Whipped Hair Butter Recipes Galore!

Homemade whipped hair butters. Natural. Easy to make. Inexpensive compared to those sold in natural hair shops. More effective than commercial, chemical-based moisturizers and sealants. Delicious for the hair. Did I mention easy to make? Below are links to recipes I've found online. There are endless others you can find on the web. Put on your apron, grab your utensils, and get to mixing:

Shealoe (popular recipe) - shea butter, aloe vera, etc.: Recipe

Cocoa butter, shea butter, etc.: Recipe

Mango butter, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, coconut oil, aloe, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, grapeseed oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, conditioner, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, olive oil, etc.: Recipe

Low porosity shea/mango mix: Recipe

Shea butter, castor oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, mango butter, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, coconut oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, jojoba oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, sweet almond oil, etc.: Recipe




OTHER READS:
LIST OF BUTTERS & THEIR PROPERTIES

LIST OF VEGETABLE OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES
LIST OF ESSENTIAL OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES

Retaining the Hair You Grow: Chapter 7

The ends of our hair are the oldest, and thus, have experienced the most wear and tear. While on shorter hair, the ends may only be a few months to a year old, on longer hair they can be a few to several years old. Imagine how much weathering long hair can suffer in that time frame! Because retaining length is about preserving the health of the ends, it may be beneficial, especially on longer or even damaged hair, to perform a pre-wash treatment, or pre-poo for protection.

What is a pre-poo?
In short, a pre-poo is a conditioning treatment performed prior to washing. A pre-poo can serve the purpose of moisturizing the strands so as to lessen the drying effects of the shampoo process. A pre-poo can also serve the purpose of strengthening the hair such that breakage and wear caused by the washing process are minimized. For more benefits and purposes of pre-pooing, see the links in the "MORE READS" section.

What can you use to pre-poo?
Pre-poos can range from oils to conditioners to other substances depending on the purpose of the treatment. Some examples of moisturizing pre-poos include olive oil, avocado oil, shea butter, or a cholesterol conditioner. Some examples of strengthening pre-poos include egg, coconut oil, or a protein conditioner. Each of these ingredients can also be combined to formulate a mixed pre-poo. For other examples, check out the links below.

MORE READS:
MORE ON PRE-POO #1
MORE ON PRE-POO #2
COCONUT OIL & PRE-POO

Reader's Question: More on Moisture ... Dry Ends

Post inspired by a reader! Thank you for your questions. Answer to Part 2 coming soon.

What causes these dry ends?

Sebum is the hair and scalp's natural conditioner. In straight hair, this oily substance can generally move down the shaft to the ends fairly easily because of the direct path. The hair's close proximity to the scalp as well as continual brushing and combing also aid in the transport process. As for textured hair? That is another story.

The coilier your hair, the harder it is for sebum to travel down to the ends. Here's my analogy: Imagine oil running along a straight road versus a path full of turns and twists. In the latter case, the oil may slow down or even get caught at each curve. By the time it reaches its destination, only a fraction of the oil will remain. There is also the possibility that it may never reach its destination. This process is basically what curly, coily, and kinky hairs experience. Additionally, factor in a minimal brushing/combing routine and the reality that some natural hair works against gravity (i.e., stands up and out away from the scalp). We ultimately have a case in which sebum just barely reaches the ends of our hair, if at all.

Now the explanation above is just one of many causes of dry ends. Other reasons are listed in this post on moisture and length retention.

How do you stop dry ends (due to inadequate sebum)?
Since sebum may barely, if at all, reach the ends of textured hair, it is necessary to quench and condition those ends. Here are some methods that work for me and may hopefully work for others:

*Discard harsh regular shampoos
Shampoos with SLS and other strong ingredients strip my hair (including my ends) of their natural oils. The shampoo I use on a regular basis contains more gentle substances. Other options to explore are conditioner washing or using homemade natural cleansers instead of a shampoo. Some people also do a treatment with oil at a warm or room temperature prior to washing to minimize sebum loss from their strands. (Click here for hot oil treatments.)

*Lather once when you shampoo
Minimal lathering equals minimal loss of whatever sebum is on my ends.

*No direct shampoo on the ends
I rarely expose my ends to direct shampoo. I just focus on the scalp and let the water and lather run down the rest of my hair.

*Saturate the ends with moisture and conditioner
Pay the most attention to your ends while conditioning and moisturizing.

*Invest in good products
Each individual head of hair is different, but this post may be a place to start in terms of what sealants, moisturizers, and conditioners to try.

*Eat foods containing omega-3 and vitamin A
Few people realize that foods, such as salmon, cantaloupe, and flaxseeds contribute to sebum production. For the omega-3 post, click here. For the vitamin A post, click here.

*Airdry the hair in a protective style
Protective styling isn't reserved for the protection of the ends. It has the added benefit, in my case, of helping my ends absorb and retain moisture post a washing session.

*Sleep with a silk scarf/pillowcase
The same added benefit applies here too.

How do you stop dry ends (due to porosity)?

I believe that another major contributor to dry ends in black hair is high porosity. What causes high porosity? Well, a number of things including gradual wear and tear of the hair. I really encourage anyone who believes they might have this issue to read this extremely informative article: Part 1 . For solutions to the porosity issues, do check out Part 2 as well: Part 2 .


SOURCES & MORE READS:
SEBUM
SEBUM & TEXTURED HAIR 1
SEBUM & TEXTURED HAIR 2: Randy Schueller, Perry Romanowski. "Conditioning agents for hair and skin".
SEALING (OILS & MOISTURE RETENTION)

Basic Regimen & Products for HEALTHY Natural Hair

Post inspired by a reader. Thank you for your questions, and I hope this can answer some of them.

Part of perfecting a regimen is learning what your hair likes and dislikes. But before you reach that point ... before you come to know your hair, where do you begin?

One and half years ago, I went natural and had the same question. My years of using a relaxer could not prepare me for what was about to come. My chemically straightened hair was accustomed to products that my newly natural hair now despised. My hair care regimen also had to radically change. I went through a year of trial and error before I finally "figured it out". During that process, I determined the following basics which I hope can be a good start for newbie naturals. In time, as you learn your hair, you can tweak the "basics":


*CLEANSE THE HAIR WEEKLY
A clean scalp is vital for healthy growth. Cleansing the hair is also a product of good hygiene. Start by washing your hair 1x a week and tweak it from there. In between washes, does your scalp or hair feel extra dirty? If so, increase the frequency of your washes. If your hair is 5 inches or longer, I highly recommend washing in braided sections.
Choosing a shampoo: It is important to invest in a weekly shampoo that lacks Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which are surfactants that may be too harsh for the hair and scalp. I generally gravitate towards shampoos containing gentler cleansing agents to be on the safe side.
Product recommendations: Giovanni Tea Tree, Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Shampoo, Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bar, Desert Essence Shampoos

*DEEP CONDITION AFTER EACH WASH
Whether you wash 1x a week or 3x a week, follow it up with a deep conditioning session. Why? Because each wash rinses away the benefits of the previous the deep conditioning session. Deep conditioners are important because they temporarily bind to (and sometimes penetrate into) the hair protecting and/or smoothing the strand until the next wash. Undo each braid, apply the conditioner, and rebraid. Put on a shower cap and be sure to allow the conditioner to sit for at least 20 minutes before rinsing.
Choosing a deep conditioner: Look for one that contains moisturizing ingredients, such oils (e.g., olive, coconut), fatty alcohols (e.g., cetyl alcohol) and humectants (e.g., glycerin).  The particular ingredient depends on what your hair likes.  I also recommend finding a deep conditioner that has 'slip' and weight, both of which ease the detangling process. Deep conditioners like this usually contain heavy oils and fatty alcohols, like listed above.
Product recommendations for moisture & slip: Suave Coconut conditioner (mixed with olive/coconut oil); Aubrey Organics HoneySuckle Rose conditioner
Product recommendations for moisture, slip, & weight: Lekair/LustraSilk Cholesterol (add olive oil for more moisture); Avocado detangling conditioner (recipe here)

*DETANGLE WITH EACH DEEP CONDITION
Our curls, coils, and kinks like to tangle upon themselves, so detangling regularly is a necessity for many naturals. If you have thick strands, I highly recommend detangling conditioner-soaked hair and with a wide tooth comb. Take down a braided section, detangle, and rebraid the section. Then rinse out the conditioner.  However, if you have fine strands, you may fair better with finger detangling on dry, lubricated hair.

*SEAL AFTER EACH WASH & MOISTURIZE AS NEEDED
Water is the best moisturizer out there for natural hair. After a good wash and deep conditioning session, you can follow up with an oil or butter to seal in the water. In between washes, if your hair gets dry, you can apply a bit of water or do a full-on rinse and then re-seal. Another option is using a water-based spritz.
Choosing a moisturizer: Go straight for the water or look for water-based moisturizers (where water will be the first ingredient listed).
Product recommendations: Water, Homemade spritz of rosewater and glycerin (a humectant), Kinky Curly Curling Custard
Choosing a sealant: Look for products that contain oils and/or butters.
Product recommendations: Homemade whipped butter (recipes here), grapeseed oil, olive oil, avocado oil, castor oil, Jane Carter Nourish & Shine

TWIST OR BRAID YOUR HAIR & VOILA!
Wear the twists/braids (great protective style!) until your next wash or unleash for a twistout. (See twistout instructions here.) Be sure to wear a silk scarf to bed or use a silk pillow case to protect your cuticles as you sleep. Other styles for natural hair - protective and low manipulation - can be found here.

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Extra steps you may want to include in your regimen:

*CO-WASH IF NEEDED:
If you find that frequent shampooing is drying to your hair, you may want to explore using a conditioner to wash. Just wet your hair, apply conditioner, and massage your scalp and hair as usual. After rinsing the conditioner out, seal and style.
Choosing a conditioner: Look for a non-heavy inexpensive conditioner. Heavy conditioners will build up on the hair too quickly.  Avoid protein-based and silicone-based conditioners when it comes to co-washing.
Product recommendations: Suave Coconut Conditioner, V05 Champagne Kisses, V05 Honeydew Smoothie, V05 Passionfruit Smoothie, V05 Blackberry Sage Tea

*PRE-POO IF NEEDED:

For more on prepooing, check this post.

*CLARIFY IF NEEDED:
If you find that regular shampooing does not adequately remove product buildup from your hair, you may want to explore clarifying. Start with doing this once a month and then adjust as needed.
Product recommendations: V05 Kiwi Clarifying Shampoo; Baking Soda and water mix followed by Apple Cider Vinegar rinse

**INTERNAL HEALTH:
If your internal health is not on point, work on it. Drink sufficient water, get plenty of rest, exercise, and include the hair foods (click here) in your diet! Internal health as just as crucial to hair care as external care.

Buh-Buh-Banana ... Deep Conditioners

Do you have a stash of bananas that are too ripe to eat? Don't throw them away just yet. The following recipes are for deep conditioners you can make at home with a banana. Some require just two additional ingredients. Others are a little more elaborate. Either way, that overripe banana can be used to moisturize your hair with a little kitchen magic. One note: Be sure to blend or mash the banana really well so you don't get bits stuck in your hair. Another option is to remove banana bits with a sieve. Enjoy and go green!

BANANA DEEP CONDITIONER
1 mashed banana
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1/2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
**Mix ingredients together, apply to dry hair and leave on for 30 minutes.
Source: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/deep-conditioners

NOURISHING TROPICAL CONDITIONER
1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 cup coconut milk
**Mash avocado and banana and slowly pour in coconut milk until you get the right consistency. Now apply liberally on your hair and rinse off after 15 minutes. (According to the source, this conditioner may be applied to dry hair or damp hair after shampooing.)
Source: http://leonsbeautytipsandsecrets.com/banana-avocado

CARAMEL TREATMENT
honey - 6 tablespoons
olive oil - 6 tablespoons
bananas - 2-3 overripe and very soft
molasses (Treacle) - 3 tablespoons
water - 4-6 tablespoons
apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon
cornstarch - 1-2 tablespoons
wheat germ oil - 1 teaspoon
**For complete instructions (with a good explanation of ingredients), check out: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1230751/

DEEP CONDITIONER FOR CURLY HAIR
1/2 cup honey
1 banana
2 teaspoons jojoba oil
**Mash banana with honey and jojoba oil. Mix until well blended then smooth onto your hair. For best results, wrap your hair in a warm towel and leave on for 20 minutes.
Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_4853688_deep-conditioner-curly-hair.html

FRUIT SALAD DEEP CONDITIONER
1/2 a banana
1/4 avocado
1/4 cantaloupe
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon yogurt
**Blend all ingredients. Apply to hair. For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule. Leave in hair for 15 minutes. Then rinse.
Source: http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35822

YOGURT BANANA HAIR MASK
Youtube video

Hot Oil to Substitute Sebum?

Each follicle contains a sebaceous gland that produces an oily substance called sebum. Sebum helps to remove dead skin cells, lubricate the scalp, and condition the hair. The curlier the hair, the harder it is for this substance to reach the ends of the strands thus leading to dry hair. Can hot oil treatments be the answer? Well, many of us with coilier strands find sufficient moisture in the topical application of a butter or glycerin. However, it couldn't hurt to give a hot oil treatment a try. Below are some recipes OR you can experiment with your own favorite oils. If you are pregnant or have a disorder, please consult your doctor before using essential oils:

In a few weeks, I will give a review of one of the treatments as well.

RECIPE #1: ROSEMARY HOT OIL TREATMENT
Rosemary oil is thought to help fight dry scalp, dandruff, and alopecia.

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves
* 1/2 cup olive oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then heat up until warm. Strain. Coat the entire scalp and ends of hair with the oil mixture. Wrap hair in saran wrap and a towel over that, leave on for 15 minutes. Wash hair twice to remove the oil. Use this treament twice a month or when your needs a deep conditioning. Leaves your hair shiny and rehydrated.

Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hotoiltreat.html
VIDEO TUTORIAL (using soybean oil)

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RECIPE #2: HOT OIL CONDITIONER
Olive oil contains antioxidants and is loaded with fatty acids. Some consider it a great moisturizer.

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm on low heat. Massage mixture into the scalp and hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

Source: http://styles101.homestead.com/nathairrec.html#anchor_35838

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RECIPE #3: CASTOR-SOYBEAN HOT OIL TREATMENT
Castor oil is an emollient and humectant. Soybean oil and castor oil are loaded with fatty acids.

Ingredients:
* 1 teaspoon soybean oil
* 2 teaspoons castor oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm on low heat. Massage mixture into the scalp and hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

Source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/hotoiltreat.html

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RECIPE #4: JOJOBA HOT OIL TREATMENT
Jojoba oil is said to be similar to our own sebum and collagen. It is also a humectant and feels non-greasy compared to other oils.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons jojoba oil
1 teaspoon soybean oil

Directions:
Combine ingredients then warm gently on low heat. Test temperature on inside of forearm. Massage mixture into hair.Wrap hair in a hot towel or cover with shower cap or plastic wrap for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out. Reciped may be doubled for very long hair.

Source: http://www.longlocks.com/hair-care-recipes-cookbook.htm#cond3

FOR MORE RECIPES, click the following:
Lavender Rosemary Oil Treatment
Hot Oil Treatment for Damaged Hair
Super Deep Hot Oil Conditioner
Hair Regrowth Hot Oil Conditioner
Coconut Honey Deep Conditioner

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Other sources:
ESSENTIAL OILS DESCRIPTION #1
ESSENTIAL OILS DESCRIPTION #2
CARRIER OILS DESCRIPTION
SEBUM
SEBUM & KINKY HAIR