Shea butter is hard in texture, which makes it difficult to moisturize. When you whip the shea butter, it’s easy to apply to the body. The whipped shea butter also enhances the healing and moisturizing abilities of shea butter. This is because of the presence of oil.
There is a heating method to whip shea butter, and another method does not involve heat.
How do you whip shea butter without heating?
This method is called the cold whipping method. The name already implies that no heat is involved in its whipping. It’s something you can do with a hand.
Ingredients and equipment involved:
- Shea butter
- The base oil and Essential oils
- Mixer (hand or electric)
- Glass bowl
- Butter jar
- Spatula
Steps on how to whip shea butter without heating are:
1. Transfer your shea butter in a large glass bowl
Before you whip, it’s advisable your shea butter comes from room temperature. Put ½ to 1 cup of shea butter in a bowl. It may be hard to get out of the jar, but you can use a knife or fork to assist in removing the shea butter.
Ensure that the bowl you are to use is big enough to contain your mixer.
2. Add a base oil
Base oil like coconut oil can be added to the shea butter in a bowl. 2 spoonfuls of coconut oil is enough. The coconut oil serves to exfoliate the skin, by shedding off dead skin cells. It also adds to the natural glow of the shea butter.
You can use a spoon to break the shea butter into smaller pieces. This allows the mixer to be easy to use.
3. Use a mixer
Use a hand or electric mixer to mix the combination of shea butter and coconut oil. You want to pause at intervals when mixing with a hand mixer to avoid much stress on your hand. An electric mixer is a lot easier to use.
Keep mixing for up to 5 minutes. At this point, you would have noticed the softness and fluffiness in the shea butter.
4. Add essential oils
Add essential oils to your shea butter if you want the extra benefits they come with. Such oils can be lavender oil, tea tree oil, olive oil, vitamin E oil, and others. These oils provide hydration to your skin.
You will still mix with a mixer for 2 minutes. By now, your mixture should be looking smooth and fluffy. Ensure that no lump is there.
5. Transfer into the jar
With the aid of a spatula, transfer into the glass jar for proper storage. The shea butter cannot be put in a bottle, as it can be difficult to get because of the consistency.
6. Storage
Your whipped shea butter should be stored in a dry cool place. Make sure to cover the jar properly. Storing this in a refrigerator can make your shea butter grainy. However, the grain will disappear with melting.
Whipping is done to achieve consistency.
