Shea butter is a popular ingredient in many skincare products. It’s also a popular DIY project for people with sensitive or dry skin. One problem though it tends to harden over time, especially when not ni use.
If your shea butter has been sitting on your shelf for too long it will harden up. So how do you make your Shea butter soft? This blog post will discuss several ways on how to do just that!
Shea butter has been used for centuries as a moisturizer and to protect skin from infections. It is also used as an ointment for various skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
However, some people find shea butter to be a little bit too hard and greasy for their skin type. So how do you soften Shea Butter without making it too oily?
There are several ways to soften Shea butter. Here are some tips on how to soften shea butter for skin and make it easier for you.
Why Shea Butter Hardens Up In The First Place?
There are several reasons why shea butter hardens over time. Let’s have a look at some of them.
- Shea butter is a natural product, and it contains fat and oil. The oil in shea butter can rise to the surface over time, causing the butter to harden.
- Exposure to air, light, or heat can cause shea butter to harden.
- If your shea butter contains high levels of stearic acid, it will be harder than a shea butter that contains less stearic acid.
- Shea butter can also harden if it is not stored properly.
- The quality of the shea butter can also affect whether it will harden or not.
- If you store Shea Butter in the fridge or freezer for longer periods, it will also harden more. Shea butter melts at body temperature, so it will become hard if you keep your Shea Butter in the refrigerator or freezer.
How To Soften Shea Butter For Your Skin Type!
Now that you know some of the reasons why shea butter hardens let’s look at some simple ideas on how to soften shea butter for skin.
1# Microwave Your Shea Butter
One easy way to soften your shea butter is by microwaving the shea butter for a few seconds. You can use this method to melt down your shea butter and mix it with other ingredients.
Simply place your shea butter in a microwave-safe bowl and place it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Check the shea butter to see if it has melted and if not, microwave it for a few more seconds.
You don’t want to microwave the shea butter for too long, as it will start to cook and change its consistency.
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2# Soak your Shea Butter in Hot Water
You can also place the shea butter in a plastic bag and then put it in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes. This method works best if your shea butter is in a solid form.
Simply place your shea butter in a cup and pour hot water over it. Let the shea butter sit in the water for 2-3 minutes, then use your hand to mix your shea butter and water.
The water should help soften the shea butter and make it a little bit easier to use. The Shea Butter will dissolve in the warm water and become soft and easier to apply on your skin.
3#Use a food processor or blender
If you have a food processor or blender, you can also use it to soften your shea butter. This is a good method if you have a lot of shea butter that needs to be softened.
Simply place your shea butter in the food processor or blender and blend it for 30-60 seconds. You can also pulse the shea butter for 2-3 minutes if you don’t want to fully blend it.
You may need to stop and start the machine a few times in order to get the desired consistency.
You can also use this method to mix your shea butter with other ingredients such as essential oils, fragrance oils, or cocoa butter.
Read: How to preserve liquid black soap
4# Use a hairdryer
Another way to soften your shea butter is by using a hairdryer. This method works best if you have hard pieces of shea butter that just won’t meltdown.
Simply place your Shea Butter in a heat-proof container and start drying it with the hairdryer until it becomes soft. This can take a few minutes, but it will help soften the shea butter without making it too oily.
5# Use a heating pad or hot water bottle
If you have a heating pad or hot water bottle, you can also use it to soften your shea butter.
Simply place the shea butter in a heat-proof container and place the heating pad or hot water bottle on top of it.
Leave the heating pad or hot water bottle on for 10-15 minutes and let the heat help soften the shea butter.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Softening Shea Butter
What happens if I don’t soften my Shea Butter?
If you don’t soften your Shea Butter, it will be harder to apply and may not meltdown when applied to the skin. In some cases, your Shea Butter may be too hard and can even hurt or damage your skin.
How Do I Keep My Shea Butter From Hardening?
Storing your Shea Butter in a cool, dark place will help prevent it from hardening. To maximize the shelf life of your Shea Butter, you should also keep it wrapped airtight to retain moisture and humidity out.
Can I Use Shea Butter If It’s Hard?
In some cases, you can use Shea Butter if it is in a hardened form. However, it will be difficult to use and may not meltdown when applied to the skin. It is recommended that you soften your Shea Butter before using it.
Keeping your Shea Butter in its natural state is the best way to use it.
However, if you find your Shea Butter too hard to apply or even hurtful for your skin, you can opt to soften it using one of the above methods on how to of soften Shea butter for skin.
Softened shea butter will still maintain all of its benefits, but it will be much easier to apply and won’t irritate your skin.