Shea Butter for Hair: Uses, Benefits, Hair Conditioner Recipes

updated 2k Views

Many people have thick, wavy, difficult-to-manage hair. This means spending a lot of money on hair care products, with a lot of time spent in the morning getting ready. Besides conditioner, most people use some form of spray-on conditioner. Wouldn’t it be great to have to use only one product each day? Using shea butter for hair can make it silkier and more manageable, decreasing the time it takes to work out mats and hair tangles.

Shea butter is a naturally derived product that is made from the nuts of the shea karite tree. This is a tree that mostly grows in eastern and western Africa. Shea butter is mostly used in hair care and cosmetics. It smells pleasant, and it has moisturizing properties that aren’t overly greasy or difficult to wash out, should you get some on your face or hands.

There are also many other benefits of using shea butter for beauty and health regimens.

Why Should You Choose Shea Butter for Your Hair?

Using shea butter for your hair has many benefits. Not only is a bottle or container of shea butter inexpensive, but one jar can last you for several weeks as you only need to use a minimal amount after each hair wash.

Shea butter normally has a light nutty smell to it. As the container gets older, it will lose most of its smell, but will still be good to use. Many people who have allergies to fragrances and scents that are added to store-bought hair conditioners will appreciate how they’ll be able to breathe easier with the natural light smell of shea butter.

Besides cost and scent, shea butter also has some exemplary moisturizing properties that many call “mother nature’s conditioner”. Shea butter has been used for decades by the people of Africa, as many have thick, wiry hair that needs some extra moisture.

Shea butter can also help to provide moisture to a dry scalp, treat dandruff, and provide moisture on dry hair that has been relaxed, colored, or heat-treated. Most likely once you begin using shea butter on your hair and skin, you’ll soon find many other uses for it.

How to Use Shea Butter for Hair?

Using shea butter for your hair is extremely simple. Since it comes in a solid form, it will need to be melted first. You can melt it in a double boiler over boiling water, or you can melt it for a few seconds in the microwave. Let it cool to a reasonable temperature before touching it with your fingers.

You can then apply a small amount of the shea butter onto your scalp over your hair and rub it in with a circular motion. Apply only droplets at a time, as you don’t want to weigh your hair down. You can avoid the scalp region and just do your hair if you do not suffer from dry scalp or dandruff.

Shea Butter Hair Conditioner Recipes

Shea butter can also be mixed with other natural ingredients to make your own hair conditioner. You can make enough for the week so you can save time each morning. Many people have preferences as to what they’d like their conditioner to smell like.

These are two shea butter hair conditioner recipes to make. One contains floral scents and the other contains citrus scents, so you can pick your favorite to make.

1. Shea Butter Conditioner Ingredients List 1

This is a simple recipe that only contains four ingredients. Buy the following four ingredients and collect together the tools needed to make your conditioner.

  • 4 tablespoons of raw shea butter
  • 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil
  • 5 drops of lavender essential oil
  • 3 tablespoons of rose water
  • Small glass or ramekin
  • Large glass bowl
  • Spoon
  • Hand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • Mason jar with screw-on lid.

Simple Method to Make Shea Conditioner Recipe

Use the following simple method to make your shea butter hair conditioner.

  1. Place the shea butter and coconut oil in a small glass bowl or ramekin.
  2. Place it in a pot with some water.
  3. Don’t allow the water to reach more than 1/2 way up the side of the bowl.
  4. Turn on your stove to medium heat or flame.
  5. Leave on only until your butter and oil have melted, then turn off the heat.
  6. Use your spoon to ensure that the mixture has completely liquified.
  7. Let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes.
  8. Add the lavender oil and the rose water.
  9. Mix it all with a spoon.
  10. Pour the mixture into a larger mixing bowl.
  11. Let cool for about ten minutes.
  12. Use the hand or electric mixer to beat the mixture until it’s white and creamy.
  13. Scoop it into a glass jar.
  14. It’s now ready to use in the morning on your hair.

How to Apply DIY Shea Butter Hair Conditioner

Use the following steps to apply the hair conditioner to your hair in the morning.

  1. Wash your hair normally.
  2. Apply a teaspoon of the homemade conditioner to your hair.
  3. Apply to the scalp only if it’s not oily.
  4. Rub in circular motions.
  5. Rinse hair out.
  6. Dry hair normally.
  7. If the ends still seem dry, apply a tiny amount of conditioner to your hair and leave it in.

2. Shea Butter Conditioner Ingredients List 2

This shea butter recipe only contains five ingredients. Gather everything together and place it on your kitchen counter.

  • 4 tablespoons of raw shea butter
  • 1 tablespoon of argan oil
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of raw honey
  • 7 drops of orange, grapefruit, or lemon essential oil
  • Small glass or ramekin
  • Large glass bowl
  • Spoon
  • Hand mixer/electric hand mixer
  • Mason jar with screw-on lid

Method to Make Shea Conditioner Recipe

Do these steps to make your shea hair conditioner recipe.

  1. Place the shea butter and coconut oil in a small glass bowl or ramekin.
  2. Place the small bowl in a pot with some water.
  3. Alternatively, you can melt it in the microwave.
  4. Don’t allow the water to reach more than 1/2 way up the side of the bowl.
  5. Turn on your stove to medium heat to melt the mixture.
  6. Leave on only until your butter and oil have melted together, then turn off the heat.
  7. Use your spoon to ensure that the mixture has completely liquified.
  8. Let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes.
  9. Add in the honey, argan oil, and your choice of essential oils: orange, lemon, or grapefruit.
  10. Mix it all together with the spoon.
  11. Pour the mixture into a larger mixing bowl.
  12. Let it cool for about ten minutes.
  13. Use your hand or electric mixer to beat the mixture until it’s white and fluffy.
  14. Scoop your DIY hair conditioner into the mason jar and screw the lid on.
  15. It’s now ready to be used as a hair conditioner.

How to Apply DIY Shea Butter Hair Conditioner

The technique will be the same as the first recipe for applying the shea butter conditioner to your hair. This conditioner will make your hair’s curls much softer and will make it easier to detangle hair.

  1. Wash your hair as you do normally in the morning or at bedtime.
  2. Use your hands to apply a teaspoon of homemade conditioner to your hair.
  3. Apply to the scalp only if it’s not oily.
  4. You can use it if you have dandruff.
  5. Rub in circular motions on the scalp and curls.
  6. Rinse your hair.
  7. Dry your hair normally.
  8. If the ends still seem dry, apply a small amount of conditioner to your hair and leave it in all day long.

Other Benefits & Uses of Shea Butter

Shea butter also has some other great uses for your beauty or health routines.

  • Apply it on dry flaky patches of skin.
  • Use it to relieve itchy burning skin.
  • Apply it on burns and sunburns to reduce scarring.
  • Use it to get rid of surgical scars.
  • Use it to heal up stretch marks after pregnancy.
  • Use shea butter to soften skin that is suffering from dermatitis.
  • Apply it to your face at bedtime for additional moisture, and to prevent wrinkles.
  • Apply it on skin rashes first, before resorting to cortisol or antibiotic ointments that shouldn’t be overused.
  • Apply it to blemishes and acne-prone skin.
  • Use it as a nightly moisturizer to prevent wrinkles.
  • Use it to soften callouses or corns.
  • Use it as a balm to massage sore, tired muscles.
  • Apply to skin that has been exposed to poison ivy or poison oak.
  • Use it as a skin lotion for when you spend a lot of time with your hands in the garden or kitchen.
  • Use it as a safe hand cream around dogs, cats, or babies.

Shea butter is a great way to provide natural moisture to soften crinkly dry hair. It’s also great for when you have allergies, as you can make your own shea butter conditioner recipes, with ingredients that are safe for your skin. You’ll find that one container of shea butter will last a long time, and can be used for both hair and skin conditions.