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​When I was first introduced to shea butter by a friend, it was presented to me as the "and all be all" hair care product right up there with coconut oil. I've been using it on my hair lately and it has inspired me to  write about it. A few questions came to mind: What is shea butter? Where does it come from? How can it be used?

After some extensive research, I found that shea butter is defined as a fatty substance obtained from the nuts of the shea tree, used chiefly in cosmetic skin preparations. Shea trees are found in East and West tropical Africa. The shea butter comes from two oily kernels within the shea tree seed. After the kernel is removed from the seed, it is ground into a powder and boiled in water. The butter then rises to the top of the water and becomes solid.

According to WebMD, shea butter can be used for just about anything skin related from eczema to acne. So, how did shea butter become a go to hair care product? Our scalp is skin that needs to be nourished too. A healthy scalp can produce beautiful kinky, coily, and curly hair.

Before I began using shea butter, I looked for content on how I could best use it for my own hair. To remedy my dry hair woes, I use shea butter as my cream in my L.O.C. (liquid, oil, cream) method. I personally like to cut out extra steps when doing my hair, so I mix my oils with the butter. The butter act as a carrier for the oils. Shea butter helps to lock the oils deeper into my hair and roots. I've really been loving the results; my hair stays moisturized longer, feels soft and looks healthy.

Have you used shea butter in your hair care regimen? What were/are your results? ​
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​​Ria's Beauty Collection is a local brand of whipped shea butter here in my hometown! Check them out on Amazon Handmade for their handcrafted products. 

Cierra - AKA Accessory Diva

In 2014, the Accented Glory Naturals Facebook group hosted a healthy scalp challenge. Healthy scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. Like a vegetable garden needs good soil to produce good crops; a healthy scalp yields healthy hair.
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Properly caring for your scalp can also be beneficial for your overall health. Scalp care is relaxing and relieves tension. Check out 4 questions at Dear Curl Friend that we answered for our Facebook group members from the challenge!