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Much like our skin, moisturising is a vital step in achieving healthy hair. With more delicate hair types, such as 3C to 4C coils, a routine that’s backed with protective moisturising sealants is pivotal. Skimping on this step can catalyse all kinds of hair woes, with the most distressing being breakage. For tightly coiled textures, decadent emollients like hair butters are the most effective in safeguarding strands from dryness-induced damage. But how do these differ from hair cream formulations?
What you need to know about hair butters and oils
The most obvious difference between butters and creams is in their texture and ingredients. The former tends to be much thinner and water-based, while the latter is recognisably denser, consisting of organic oils and butters to seal moisture in the hair. Butters are also known to protect manes from environmental and physical stressors like harsh weather and friction. Below are some star ingredients to keep in mind for your next bathroom cabinet restock.
Shea Butter
Rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin A and E, shea butter offers emollient, healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits. Vouched for its ability to stimulate growth and shield hair from sun and heat damage, shea butter is considered a holy grail ingredient for a dry scalp and locks.
Cocoa Butter
Due to its softening and repairing properties, coconut butter is an amazing emollient for dry, thin, and lacklustre hair. Not only does it nourish and add shine, but it also heals hair cuticles from deep within, creating a prime scalp environment for healthy hair growth. It helps boost volume and strengthens the roots to prevent hair loss.
Mango Butter
High in vitamin A and E, mango butter possesses incredible regenerative properties. It fortifies the scalp, accelerating cellular renewal to help lessen breakage and promote healthy hair growth with stronger strands.
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Hair lovers swear by this miracle ingredient to repair breakage, split ends, and improve overall hair strength. The oil delivers a rich dose of nutrients that moisturise and treat a variety of hair dilemmas, such as dandruff and an inflamed scalp.
Jojoba Oil
Enriched with an abundance of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, B, E, copper, and zinc, jojoba is a standout remedy that improves hair thickness while working wonders for dandruff and an itchy scalp.
Coconut Oil
Another natural hair care staple, this star ingredient will perk up scalp and hair health. From dryness and breakage to a flaky scalp and split ends, this multipurpose oil has it all for hair-renewing benefits.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed delivers a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids, and these are known to soothe inflammation, stimulate circulation, and feed hair follicles with required nutrients for flourishing hair.
What to Shop: The Best Butters For Natural Hair
1. Carol’s Daughter Coco Creme Coil Enhancing Moisture
Miracle Moisturisers: Coconut oil, mango, and shea butters.
Best for dryness and definition.
Formulated specifically for extremely dry, curly and coily hair, this decadent whipped butter will enhance your coils post-wash— leaving them fluffy, shiny, and perfectly defined. It gets two thumbs up for its supple finish and heavenly scent.
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2. Camille Rose Curlaide Moisture Butter Green Tea & Jojoba
Miracle Moisturisers: Jojoba and macadamia oils.
Best for a moisture boost, frizz, and definition.
This is another amazing revitalising treatment that helps bring life back to dull and parched tresses. In addition to jojoba and macadamia oils, it’s infused with a blend of other antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as organic rice milk, botanical green tea, and aloe juice. Notes of sweet vanilla and macadamia are added for a fragrant finishing touch.
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3. As I Am DoubleButter Cream Rich Daily Moisturizer
Miracle Moisturisers: Cocoa and shea butters, and jojoba and castor oils.
Best for shine, improved manageability and split ends.
As I Am melds a few natural oil and butter emollients for top-tier curl nourishment. This is a must-buy for dry and damaged manes. It seals in moisture and reduces frizz while enhancing shine, softness, and hold. You’ll also find wheat protein and pro-vitamin B5 in this blend to mend split ends.
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4. Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils Flaxseed Recipes Seal It Up Hydrating Sealing Butter
Miracle Moisturisers: Flaxseed, avocado, and shea butter.
Best for Chronically dry and breaking hair.
Aunt Jackie whips up a supreme moisture antidote to help revitalise lackluster curls. This is an excellent sealant for 3A-4C hair, and it can also be utilised to base hair ‘under wigs, weaves, and braids.’ Flaxseed oil pairs up with honey, avocado, and shea butter to repair brittle ends, hair loss, and breakage while shielding tresses from further damage.
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5. Soultanicals Can’t Believe It’s Knot Butter
Miracle Moisturisers: Mango and shea butters, and coconut and Jamaican black castor oils.
Best for Twist-outs.
This creamy hair butter improves slip for seamless and well-defined twist-outs. Use it in two ways; as a sealant to enhance moisture and softness or as a styling cream for lasting nourishment and sheen. Meadowfoam seed oil is infused in the formulation to enhance scalp health, alleviate dryness and tackle knots.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, the secret to healthy and blossoming coils is bountiful dollops of moisture— and the butters above offer plenty without fail.
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