This is something that most people have experienced when using shea butter. One day, your shea butter is smooth and creamy; the next, it’s gritty and dry. How does that happen?
What can you do to fix it? Let’s look at why shea butter gets grainy and what to do about it.
Shea butter is a beautiful product that many people use in their hair and skin. But sometimes, it can get grainy or gritty. So why does this happen!
Why does my shea butter get gritty? – Let’s dig in!
Why Is My Shea Butter Grainy?
You can use grainy or gritty shea butter –it’s not bad–but it won’t be as nice to use. The texture isn’t as smooth, and it can be a little more difficult to apply.
The graininess or grittiness can make the shea butter harder to spread, and it might not feel as nice on your skin. However, it is still effective and will work the same way as regular shea butter.
This also means that if you’re using a homemade recipe that includes shea butter, you can still use the gritty shea butter. Just be aware that it might not turn out as smooth as if you were using ungritty shea butter.
What Causes Shea Butter To Get Gritty or Grainy?
There are a few different reasons why your shea butter gets grainy. Knowing the reason will help you figure out what to do from there!
To answer the question “why is my shea better grainy”? Let’s look at some of the most common causes.
1) It Wasnt Prossecced Properly
One of the most common reasons shea butter is gritty or grainy is because it wasn’t processed properly. When it’s not processed correctly, the shea butter will be full of tiny bits of fat and oil.
If the butter wasn’t melted down all the way, or if it wasn’t filtered correctly, then you might end up with chunks of unmelted butter in your finished product. This is what causes the graininess or grittiness.
So if you’re using a recipe that calls for shea butter, make sure the person making it knows how to properly process and meltdown shea butter.
Read: Can we apply shea butter directly on face?
2. Shea butter naturally has bits of nut in it.
Shea butter is made from the nuts of a shea tree, and those little specks of nuts are what cause graininess or grittiness in your finished product!
Shea butter naturally has bits of nut in it, which causes the product to get grainy.
The nut pieces are called “shea nuts.” Over time, as the butter sits, these pieces will rise to the surface and create a gritty texture.
The bits can vary depending on how finely they’re ground, but you should know that natural shea butter does contain some unground particles.
This is why it’s always recommended to run the shea butter through a food processor or blender before using it. It helps break down those tiny particles, so your final product isn’t grainy!
3) Temperature Changes
Another reason why shea butter might get grainy is because of temperature changes.
When the temperature changes, the shea butter can separate, and the oil will rise to the surface. This creates a grainy texture in your finished product.
If you notice that your shea butter is getting gritty, it might be because of temperature fluctuations.
Try storing it in a cool, dark place instead of somewhere warm and sunny. That should help keep it from separating and becoming gritty.
Read: Benefits of shea butter and coconut oil for hair
4) The Moisture Content Wasn’t Right
Moisture can also cause shea butter to get gritty or grainy. Shea butter does contain water, so if the moisture content isn’t right, it might separate and cause grittiness in your finished product.
Shea butter should have a 70% fat content before being used for skincare products. If there’s too much moisture in the shea butter, then that could be what causes it to get gritty!
5) You’re Not Melting It Down Enough
If you’re not melting the shea butter down enough, then that could be why it’s getting gritty.
When you don’t melt the shea butter all the way, or when you don’t mix it well enough, those little bits of fat and oil will stay intact and create a grainy texture.
This is why it’s important to melt the shea butter until there are no lumps left and stir it really well before using it in any recipes.
6) How You Store Your Shea Butter
Finally, sometimes a grainy shea butter is just because it wasn’t stored properly.
If you’re using shea butter that’s been around for a long time and has started to get grittier or more gritty over time, then you might need to toss it out!
Shea butter should be kept in an air-tight container as much as possible. This will help keep moisture from getting into your product and causing issues with texture or consistency!
Read: Cocoa butter and shea butter lotion
Frequently Asked Questions about Grainy Shea Butter
Does Shea Butter Go Grainy?
Yes, shea butter can go grainy for various reasons. It might not have been processed correctly, it might contain bits of nut, or the temperature might be fluctuating too much.
What Should I Do With Shea Butter That Gets Gritty Or Grainy?
If your shea butter is getting gritty, there are a few things you can do. You can try melting it down more until there are no lumps left, blending it in a food processor or blender before using it, or storing it in a cool place. Grainy shea butter isn’t always rancid – but if it’s causing problems with your finished product, then you’ll want to take these steps to fix it!
Why Is My Homemade Butter Grainy?
There are a few reasons why your homemade butter might be grainy. It might not have been processed correctly, it might contain bits of nut, or the temperature might be fluctuating too much.
Hopefully, this article will help you answer the question,” why is my shea butter grainy?” If your shea butter is getting gritty or grainy, there are a few things you can do.
You can try melting it down more until there are no lumps left, blending it in a food processor or blender before using it, or storing it in a cool place!
There’s nothing wrong with gritty shea butter – but sometimes graininess causes problems for certain recipes!