walnut is left to dry in the sun, then pounded and ground. What is obtained is a yellowish substance, with a buttery consistency and a delicate scent.

Shea butter is born as a food and is a great ingredient to use in cooking. Many African women also use it for younger, smoother skin. In fact, in the cosmetic field it has found wide use, due to its effectiveness on skin and hair, thanks to the numerous properties that shea butter possesses. It is, in fact, nourishing and moisturizing, elasticizing, as well as repairing and anti-inflammatory.

To be safe, it is important to use pure shea butter: just check the INCI of the purchased product, which must bear the name of the single ingredient, that is Butyrospermum Parkii Butter.

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Shea butter for the face

Widely used in cosmetics dedicated to face care, shea butter is present in many creams, thanks to its antioxidant and invigorating action. It is especially ideal as an anti-aging cream and for dry skin that needs deep hydration, as it helps both to counteract skin aging and to replenish the hydrolipidic film of the skin. It can also be applied to the eye contour area, to combat bags, and to the lips as protection.

In addition to the creams based on shea butter, available online and in the store, it is also possible to make real do-it-yourself face masks. Just melt some shea butter and add an oil, according to your needs, following the proportion of 3:2. If, for example, we want to obtain an anti-aging effect, we can opt for rose oil or wheat germ oil, rich in vitamin E and elasticizing and antioxidant properties.

If you want to get an even more nourishing effect, you can add sweet almond oil, which is moisturizing, emollient and regenerating. After preparing the mixture, just let it dry and then apply it on your face. It should be kept on for about twenty minutes and then rinsed. A similar procedure can also be followed to make a lip balm. After putting the shea butter in a double boiler, we will need to add cocoa butter and a few drops of the essential oil you prefer. As a result, we will get a nourishing, protective and totally natural conditioner.

Shea butter for the hair

The shea butter is also a valuable ingredient for the treatment of brittle and damaged hair. It is present in many products dedicated to the care of the scalp, from masks to complete treatments and can be applied both on the lengths, to make them softer and less stressed, and on the skin, in case of itching, dandruff or various irritations. Effective solutions based on this natural ingredient can also be replicated at home.

All you need to make a DIY hair mask is to combine shea butter, a tablespoon of sweet almond oil and a tablespoon of olive oil. Once mixed, it can be applied directly to the hair and left on. For even more effective results, you can do this in the evening, before going to sleep. Just wrap the lengths in a towel and then proceed with washing the next morning. If, on the other hand, the skin is oily and tends to suffer from dandruff, essential oils, such as tea tree oil, with an antiseptic action, and essential oil with rosemary, which has a purifying effect, can be added to the shea butter melted in a water bath.

Shea butter for the body

For those suffering from dry and cracked skin, shea butter creams are a valid answer to the problem. In addition to moisturizing and nourishing, butter is able to perform a soothing and emollient action and can offer relief from the various annoyances that dryness and lack of elasticity can bring. Beyond the numerous creams that are on the market, we can easily make a valid scrub at home, able to eliminate flaking and cracking and promote cell renewal.

It will be enough to add sugar to the shea butter, pass on the body and then rinse. For those who want a moisturizing body cream, they can add sweet almond oil to the shea butter and mix well until a uniform and homogeneous mixture is obtained. At that point we can insert fragrant drops of the essential oil that we prefer, whether it is orange or lavender essential oil. As this is a natural DIY product without preservatives, it is advisable to make small doses of cream at a time.

Conclusion

Shea butter is a natural ingredient that, in addition to being used in the kitchen, also gives great benefits to the body and hair. Thanks to its nourishing, elasticizing and repairing properties, it is able to moisturize dry skin, slow down skin aging and restore damaged and brittle hair.