Please Pass the Butter…….Hair Butter that Is!

At a time when it seems that everyone is looking for “greener” hair products, natural hair butters can offer a myriad of remedies for even the driest, most damaged hair. While there are many reputable companies selling natural butter products, with a little time and knowledge you can customize your own natural butter blend. This article, the first in a two part series, will share some of the most common butters used and their benefits to your hair. Additionally, we’ll give you a head start by including a few quick and easy recipes you can do right at home.
Now, let’s talk butters. Natural butters are an ideal addition to any hair regimen. Whether used as a pre-shampoo treatment, dry scalp treatment, or natural hair conditioner, natural butters can help you grow and retain thick, lustrous tresses. Some of the most common butters used in hair care are shea, cocoa, mango. No matter which one you choose, each of these butters brings its own powerful punch to the hair care arsenal.
Shea Butter - Shea butter is extracted by cold pressing the nut of the Karite Tree. Shea Butter will add and maintain moisture to dry and brittle hair, revitalize, repair, prevent breakage and split ends and promote hair growth. It is also highly effective in protecting the hair from damage due to sun, excessive heat, relaxers/perms and dyes.
It can be used as a hot oil or post styling conditioner to maintain hair's natural shine, improve manageability. Additionally, because of its water resistance, it is ideal for use before swimming to protect the hair against the damaging effects of chlorinated or salt water.
Cocoa Butter – Cocoa butter is expressed hydraulically from the cocoa bean. Like its sibling, shea butter, cocoa butter provides excellent moisturizing properties. However, many believe that shea butter is the more premium of the two butters because of its higher percentage of healing properties.
Mango Butter – Mango butter is a good source of essential fatty acids. In hair care, we know that essential fatty acids (EFA) are as vital to our hair as they are to our body. EFA’s help to naturally correct problems such as thin, lackluster hair, dry scalp and hair strands, and brittle and breaking hair more effectively than any commercial hair product. While adding EFA’s through diet is ideal, supplements and external applications can also offer noticeable results. Mango butter is especially suitable for hydrating, conditioning and softening coily, afro hair.
Finding the right natural butter for your hair is just like finding the right hair care products – trial and error. Start by ordering small samples, and try applying them differently each time (deep conditioner addition, pre-treatment, scalp treatment, on dry/damp/wet hair) to see which way yields optimal results. As each of these delicious butters is chocked full of healthy hair goodies, any choice would certainly be good.