Umuthi Refined Shea Butter

• Shea butter has a limited capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation and can therefore can be used as a mild sunblock lotion (Factor 6)
• It can also be used to treat other skin problems such as; blemishes, eczema, skin allergies, wrinkles, itching, insect bites, and even frostbite
• You can use shea butter to reduce frizziness and get your hair to curl the way you want

• Although unrefined Shea, which is a darker colour, is considered the premium of the two, the refined is easier to use and therefore more popular in DIY cosmetic products.

Shea butter contains various fatty acids which each have a specific temperature range where they melt and solidify. When the butter is melted and heat is unevenly distributed some fatty acids may solidify quicker than others, resulting in a grainy texture. Sometimes these grains take days, weeks or even months to appear. There is nothing wrong with the butter if it is grainy, but most prefer a smooth, buttery texture.

To prevent graininess and grain formation you will need to make sure that heat is evenly distributed during the cool down process. This is best achieved by constantly stirring the melted butter during cool down. Unfortunately simply pouring melted shea butter into jars and leaving to cool at room temperature without evenly distributing the heat will likely result in grains. So rather gently stir your melted butter while it cools for best results.

Hair tip: You can use shea butter to reduce frizziness and get your hair to curl the way you want. Just apply a small amount of shea butter to fingertips—press your fingertips to the butter with moderate pressure to get just enough to feel tacky. Then rub fingertips on unruly hair. You can then restyle with a blow dryer and brush. The heat from the dryer melts the shea butter, the brush spreads it evenly through your hair, and the hair curls the way you style it.