Shea butter is produced through a labor-intensive extraction process from the nuts of shea or karate trees that grow in the African savannah. While refined shea butter is usually white or cream colored and odor-free, unrefined shea butter might be any color from beige to green, gray or tan. Unrefined shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E, is a deep-penetrating moisturizer, and has a characteristic smokey, nutty aroma that disappears within minutes of application. Shea butter's moisturizing, conditioning benefits make it ideal for use in kinky hair.
Step 1
Shampoo your hair as usual.
Step 2
Divide your wet hair into several sections, securing each with a small hair clip.
Step 3
Scoop a small amount of shea butter out of the container and rub it between your palms until it warms and softens.
Step 4
Work the butter into your scalp with your fingers.
Step 5
Unclip one section of hair at a time, working the butter from your palms and fingers into the hair, starting at the roots and working toward the ends.
Step 6
Repeat Step 5 for the other sections of hair until you've worked the shea butter into all of your hair. Note that the characteristic aroma from unrefined shea butter will go away within a couple minutes of application.
Step 7
Rinse the shea butter out within 45 minutes for a normal conditioning treatment. You can leave the butter in your hair longer, from several hours to overnight, if you desire a deeper conditioning treatment.
Tips and Warnings
- You can apply shea butter to your hair before shampooing instead of after, for extra protection from harsh chemical shampoos.
Things You'll Need
- Unrefined shea butter
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