By Isake Tom

For many of us we can probably remember a time when ‘plain ole’ shea butter was the moisturizing product of choice. However, with the wide range of natural skin care products on the market today, shea butter-the real deal is so often overlooked as the go to product in organic skin care.

Providing an excellent source of moisture for the skin, shea butter has been used for centuries on the African continent. Today the butter is still considered an integral part of the African woman’s beauty/skin care regimen, praised for its ability to heal minor cuts and scrapes, and its prevention of dark spots. Unfortunately, for many of us in the African diaspora, it’s been ages since we’ve incorporated shea butter into our daily beauty routines. That being said, it may be time to get ‘back to the basics’ of natural skin care. Shea butter is the answer, serving as a viable hair product as well.

Shea butter originates from the Karite Nut tree, commonly found in the savannahs of Western and Central Africa. The butter is carefully extracted from the nuts of this tree after an intense session of drying, grounding and  boiling. Appearance, smell and quality of the butter depend on the extraction process and the origin of the nuts.

Best in its unrefined state, shea butter is said to provide relief for common ailments such as dry skin, sunburn, hyperpigmentation, and minor skin irritations such as eczema and psoriasis. In terms of hair care, using shea butter on natural or chemically processed hair provides nourishment for the scalp preventing dryness and brittleness, ultimately restoring shine and luster to the hair.

So the next time you’re faced with the daunting task of deciding which commercial product to buy, remember shea butter and I guarantee your pockets will be happier in the long run.