The magic of whipped!

Hey guys! So we all know how wonderful pure Shea butter can be for hair and skin. But sometimes, working with it can be a bit difficult, depending on the texture and consistency of the batch you get. Especially when it comes to putting it my hair, sometimes Shea butter can be a bit sticky. So as I was reading about some products online, it occurred to me... why don't you just whip it! I just bought some Shea butter last week but I have only used it as a skin moisturizer, avoiding the task of having to emulsify each little bit to smooth it into my hair. I like the after effect of Shea-buttered strands but the actual application process leaves something to be desired. So......I grabbed my Shea from under the bathroom counter and proceeded to my kitchen cabinet to see what I had on hand to mix with. I didn't have a recipe to go by, I just decided to wing it! I saw that I have some extra virgin olive oil so I went with that. This is what I did:

1. Put all the Shea butter chunks into a bowl.
2. Mix slowly with the hand mixer to create a thick "paste".
3. Slowly add a little water and mix with the hand mixer on medium.
4. Slowly add olive oil and continue to mix with hand mixer on medium.
5. Whip the butter until a fluffy "cake batter" consistency is reached.

Ok, so let me make a disclaimer and say that I did not measure anything. I have no idea how much I added of water/oil, but I would guestimate between 1/8 and 1/4 of a cup. I went searching after the fact for Shea butter recipies and there are many out there. I found this one company on you tube that shows step-by-step how to make a version of whipped Shea butter (see video below!).

I was excited by the soft texture of the butter so I ran to the bathroom to apply to my hair. Well, my hair loves the stuff, as it did when it was just plain old Shea. But this time, I could massage it directly into my hair without all the struggle! It wasn't heavy or sticky and was absorbed almost immediately. My strands feel moist and happy!

When I do it again, I plan to eliminate the water and add some essential oils for scent, maybe somethig vanilla-ish. I might also go with jojoba oil and grapeseed oil instead of olive. There are many versions of whipped butters on the market, especially within the natural hair market, but I figure why buy when you can make your own! So, give it a try, let me know how it goes for you. I plan to keep playing with my recipe until I find something I love for both hair and body. Happy whipping!