Shea Butter Uses and Benefits
Welcome to Shea butter benefits
I've created this page to tell you about the wonderous Shea butter
I have added Shea butter benefits, the uses of Shea butter for hair, skin also tips, some of which might surprise you!
Did you know that pure or unrefined Shea butter is more potent than any kind of Shea based product? It's an amazingly versatile beauty & healing product that I can't live without.
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What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter is a fat that is extracted from fruit of the Shea tree. The fat is obtained by distilling the contents of the fruit. It is cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa & mainly used by women & children in those areas
Shea butter is an emollient that's filled with Vitamin A, E & fatty acids that penetrate deeply into the skin. Shea butters emollient qualities combined & nutrients make it effective in healing stretched, dry & damaged skin. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
Shea butter is used a cooking oil & is the main ingredients in many luxurious soaps
West Africa, where Shea butter is harvested and produced
How is Shea butter made?
Shea butter processing is a long & painstaking process. All stages of the process are traditionally undertaken by women in West Africa.
The process of extracting the butter begins with picking fruit from the Karite Nut tree, a tree that is similar to the walnut tree.
The pits are extracted from the bulk of the fruit & are boiled. They are then dried in the sun & roasted.
The final stage of the process is the crushing of the nut release the fatty butter.
The resulting Shea butter is known as pure & unrefined butter
Other types of Shea butter
Yellow Shea butter is created when the roots from the Borututu tree are added during the blending process. The root gives the Shea butter a vibrant yellow colour. Borututu roots are renowned in parts of Africa for their medicinal value such as cleansing and detoxifying. It also contains vitamins C, K, P and selenium, therefore yellow Shea butter is enriched wit these nutrients.
Commercially refined Shea butter is created when heat and hexane chemical extraction are used during the refinement process. This removes the odour, colour and impurities of raw Shea butter. This results in a moisturiser with a 'clean' appearance that lacks the anti oxidant and health properties of raw unrefined Shea butter
Cold pressed refined Shea butter is processed with a machine but a lower heat is used during the refinement process. This results in Shea butter that lacks the odour and texture or raw Shea butter but retains the health benefits
Raw Shea butter
Used under creative commons from lilybaysoap
Shea butter for skin
Uses for skin
Moisturiser
Rub a small amount of Shea butter in the palm of your hand & apply it to the face & body.
You will notice an increased softness in your skin within a week.
Shea Butter facial treatment
I use this deep moisturising treatment to brighten my complexion
- Add freshly squeezed lemon to a table spoon of Shea Butter, (you can also add your favourite essential oil if you wish)
- Add the mixture to your face & neck & leave on for 30 minutes.
- Remove the mixture with cotton wool pads & rinse face with warm water
To prevent & fade stretch marks
Shea butter is the champion of preventing stretch marks.
The natural Vitamin A, E & essential fatty acids provide the skin with extra moisture, condition & elasticity which stops stretch marks from appearing.
SHEA BUTTER IS A MUST FOR PREGNANT WOMEN!!
The nutrients also assist in healing stretch-marks & reducing their visibility
On dry or chapped skin
Shea butter is excellent for moisturising dry elbows & knees, it also works well for chapped lips & cracked heals.
Shea butter & stretch marks
Shea butter is the most effective substance in preventing & reducing stretch marks
It is a must for pregnant women or people on a weight loss program.
Shea butter for hair
The following Shea butter hair mask is a potent moisturising and strengthening treatment that's beneficial for all hair types.
If you have excessively oily hair reduce the Shea butter to 1 tablespoon.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Shea butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera gel
How to make Shea butter hair mask
- Place the Shea butter in a heat proof dish and heat in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften
- Whip the Shea butter until it's of a soft and smooth consistency
- Add the egg yolk to the Shea butter and whisk
- Add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel to the mixure and blend thoroughly
Hair mask instructions
- Wash hair, preferably using a sulphate free shampoo
- Gently comb through from roots to the ends of freshly washed hair
- Put on a shower cap or a steam cap & relax for 30 minuets (you can go under the dryer for a deeper treatment)
- Rinse mixture with warm water
- Dry and style hair as desired
Vitamins!
Shea butter is packed full of nutrients & contains vitamins A, D, E & F.
Cooking with Shea butter
Shea butter is so versatile that it can be used in food. It's a healthy vegan fat that's rich in vitamin A, D, E and beta carotenes.
- Try adding a teaspoon of unrefined food grade Shea butter to a green smoothie
- It's also great as a cooking oil in highly flavoursome or aromatic foods such as stews and curries.
- Use in place of lard and butter for baking
