Shea butter is a versatile, nourishing ingredient that has been used for centuries to improve skin and hair health. Packed with vitamins A, E, and F, it offers a range of benefits, from deeply moisturising dry skin to soothing irritated areas. In skincare, shea butter is known for its ability to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and fine lines, while promoting a youthful glow. When applied to hair, it helps to hydrate and strengthen strands, preventing breakage and adding shine. Whether used in body lotions, hair masks, or as a natural lip balm, shea butter’s rich, creamy texture makes it an essential in any beauty routine for healthy, hydrated skin and hair.
This article delves into the amazing benefits shea butter has to offer for your skin and hair.
What is Shea Butter?
Shea Butter is fat that is extracted from the nuts of a shea tree. The trees are native to the West of Africa, more specifically from Ghana. Here at Brightpack, we make sure to get the highest quality and purest form of Shea Butter directly from Ghana.
Shea Butter has been used as a cosmetic and natural skincare ingredient for many years due to its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids, especially Vitamin A. However, one of the most important factors about shea butter is that it has amazing benefits for your skin. It is extremely moisturizing and hydrating, it has anti-inflammatory properties, it is non-comedogenic (which means it doesn’t block your pores), and it can be used on all skin types!
Benefits of Shea Butter for Skin
Anti-inflammatory Moisturiser
There are many anti-inflammatory products these days that are packed with so many ingredients, some of which could be unhealthy for your skin, and the average consumer doesn’t know what half of those ingredients do. Whereas, Shea Butter is a pure and natural product that has been tested and is proven to reduce inflammation after application to the skin according to a report in the Journal of Oleo Science.
May Reduce Stretch Marks
There are many ways that you can get rid of stretch marks — this could involve expensive Retin-A creams and laser treatments… but raw shea butter is filled with vitamin A and may be able to help you reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and possibly some scarring as well. Shea Butter has healing properties, is exceptionally hydrating and is definitely a lot more affordable than any kind of laser treatment.
Soothes Dry, Itchy Skin
There is nothing more annoying than your skin going dry in the Winter... Can’t it just be summer all the time? Regardless, Shea Butter is amazing for that itchy winter skin because of its deep penetrating moisture properties. It is especially nice for dry, cracked heels — whether it is winter or not!
Healing and Preventing Rashes
Whether you are experiencing chafing from your clothing, or if your baby has a diaper rash, Shea Butter is a great ointment for healing and preventing these symptoms, especially since it has those anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Raw Shea Butter promotes cell regeneration and collagen production which are both important factors in healing diaper rashes and chafing.
Benefits of Shea Butter for Hair
Moisturising Scalp and Hair
Using Shea Butter on your scalp and hair will help with conditioning and lock in moisture. This is especially useful if you have dandruff or any dry scalp related issues. Applying Shea Butter to your scalp can also be useful as a protection against various climate conditions. Not only does it improve your hair and scalp health, but it also improves the way it looks and feels!
May Help Prevent Hair Breakage
Although there hasn’t been any focus specifically on the studies of Shea Butter’s ability to make hair stronger, there is a study from 2017 that found a chemically similar West African plant which made hair resistant to breakage.
Protect Hair Against Heat Damage
If you use any form of heat on your hair such as straightening, curling or even just blow drying, you can use Shea Butter as a heat defense for your hair. This works well because Shea Butter doesn’t sit very heavily on the hair, instead it absorbs into each strand which in turn creates a barrier for the heat.
How To Use Shea Butter
Shea Butter is quite versatile – you could use it directly on your skin and hair, as well as an ingredient in personal care products and cosmetics. Here is a list of ways you can use Shea Butter:
For Skin
You can apply Raw Unrefined Shea butter directly to your skin. It is quite easy to spread – just scoop about a teaspoon amount, rub it between your fingers and apply it to your body or face until it is completely absorbed.
Shea Butter is quite slippery, so you may want to avoid applying it under makeup and rather put it on at night before bed, as an overnight mask.
For Hair
Raw Shea Butter is great for dry, brittle hair and you can apply it directly. If your hair is more porous or on the curlier side, you could use Shea Butter as a conditioner. Just make sure your hair has absorbed majority of the Shea butter before rinsing it out and styling your hair as normal. You can also apply a very small amount as a leave in conditioner or you can add it to the ends of your hair after styling.
Products You Could Make
with Shea Butter
There are many things you could make with Shea Butter as an ingredient.
Here is a list of ideas:
- Body Butter Lotion
- Lavender Mint Shea Butter Lip Balm
- Bug Bite Skin Soother
- Natural Shaving Cream
- Whipped Shea Butter
- Shea Butter Body Scrub
- Lavender and Shea Butter Heel Balm
- Foot Balm
- Overnight Face Mask
Storage
Shea Butter should be stored slightly below room temperature in order for it to keep its solid consistency, making it easier to spread.
Precautions
Some people are allergic to tree nuts, and that may include the shea tree nuts, however there aren’t very many documented allergic reactions to the actual butter of the shea nut. There are no cases of any allergies to Shea Butter being used topically.
In any case, it is advised to do a patch test with any topical product. If you experience inflammation or irritation, discontinue immediately.
REFERENCES:
https://draxe.com/beauty/shea-butter/
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jos/59/6/59_6_273/_article
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-shea-butter#hair
