Got dry hair this winter? Yup, me too. The temperatures are cold right now which means it’s time to protect those strands from the harsh climate and doing it the right way. One important factor to keep in mind when developing your winter regimen is moisture retention. Many don’t understand that sealants like oils, lotions or butters fix dryness but rather keep the moisture that you capture into your hair and skin. While a lot of women opt to seal moisture in with oils, the best sealant to use during the cold winter months is definitely butter.
3 Best Oils for Winter Skin & Hair Care
Butters are thick which allows them to really coat, protect, and remain present on the strand longer than oils. They also offer a variety of vitamins and nutrients to the hair which are important factors when dealing with harsh temperature changes. Here are 5 of the best butters to use during winter to stave off dry hair.
Shea Butter For Dry Hair
The most popular, widely recognizable Shea butter is produced from the Shea-Karite tree in East and West Africa. Not only does this butter work as an excellent sealant for the hair, but it also conditions and softens the hair, as well as protecting against harmful UV rays. Unbeknownst to many, Shea butter can also be used to soothe scalp irritation, which happens more often than not during the winter months.
Mango Butter For Dry Hair
The second most popular butter in the natural hair community is mango butter. Originated from southern Asia, mango butter is extracted from the kernels of the mango and contains very high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. Having very similar qualities and benefits as Shea, mango butter soothes, protects, and seals, in addition to conditioning.
Since mango butter contains higher levels of fatty acids, it aids in conditioning the hair more thoroughly than Shea. Its high levels of vitamins A and C have also been shown to accelerate cell reproduction, which will result in a healthier scalp and promote hair growth.
Kokum Butter
Kokum butter derives from the Kokum fruit of the Garcina Indica tree. Native to the western ghat region of India, Kokum butter looks similar to shea butter, but contains a mild, almost non-existent scent. This butter is rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, citric acid, and essential fatty acids which make it a great butter to soothe dry, itchy scalp.
One of the best things about this oil is the fact that it’s non-comedogenic meaning that it doesn’t clog your pores or hair follicles. The vitamins and nutrients that the butter contains will be able to better be absorbed by the scalp and hair, which will promote healthier hair growth
Murumuru Butter
Native to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this butter is extracted from the seeds of the fruit that grows on the Astrocaryum murumuru tree. This butter pretty much works like any other butter, promoting moisture retention, restores sheen and softness the hair.
Winter Beauty Care – Hands, Elbows & Feet
The only difference is that it works great as a conditioner for hair that is dry, damaged, or brittle. This butter has the ability to permeate the hair follicle, similar to coconut oil, allowing the hair to be moisturized from the inside out.
Ucuuba Butter
Another Brazilian tree butter, Ucuuba butter has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties which is perfect for eczema or any other inflammations that may happen on the scalp. This butter can also help prevent damage from free radicals, “improve shine and elasticity, and keep hair hydrated longer.”
Dry, brittle hair does not have to be your winter hair care story. Try one (or all) of these butters and bring your hair back to life this winter!
Have you tried any of these butter for your dry hair?
Sabrina
Just made a nice whipped butter styling cream using mango butter as the base along with shea & all the good & unique oils ( evoo, coconut, jojoba, black castor, pumpkin seed, black seed, avocado, etc).. My hair is butter soft!I’m liking it so far…
Thanks Sabrina! I am new to the wintery weather coming from the Caribbean so this info is very useful .
Author
I’m so glad I could be of help!