Shea butter for natural 4c hair – Benefits and how to use it

What if there was a product that was nourishing, moisturizing, repairing and 100% natural to enhance your natural hair?

You know it for sure, shea butter is a key ingredient in many beauty products for skin, body and hair.

What are its benefits for afro hair and how to integrate it into your hair routine?

The answer in this article!

The benefits of shea oil on natural hair

Here are the main benefits of shea oil on afro hair:

• Helps seal in moisture, which helps reduce frizz
• A natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that helps relieve scalp irritation and protect hair on a daily basis
• Helps improve the texture of natural hair, making it softer and more manageable
• Promotes hair growth
• Maintains a healthy scalp

How to use shea oil for hair?

Whether in a mask, hair bath or pre-poo, shea butter is a wonderfully versatile ingredient. Let’s see how to use it in a homemade hair routine for natural hair.

How to make a shea butter hair oil bath?

Nothing could be easier than making a shea butter oil bath.

Here is a quick and easy recipe to deeply moisturize your hair:

Ingredients and materials

• One tablespoon of shea butter
• One teaspoon of virgin oil (jojoba, olive or coconut oil are good options)
• A bowl

Application

• Melt the shea butter in a bowl over low heat in a double boiler
• Add the shea oil and mix well
• Apply the mixture all over your hair, concentrating on the ends
• Wrap your hair in a warm towel or cover with plastic wrap
• Leave on for a minimum of 1 hour or overnight
• Rinse with cold water

Towel for at least 1 hour or overnight. When you wake up, rinse your hair with cold water.

How to make a shea butter pre-poo?

To make a shea butter pre-poo, follow these few steps:

• Melt the shea butter in a double boiler and pour it into a container of your choice.
• Mix the shea butter until it becomes slightly creamy
• Add another vegetable oil of your choice, jojoba oil is a good choice if you have natural hair
• Apply the mixture all over your hair, gently massaging the scalp with your fingertips
• Rinse with warm water

Which oil to mix with shea butter?

It can be interesting to mix shea butter with a vegetable oil to enjoy a real cocktail of benefits.

Some oils are particularly suitable for kinky hair, including coconut, avocado or jojoba oil.

👉🏾 Discover the benefits of avocado oil on natural hair.

Shea oil works wonderfully with these. These combinations go a long way in improving the health and appearance of your hair.

In addition, you can also add a few drops of essential oils if you want to add a pleasant scent to your treatment.

Lavender essential oil is a great option to pair with shea oil. It has a soothing scent that can help relax the mind and body, while providing some therapeutic benefits.

Paired with eucalyptus essential oil, it can help speed up the healing process. This duo is perfect for fighting cuts, scrapes or insect bites that can occur during the summer months.

3 Homemade Shea Butter Hair Mask Recipes

Shea butter hair mask is a must for your natural hair. How to make a mask with shea butter? Here are 3 homemade recipes to improve the health of your hair and make it shinier than ever!

Revitalizing Hair Mask with Shea Butter and Essential Oils

This mask will help you magnify your curls and strengthen your hair fibers.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of shea butter
• 2 tablespoons of grape seed oil
• A light and odorless oil that acts as a moisturizer and fights dryness
• 3 drops of rosemary essential oil, very effective to boost hair growth and relieve irritation
• 4 drops of essential oil of geranium to strengthen the follicles and bring a pleasant scent to the care

Preparation

• Melt the shea butter in a double boiler until it becomes liquid.
• Add the grape seed oil and essential oils
• Stir until you obtain a homogeneous mixture
• Place the container in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes
• Whisk the mixture until it becomes frothy

Application

Apply to all of your hair
Leave on for 45 minutes under a plastic wrap or a warm towel
Shampoo your hair as usual
This treatment will give your hair incomparable strength! For best results, repeat this treatment at least twice a month.

Moisturizing Hair Mask with Shea Butter

This mask is ideal for deeply moisturizing your hair and fighting frizz.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of shea butter
• 1 tablespoon of orange blossom water
• 2 drops of rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops of essential oil of peppermint
• 2 drops of essential oil of ylang ylang

Preparation & application

• Melt the shea butter in a double boiler, add the orange blossom water and mix until you get a foamy mixture
• Add the essential oils
• Apply the mixture to your hair. Do not hesitate to rub the mixture between your hands to warm it up beforehand, the effect will be even more effective!

Shea butter mask to stimulate growth

This mask is perfect for accelerating the growth of your curly hair. When massaged or bathed, it stimulates the microcirculation of the scalp and boosts the growth of hair follicles.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of shea butter
• 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of castor oil
• 2 drops of essential oil of ginger
• 1 drop of eucalyptus essential oil

Preparation & application

• Melt the shea butter and coconut oil together in a water bath
• Wait for them to cool, then add the castor oil and essential oils
• Gently massage your scalp. There is no need to apply the mixture to your strands
• Leave it on for 45 minutes using a shower cap or plastic wrap to keep it warm and effective
• Rinse your hair with your favorite mild shampoo

How to do a scalp massage with shea butter?

A scalp massage with shea butter can improve the blood circulation of your scalp, thus promoting hair growth!

Here’s a method for doing a shea butter scalp massage:

• Melt a small amount of shea butter in a double boiler
• Take a small amount of softened shea butter in the palm of your hands. If your hair is very fine, a small amount is enough
• Massage the scalp from the roots to the ends in circular motions
• Leave the shea butter on your scalp for 10 to 15 minutes
• Rinse with warm water

Repeat this treatment 2-3 times a month to get the maximum benefits!

👉🏾 See the best natural hair products for natural hair.

Which shea butter to choose for hair?

There are several types of shea butter available in stores:

• Refined shea butter. It has undergone a treatment and has a reduced purity compared to unrefined or raw shea butter. It is a good choice if you are looking for a light moisturizer, but it does not have the same skin care properties as raw or unrefined shea butter.
• Unrefined Shea Butter. This is the most natural option. It is made from pure, raw shea nuts and has a thick, sticky texture. It’s a good choice especially if you have dry or damaged hair.

Does shea butter present any dangers?

Rest assured, shea butter is safe! It is a natural and safe product that can be used on your hair and skin without risk.

Some people use it to treat skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

Does shea butter grow hair?

Shea butter can be used as a natural adjunct treatment for hair growth.

Since it improves the overall health of the hair, it helps it to grow thicker and longer.

In addition, shea butter is a natural moisturizer, so it helps keep hair healthy and hydrated, which also promotes hair growth.

👉🏾 Recommended reading: what care for dry natural hair.

The icing on the cake is that shea butter contains vitamins A, E and F, which are beneficial for hair growth.

How to remove shea butter from hair?

This is perhaps the only downside of shea butter, its consistency is thick and oily, which can make it difficult to remove.

One way to remove it is to shampoo twice, using a clarifying shampoo the second time.

Another method is to use a conditioner specially designed to remove hair residue.

Leave the conditioner on your hair for five to ten minutes, then rinse it out. You may need to repeat this process several times before the shea butter is completely removed.

The benefits of oil on afro hair in a nutshell

A shea butter treatment helps retain moisture in the cuticles of the hair fibers. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a good ally to soothe itching and irritation of the scalp. In addition to promoting hair growth, it improves hair texture by making it stronger, softer and shinier.