How to Lock Moisture & Nourish Your Hair Using Shea Butter
In today's fast-paced world sometimes our health, wellbeing, and beauty take a back step while our career priorities and social life move ahead. But health and our general wellbeing cannot and should not be ignored because after some time the effects become visible.
But how can one manage all of these on a single plate in so little time? Well, this can be done by simplifying everything especially when it comes to beauty and hair care regimes.
And what's better to simplify first than our hair care regimen that starts from a prewash product right down to leave-in serum. What if all these products can be replaced by the inclusion of one ingredient that is not only natural but easy to use as well? Yes, we're talking about Shea butter and how it should be the star of her hair care routine.
What are the Benefits of Shea Butter for Hair?
Let's start with what Shea butter can do for your hair and how you can benefit from this amazing grant of Mother Nature.
MOISTURIZES HAIR
Shea Butter is known for its moisturizing properties due to the presence of high concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin E along with a combination of fatty acids.
All of this combines to make a powerful potent ingredient that not only helps in moisturizing the hair and getting rid of dryness that might have been caused by the use of harsh chemical-based shampoos but also help in repairing the cuticle of the hair itself thus adding shine to your hair.
Along with this, Shea butter works well for getting rid of split ends and preventing them from occurring in the future as it helps rebuild the hair strand and seal the cuticle hence preventing, the hair ends from splitting.
HELPS IN RETAINING HYDRATION
The moisturizing properties of Shea butter do not stop at a one-time use. The presence of antioxidants combined with vitamin E help in building a protective layer around the hair fiber that rebuilds the hair's moisture barrier and therefore prevents moisture loss.
This results in hydrated hair for a longer period that is bouncy and healthy-looking. Also, hydrated hair is easier to style and manage so it's an added advantage.
PROTECTS HAIR FROM DAMAGE
Shea butter has proven to protect hair from not only chemical damage that is caused by using products containing harmful additives, parabens, and sulfates but also from sun damage. The antioxidants and fatty acids present in Shea butter help in protecting the hair follicle from environmental factors including sunlight, heat especially in the case of heated hair tools and polluted air, etc.
AIDS IN PROMOTING HAIR GROWTH
For hair to grow one must ensure that they are given the environment to do so which means that the scalp and hair follicle should only be well-nourished but also protected from bacteria.
The antibacterial properties of Shea butter combined with the presence of vitamin E helps in stimulating hair follicles to increase hair growth while protecting the scalp itself from bacteria that might harm the follicles’ integrity and structure.
NOURISHES HAIR
Shea butter holds a powerhouse of natural ingredients that are critical for hair nourishment are noted to be the most important elements required as hair food. Vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin F in combination with antioxidants and fatty acids work to nature's magic to nourish your hair from the inside out while also protecting the scalp and reducing any hair problems such as dryness, brittle hair, etc. that you might be experiencing.
HELPS TACKLE SCALP DRYNESS
Shea butter also has antiinflammation properties along with moisturizing factors. It's these two properties combined to aid in getting rid of scalp dryness and in soothing irritated scalp in certain cases. The use of Shea butter on the scalp also prevents itchiness, flakiness, and a general feeling of discomfort on the scalp.
How to Use Shea Butter on Your Hair?
When it comes to using Shea butter for your hair, more than often you must go for a controlled application as the product itself is very rich. Due to its versatile nature, it can be used as a leave-in moisturizer, deep conditioning mask, or as a part of your hair protection routine. There are many ways in which you can utilize Shea butter for your head depending on your needs.
For starters, you can buy a product from the shelf that is enriched with Shea butter. There is a variety of shampoos out there along with hair treatments that incorporate Shea butter. On the other hand, you can also combine Shea butter with your regular conditioner or hair mask to help you get rid of dryness, split ends, and make your hair more manageable. Due to its malleable texture, Shea butter mixes well with conditioners and hair masks.
Another way of using Shea butter is by making whipped Shea butter by using a few easy steps at home and then using that fluffy concoction as a split end treatment or styling mousse. If you decide to go the manual way by combining Shea butter with your daily hair care regimen products, we suggest that you buy 100% pure and natural Shea butter from a trusted source only like Barakah to enjoy its full benefits.
Shea Butter Recipes for Hair
Let us now talk about a few make-it-at-home Shea butter recipes for your hair that are easy to whip up and will give you the hair of your dreams.
SUPER SOFT HAIR CONDITIONER
To achieve that soft mane that is shiny and smooth we recommend using Shea butter to make the super-soft hair conditioner. This conditioner combines the power of Shea butter along with coconut oil and almond oil to give you the most luxurious experience. It's also very easy to make by combining these ingredients in a bowl and applying it on your scalp, roots especially hair ends. For best results, we recommend following the recipe exactly.
WHIPPED SHEA MASK
This recipe for the Shea butter hair mask will not only give you results but is also easy to make. Melt 60 grams of Shea butter on a double boiler or in a microwave. In a bowl combine the melted Shea butter with 15 ml of coconut oil and then use an electric beater or handheld mixer to combine both at a medium setting for about 15 minutes. The product should look like a fluffy cloud of meringue that you can store in a jar for up to six months and use as a deep conditioning mask as well as a styling product.
Best Shea Butter Products for Hair
We will now list the best Shea butter products for your hair that you can easily access at your local supermarket.
PALMER'S SHEA FORMULA MOISTURE REPAIR RAW SHEA SHAMPOO
The first step in the hair cleansing routine is a shampoo and what better way to incorporate the benefits of Shea butter in your routine by using Palmer’s Moisture Repair shampoo that not only smooths and nourishes the hair but in case your hair is color-treated it would also help protect the color.
SHEA MOISTURE MANUKA HONEY & YOGURT HYDRATE + REPAIR PROTEIN-STRONG TREATMENT
This handcrafted Shea butter protein treatment will not only strengthen your hair and protect them against damage but also address dryness and hair breakage issues.
CANTU LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING CREAM
If you want to incorporate Shea butter as a styling treatment, then this should be your go-to product not only is it easy to use also does not weigh your hair down.
Conclusion
Shea butter is known for its beauty-enhancing properties especially when it comes to hair. Not only does it nourish your hair from deep within but also gives it a shiny and healthy outlook. We recommend that you use this natural product and make it part of your hair care regimen to truly benefit from this nature's bounty.