Shea Butter

AFRICAN SHEA BUTTER IS MADE FROM THE NUT OF THE AFRICAN SHEA TREE.  IT CONTAINS A RICH AMOUNT OF UNREMOVABLE FATTY ACID WHICH RENDERS IT FAR SUPERIOR TO COCOA BUTTER AND OTHER NATURAL VEGETABLE BUTTERS.  THIS FATTY ACID IS CRUCIAL TO REJUVENATING AND MOISTURIZING THE SKIN.  SHEA BUTTER PROVIDES ALL THE ESSENTIAL VITAMINS NEEDED TO MAKE SKIN LOOK AND FEEL SMOOTHER, SOFTER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HEALTHIER.  ITS THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES PROTECT THE SKIN FROM WIND, COLD, SUN AND IT HELPS HEAL WOUNDS FASTER.  SHEA BUTTER STIMULATES CELLULAR ACTIVITY, FIGHTS THE EFFECTS OF AGING AND REPAIRS ROUGH, DAMAGED SKIN.

I buy the unrefined (raw) Shea Butter, that is Shea Butter that has not been processed.  It tends to be a more yellowish color.  I am very funny about smells… VERY funny, indeed.  Shea Butter has a nutty smell, but it is nothing that I cannot handle or that I absolutely hate.  As a matter of fact, it pretty much dissipates after you apply it.  As far as application goes, I either use it in its raw form, or I whip it with other oils to make a smoother concoction.  I remember when I first started reading up on Shea Butter, I found a recipe that included Shea Butter and IC Fantasia gel as a hair mixture.  Supposedly it would provide moisture as well as hold to styles created.  My hair absolutely HATED it.  I believe I ended up tossing that mixture (waste of time and money!)  Recently, I made a batch of a Shea Butter mix that included jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, castor oil, and olive oil, all of which can be used on either my hair or my skin and guess what?!  I happen to love it on my hair.  It is light and fluffy, but provides the barrier I need against the elements and moisture.  My hair does not feel weighed down and is bouncy and curly.  And you know what?  Even if my hair starts to hate it (which I’m sure it won’t), I can at least use it on my skin! #doublewin

I use Shea Butter for my hair and my skin. Below, I have listed ways in which Shea Butter can benefit the skin and hair.

Just like ABS, Shea Butter can be purchased at an African store, organic grocery store, flea market or online.  The possibilities on how to use Shea Butter are endless.  Also, if you are looking for Shea Butter with a little more scent and “whip” appeal (pun intended), try www.sheaonu.com, a family owned and operated business that believes in the importance and knowledge of healthy skin.  Products on their website use a variety of ingredients such as avocado oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E and mix it with Shea Butter to create a concoction that will truly benefit your skin.  Best sellers? For men, Heaven.  The top selling scents for women are Sweet Almond and Melon (sounds yummy, right?)