Ingredients
raw shea and/or mango butter
extra virgin coconut oil
avocado and/or grapeseed oil
vitamin E
flax seed oil
soy lecithin
Ratio
To avoid a runny mess use a 2:3 ratio
of liquid oils to solid butters. 2 tablespoons (combined) avocado, grapeseed oil, vitamin E, flax seed oil, and soy
lecithin with 3 tablespoons (combined) shea butter and mango butter.
This fits a 4 ounce container and lasts up to 2
months (for me).
Mixing
Here are the different methods I've used for mixing:
- Lazy Method -
Melting and mixing all ingredients together, then allowing to solidify.
This method is my least favorite because the shea and mango butters get
grainy as they cool down, creating a lumpy mixture. It can take over an
hour for the butters to solidify at room temperature, about 20 minutes
in the freezer. You have to keep watching the mixture otherwise you end
up with something like a chocolate bar when its cold.
- Thorough Method
- Whipping the shea and mango butter at room temperature then adding in
other ingredients a little at a time. I like this method a lot, but as I
don't have an electric hand mixer it is very tiresome. With an electric
mixer you can whip the butter in 3 minutes. Whipping by hand can take
up to 10 minutes depending on how soft your butters are.
- Compromising Method
- Partially melting the shea and mango butters then whipping in the
other ingredients a bit at a time as it cools works best for me without
an electric mixer. I speed up the cooling process by placing the mixture
in the freezer in 5 minute increments. All of the ingredients blend
smoothly and I achieve the creamy lotion texture I'm looking for. This
usually takes me about 20-30 minutes, but I do this while deep
conditioning and making my other products, so the time is not wasted on
just waiting.
Kick @$$ Qualities
- Shea and mango butters are excellent deep
conditioners; are loaded with vitamins that protect the hair from heat
and sun damage; make a great base because of their firm textures at room
temperature and interminable shelf life.
-
Extra virgin coconut oil easily penetrates the hair shaft making it an
excellent deep conditioner. It also adds a subtle but delicious scent!
- Avocado has an extremely high smoke point around 500º, providing excellent protection for
your strands when heat styling. Avocado oil is also loaded in essential
nutrients like proteins, vitamins A, D, E and B6, magnesium, copper,
iron, amino acids and folic acid.
- Grapeseed oil has an extremely high smoke point around 480º, providing excellent protection for
your strands when heat styling. is very light, making it an excellent carrier oil for diluting heavier and more potent oils. It helps prevent dandruff, won't cause buildup and is easily absorbed by hair strands for deep conditioning benefits.
- Vitamin E (in my unprofessional opinion) works best for sunscreen protection when applied topically. The other benefits are best achieved when ingested, by eating foods that are rich in vitamin E or taking supplements. It is a very thick viscous liquid, so I'm sure it has some (however little) emollient properties.
-
Flax seed oil contains all of the vital omega-3 fatty acids, which add
sheen and luster. It also increases circulation in the scalp to
stimulate hair growth.
- Soy lecithin contains inositol which is rumored to be critical in hair growth (I haven't read any certified studies).
In the heat protectant it is an emulsifier, adding slip that remains
even after blow drying. My hair is chronically dry, so I like the light
non-greasy coating it leaves. I don't have to reapply any product for
3-4 days. Use sparingly because too much would definitely cause build
up.
Give it a try and let us know how it works for you. What other natural items provide heat protection?
