Whipped Shea Butter for Hair Growth and Deep Moisture (DIY)
I have found the holy grail mix when it comes to hair and body butter and so I’m sharing it with you today. Raw shea butter is transformed into a luxurious, rich, creamy whipped shea butter, perfect to use on your hair to seal in moisture. I also use it on my skin to seal in moisture after a shower. The best part is the adaptability, you get to choose the scent and creaminess and control the ingredients of this multi-purpose whipped butter recipe.
In this post you'll find:
Whipped Shea Butter For Skin
For both recipes, I start with all-natural shea butter. I usually make two batches since coconut oil irritates my face causing cystic acne. I like them to be different consistencies anyway.
For my body butter, I use shea butter, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Argan Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Coconut Oil, and then whatever essential oils I happen to have on hand for scent and added aromatherapy benefits. My favorite is a mix of sweet orange and lavender oils.
My last body butter batch also had grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil. The mix is really up to you. I chose these oils because they are all in some way amazing for your skin. I’d say at least go with avocado oil and wheat germ oil which both have amazing anti-aging properties.
The benefits of shea butter include healing eczema, scars, and stretch marks. I’m not sure about stretch marks but I can attest to eczema as munchkin’s skin patches are being kept at bay. I haven’t been using it on any areas where I have stretch marks but I simply love the way my legs feel after I rub down. You could experiment with adding mango butter and cocoa butter to the mix as well.
I want my lotion to be a consistency that can be squeezed out of a bottle so I want a runnier consistency than my hair butter. Of course, if you like a thicker body butter kind of consistency you would use less oil. There’s no need for exact measurements, eyeball it and adjust it to your taste. Here’s the ratio my lotion mix looked like before blending.
This is in my small magic bullet cup, which I have on hand just for making my hair and skin butter. Once you’re done blending and you’ve bottled your mix, it will thicken up some as it settles so always try and get it just a little runnier than you’d want.
Using up my old lotion bottles.
Whipped Shea Butter For Hair
My hair mix has pretty much the same ingredients with the exception of the coconut oil. I don’t want that to get onto my face as it causes me to break out so I leave it out. Cold-pressed, raw coconut oil is touted as great for skincare so don’t be afraid to try it out on your face or in your hair and see if it works for you. Everybody has a different experience but it’s a no-go above my neck, unless I am washing it out.
My hair butter went right back into this container. This is a 32oz container of shea butter that lasts me about 6 months. Give this a try! Even if you’re simply whipping the shea with coconut oil or olive oil, that in itself is a phenomenal healing, all-natural product that you made yourself.
This butter is luxurious, lasts all day, and makes my skin feel so soft and supple. It is a little heavy, so perfect for fall and winter months. I live in Jamaica and use it year-round on my hair because it loves it! I only use it on soaking wet hair right after I’ve applied my leave-in moisturizer to seal in all that goodness.
Does shea butter help hair growth?
Yes, shea butter can potentially promote hair growth when used as part of a regular hair care routine. Shea butter is a natural product derived from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) and has been traditionally used for its moisturizing and healing properties. Here’s how shea butter can help with hair growth:
Moisturizing: Shea butter is rich in fatty acids, particularly oleic and stearic acids, which help lock in moisture and prevent hair from becoming dry and brittle. Dry hair is more prone to breakage, and breakage can hinder hair growth. By keeping your hair well-hydrated, shea butter can contribute to healthier, longer hair.
Scalp Health: A healthy scalp is essential for promoting hair growth. Shea butter has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that can help alleviate scalp conditions like dandruff and psoriasis. A clean and nourished scalp provides an ideal environment for hair follicles to thrive.
Strengthening: Shea butter contains vitamins A and E, which are known for their antioxidant properties. These vitamins can help repair damaged hair and strengthen the hair shaft, reducing the likelihood of breakage. Stronger hair is less prone to thinning and loss.
Improving Blood Circulation: When massaged into the scalp, shea butter can improve blood circulation. This increased blood flow can nourish hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
To use shea butter for hair growth:
- Treat your scalp: Gently massage a small amount of this whipped shea butter recipe into your scalp and along the length of your hair, paying attention to the ends. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes or overnight, then shampoo and condition as usual.
- Use it as a leave-in conditioner: You can also apply a small amount of this DIY hair butter recipe to the ends of your hair as a leave-in conditioner to help prevent split ends and breakage.
- Combine with other hair-healthy ingredients: Some people like to mix shea butter with other natural oils like coconut oil, castor oil, or argan oil for added benefits as I’ve done here. The key is to mix it with oils that will help you with what your hair needs currently.
Remember that while shea butter can be beneficial for hair growth, individual results may vary. It’s essential to maintain a consistent hair care routine that includes a balanced diet, proper hydration, and a gentle approach to hair care to support overall hair health and growth.
Is whipped shea butter better than regular shea butter?
Whipped shea butter and regular shea butter serve slightly different purposes, and which one is better for you depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Whipped Shea Butter
Texture: Whipped shea butter has a lighter, fluffier texture compared to regular shea butter, which is denser and more solid at room temperature. The whipping process incorporates air, making it easier to spread and apply to your hair and skin.
Ease of Application: Because of its lighter texture, whipped shea butter is often easier to apply and distribute through your hair. It can also be more comfortable to use as a body moisturizer since it tends to glide on smoothly.
Fragrance and Additives: Whipped shea butter products often come in a variety of scents and may contain additional ingredients like essential oils or other natural additives to enhance the overall experience. In this instance, we’re creating our own mix with all-natural ingredients.
Convenience: Whipped shea butter is ready to use straight from the container, making it convenient for those who prefer a more user-friendly product.
Regular Shea Butter
Unaltered and Pure: Regular shea butter is in its natural, unaltered state, typically extracted directly from the shea nut. It contains all the natural benefits of shea butter without any additional processing.
Intensive Moisturization: Some people prefer regular shea butter for its intense moisturizing properties, especially for dry and damaged skin and hair. It provides a thicker, protective barrier that helps lock in moisture.
Versatility: Regular shea butter can be used in various forms, such as melting a small amount in your palms before applying or mixing it with other natural oils or ingredients to create customized skincare or haircare products.
Which One Is Better?
The choice between whipped and regular shea butter depends on your preferences and needs. If you want a light, easy-to-spread product with added fragrances and the convenience of immediate use, whipped shea butter may be a better option. On the other hand, if you prefer a pure, unaltered product for intensive moisturization and versatility, regular shea butter may be more suitable.
Ultimately, both types of shea butter offer the inherent benefits of shea, such as moisturization, hair and skin health, and potential support for hair growth. Your choice should align with your personal preferences and the specific use you have in mind.
Whipped Castor Oil
The hair butter works better than anything I have ever put in munchkin’s 4b hair as a moisture sealant. After I co-wash her hair, I add in a leave-in conditioner then this butter over all that. It keeps her hair soft and moisturized the entire time that I am combing her hair, whether doing plaits or cane rows.
I used to add castor oil in separately to help with hair growth, however, we know Jamaican black castor oil’s scent isn’t the most pleasant. It’s also not the easiest to spread as it’s quite heavy. Adding it to this shea butter mix gives our skin and hair the castor oil benefits I’m looking for without the hassle.
I use this DIY hair butter in my hair after I’ve added my leave-in conditioner and my styling product. I concentrate it on my ends to help keep them super moisturized.
Are you convinced? Think you’ll be trying this out? Lemme know!
Read Next:
- My Big Chop Story
- How to Keep Natural Hair Moisturized
- My Wash and Go Routine for 3-day Hair
- 21 Best Moisturizers for Natural Hair
- DIY Hair Spritz to Refresh Curls
- Best Portable Hair Steamer for Black Hair
- My Favorite Aloe Vera Pre Poo
- Best Protein Treatments for Curly Hair
- DIY Aloe Vera Mask
- The Best Skincare Products for 30+ Gals
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Love your experiments.
I can tell you that Shea makes your skin so soft. I had been using cocoa butter for many years because lotion did nothing for my dry skin. I switched to Shea for a year now. Love it!! I like to add Vitamin E oil to my Shea butter or I mix the Shea butter, cocoa butter and vitamin E.
I also add some bio oil to the mix when I have it. Way better than lotion. It keeps those knees and elbows moist when taking those pics!
@Sam, I think I’m gonna try the Vitamin E with the Shea Butter & maybe the orange oil that she mentioned
@Sam.. I mix with the bio oil as well.. At first it was just me THINKING I was gettign creative with my raw shea butter. I mean I bought it for my hair and realized in its raw state it would help my daughter’s eczema itch and then I had a bottle of bio oil lying around and tossed some of that in… The bio oil also gives it a nice lil fragrance.
I love it and it helps me a lot in making mine coz I’ve been thinking of a way to make the hair cream watery so that I can squeeze it out of a lotion bottle
Sounds great. Nice article but no recipe or measurements to make it.