Due to its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing characteristics, the shea butter can aid in reducing dry scalp and itching.
However, shea oils may be more beneficial to hair than shea butter.
A 2017 study by Trusted Source of an oil from a seed with the same bioactive-richness as best shea butter showed that the oil was able to make hair stronger and less prone to breaking.
In addition another study, an older study published in 2009 by the Trusted Source investigated the effects of butters and oils of plants and hair. It was found that treatments with oils decreased the force of combing on wet hair. Butters don't distribute as well as oils in hair.
How do you make
There are many commercially available hair products that include shea butter.
Another option is to melting raw butter, then massage it throughout the scalp and the entire length of hair.
Let the shea butter sit on the hair, then wash it out in the shower with mild shampoo.
Hair that is prone to become oily may wish to stay clear of applying shea butter or oil on hair as it can cause it to get worse.
Shea butter is not believed to cause allergies to nuts. As per the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology even though it is true that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes the shea nut as a real nuts, allergic reactions are usually very rare or absent.
The American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI) notes that unrefined shea butter is a source of latex. In turn, people who suffer from allergies to allergy to latex could suffer an allergic reaction to shea butter.
It is recommended that people refrain from using any product in the event of an irritation, or inflammation.
Shea butter types
As per CBI CBI according to the CBI, there are two major varieties of shea buttershea butter - West African and East African.
East African shea butter:
- is more yellow and more yellow than Western African shea butter
- It has a lower melting point which means it is more liquid at temperatures at room temperature
- is a greater concentration of leicacid.
- It has a creamy and soft texture
Western African shea butter:
- is a greater concentration of vitamin A.
- It has a higher melting point which means it has a greater consistency at the temperature of room
- has a lower amount of oleic acid.
- is more difficult in the same way.
- contains a higher amount of sterol.
Both types have the same, however slightly different applications.
The CBI mentions the fact that East African shea butter may be better suited to:
- sensitive skin
- aging skin
- Skin that has been swollen
- injuries
- dry skin
- peeling skin
West African shea butter has more vitamin A, and could be better suited to use on:
- scars
- blemishes
- wrinkles
- stretch marks
How do you select shea butter
Unrefined shea butter is when it was extracted and prepared without the use of any preservatives or chemicals.
Shea butter refined has gone through an elimination process that removes the scent that comes from natural sources and to make it more white in the color.
As per The American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI) Shea butter refined has lost about 75 percent of its active ingredients.
Furthermore there is also, the ASBI provides five shea butter grades. Grade A has the most quantity of bioactive nutrients. grade F isn't suitable for human consumption.
This is why people ought to choose unrefined butter, ranging from grades A through D.
