Shea butter for hair: properties and recommendations for use

Any girl who wants to have a shock of beautiful and thick hair should turn her attention to shea butter, or shea. This natural component copes with numerous problems and does not cause any harm to the body due to the absence of chemical components in the composition.

Shea butter for hair is sometimes called shea butter. It should be noted right away that its use is not limited exclusively to hair care - the product has a very successful effect on the skin of the face and body and therefore is often used to prepare creams. The oil itself, using a long and rather difficult technology, is extracted from the seeds of the fruit of the tree of the same name from the African continent. The resulting substance is very fatty and rich in nutrients. If you store it according to the instructions, that is, in the cold, then the consistency of the shea butter will be solid. When heated, it gradually softens, and at a temperature of 27 degrees it melts. By the way, storage of shea is allowed at room temperature, but in a tightly sealed container.

The color of shea butter can vary depending on the region where the tree grew and the way the product was obtained. Usually shades range from white to slightly yellowish. Shea butter has a nutty smell with light coconut splashes.

As a rule, its shelf life is twenty four months from the date of production.

About 80 percent of shea butter is triglycerides.The other 20 are a combination of several acids, including linoleic and oleic, vitamin E, squalene, and carotene. Other useful substances are also present in much smaller volumes. Each component has beneficial properties, for example, squalene saturates the hair follicles with oxygen, carotene is responsible for cell metabolism, and vitamin E copes with damage. Such a rich composition provides the main functions of the product - softening, protective and regeneration.

If we talk only about hair, then it is definitely worth highlighting such properties of shea butter as nutrition, hydration and protection. The substance strengthens the roots and generally improves the structure, and also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the scalp. The oil helps to heal numerous diseases such as dandruff and eczema. It is able to restore weakened hair that has deteriorated after dyeing and heat treatment, as well as come to the rescue in a situation of abundant hair loss.

Organizing the Benefits of Shea Butter, then, firstly, it helps to protect the hairline from any thermal effects, including a hair dryer. It also restores the moisture content inside the hair. Secondly, it protects from the sun, which is especially important in the summer months, when ultraviolet rays dehydrate and discolor curls. Thirdly, the oil helps to cope with other negative environmental manifestations, for example, dust and exhaust gases. The product prevents the development of fungi and microbial diseases, and in case of their occurrence, it successfully cures. Shea butter fights dandruff without clogging pores and activates hair growth.

The main contraindication for the use of this substance is individual intolerance to nuts, manifested in various allergic reactions. In order to find out if such a danger exists, it is worth applying a small dose of the substance to the bend of the elbow and waiting for several hours. If after the specified time neither redness nor peeling appears, then it should be used for masks. In addition, there is a recommendation for owners of oily and even combination hair - they will have to use shea butter not regularly and not in pure form. It is better to give preference to masks, which will include components with a drying effect.

Shea butter is available from drug stores, organic stores, online stores, and sometimes craft shops.

In addition, it is worth studying the reviews and giving preference only to trusted manufacturers. For example, many girls praise the Spivak oil - it works well both in masks and when added to purchased shampoos.

When oil is sold in a branded jar, it is better to choose one that is unrefined and has the “A” mark. It is as effective and beneficial as possible. However, this oil has a short shelf life, so it needs to be consumed fairly quickly. The best producing country is, of course, Africa. A product made by the hands of local residents is most appreciated by cosmetologists. A slight odor must be present - its absence indicates the presence of foreign components or an expired shelf life.

While it is quite easy to find balms and shampoos in the store that include shea butter in the composition, it is much better to prepare the products at home or even use the substance in its pure form. The use of the substance is possible only after a little preparation - it must be melted in a water bath or just in a warm place. So the nutrients will begin to quickly reach the surface of the head or hair.If the finished mask or balm is enriched with shea, it is important to mix all the ingredients until complete homogeneity is achieved. As soon as the composition is applied to the hair, it is better to cover it with polyethylene, and wrap it over with a thick towel. The usage time will depend on the function of the cosmetic.

When shea butter is used as a mask, it is recommended to apply it to dry, freshly washed hair along its entire length. If the ends split or look lifeless, then the amount of useful mass in this area should be increased. The surface of the head is lightly massaged, then wrapped in plastic and a towel. Such a mask will have to work from forty minutes to an hour. If you exceed the time period, then this is not scary - excessive use of the product will not bring harm. Some women even put on the mask at night and wash it off in the morning, but in this case, the oil is likely to harden, which is difficult to remove.

An anti-dandruff shea butter mask is prepared as follows: the mass is melted and mixed with a few drops of essential oils, for example, tea tree or rosemary. It is worth using such a remedy twice a week for an interval from one hour to three hours. It is believed that within a month the dandruff problem will disappear. In addition, if you enrich the composition with a tablespoon of olive oil, you will be able to heal overdried hairs. Another type of mask for this disease includes a teaspoon of shea butter, four drops of peppermint essential oil and one egg.

The egg is to be beaten into a thick foam using a blender, and then combined with warmed shea and mint ether. Apply this mask to damp, clean hair, paying maximum attention to the roots and skin. We must not forget about the standard wrapping with polyethylene and a terry towel. Such a solution is kept for only thirty minutes, after which it is washed off with ordinary shampoo. Equally useful is a nourishing mask that includes 40 grams of shea butter, two tablespoons of flaxseed oil, one tablespoon of burdock oil, and the same amount of liquid vitamin E.

After carefully mixing the components, the substance must be applied to the entire length of the hair. Either before the start of the procedure, or after the end, it is recommended to carry out a light self-massage so that the nutrients are better absorbed. It is customary to apply a nourishing mask for three or four hours. In the event that a girl suffers from profuse "hair loss", she will need to combine two tablespoons of shea butter with one tablespoon of castor oil and a couple of drops of rosemary essential oil. The finished mask is applied and stays on the hair for two to four hours.

The water should be at an average comfortable temperature, but the shampoo will have to be used twice. If at the end of the procedure there is no feeling of a clean head, then you can rinse your hair with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar dissolved in a liter of water. The traditional number of procedures performed is fifteen, and they should take place no more than once every four days.

It is recommended to combine shea butter with coconut butter, slightly heating both components. It also works well with cocoa butter, which adds shine, nourishes and strengthens the root. The split ends problem is solved by a mixture of two tablespoons of almond essential oil, one egg and two tablespoons of shea butter. In this case, by the way, only the yolk is used, and the mask itself is applied for at least three and a half hours.

Oily hair will be delighted with a mask made from a tablespoon of shea butter, a tablespoon of avocado oil, three drops of vetiver oil and three drops of geranium essential oil. The mask is applied mainly to the roots and then spread over the entire surface of the hair with a comb.Such a solution is left for only thirty minutes, after which it is washed off with a conventional product. Damaged hair can be salvaged with a blend, the ingredients of which include a teaspoon of shea butter, three tablespoons of kefir, three drops of ylang-ylang and three drops of orange essential oil. After melting the shea butter, it will need to be combined with kefir and let it brew for about ten minutes. After that, essential oils are added and everything is mixed. The finished mask is applied for 45 minutes.

A mask directed against hair loss is considered very effective. To prepare it, you will need one onion, a teaspoon of shea butter, a tablespoon of kefir and three drops of lemon ether. The onion is peeled, cut into four pieces and rubbed on a grater. The resulting slurry is filtered through a sieve. Melted shea butter is mixed with onion juice, then warmed up and mixed with kefir at room temperature. At the last stage, lemon is added. Such a mask should be applied to a dirty head, and if a burning sensation appears, wash it off immediately. It should be used no more than half an hour under plastic wrap.

For the properties and uses of shea butter, see the video below.