How to keep you shea butter soft and fluffy

Mamaa Shea Butter is handmade by widows in Northern Ghana with traditional methods. It is unrefined, which is the best kind of shea butter, preserving all the good qualities of shea nuts.

If you have ever used shea butter you know that it is very sensitive to temperature changes. It melts when exposed to heat and hardens when exposed to cold temperatures. The best way to store shea butter is normally in temperatures between 18-23 C. We have a special storage room for the shea butter in our basement where during the winter the temperature can get lower than that. Before using the shea we need to bring it to a warmer room temperature where it softens again. Shea butter melts at your body temp, so when you apply it on your skin a small amount will be able to spread out and go a long way!

In our household we use a lot of shea butter. My daughter has very dry skin and putting on creams has always been a daily routine. After we started using shea butter her skin has really improved but clearly needs that extra moisture. Our favorite way to use shea butter is to make whipped shea butter. With it's soft, silky, and airy texture whipped shea butter is simply dreamy on your skin, providing some intense moisturization. But many times the fluffy consistency tends to harden in a couple of days making it harder to apply.

Our solution to keep our whipped shea butter soft and fluffy is to add a little bit of jojoba oil to the whipped shea (less than 10% of the mixture). Some people also use coconut oil for the same effect but we prefer jojoba as it has it's own beneficial effects.

The jojoba plant is a hearty, perennial plant that grows in the desert climates of North America (southern California, Arizona and northwest Mexico). The oil is pressed from the nut.

Jojoba oil has many of the same qualities as shea butter. Pure jojoba oil is used as a remedy for acne, dry skin, and countless other skin conditions. Like shea butter it contains natural forms of vitamin E, which works as an antioxidant and soothes and moisturizes chapped lips and dry skin. It also helps in preventing and healing scars. Similarly to shea butter jojoba oil has antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is typically non-irritating and allergic reaction is rare.

How to make whipped shea with jojoba:

1. Easy method without melting the shea butter: Scoop 1-2 cups of shea butter into a metal or glass bowl. Pour in a tablespoon of the jojoba oil. Beat the ingredients together with an electric mixer on medium high speed for 15 to 20 minutes, until the shea butter has a smooth, whipped texture similar to meringue. Place the whipped shea butter into an airtight container. Store it in a dry place.

If your shea butter is grainy, you need to melt it to get the right consistency.

2. Melting the shea for smooth result: Melt the shea butter using a double boiler (or double boiler set-up). Keep it melted over low heat for at least for 10 minutes.

Pour the melted shea butter into a bowl and place in the freezer or refrigerator. Rapid cooling after heating prevents graininess.

After 20-30 minutes in the freezer/refrigerator, remove the shea butter bowl and use your mixer to whip the shea butter. If it is still too liquidy, return it to the freezer/fridge. Check the shea butter every 15-20 minutes, using your mixer to whip it each time. Once the shea butter has reached a soft-solid consistency, it's time to add in the jojoba oil. The amount of jojoba oil should be approx. 10% or less of the amount of shea butter. Pour it into the whipped shea butter and continue mixing. Mix for approx 10 minutes to achieve a nice, silky-creamy texture. Place the whipped shea butter into an airtight container. Store it in a dry place.

Enjoy your shea!!!

Shea butter is the best moisturizer for dry skin. Whipped shea butter is easy to apply and absorbs quickly!