Winter Natural Hair Care – Moisturizing Conditioner and Whipped Shea Butter Recipe

I found a new conditioner! *happy dance*

I threw it out into the snow in protest of this out of control winter weather!  Toronto has been experiencing some extreme weather conditions with lots of snow, ice and sub zero temperatures.

Naturally curly hair requires extra care in cold temperatures as it is prone to dryness and breakage.  I have learned that my hair needs deep moisture and deep conditioning in cold months.  Many naturals use low manipulation or protective styles to keep their hair protected during the winter.

With that in mind, I headed over to Kensington Market – one of my favourite places to purchase natural haircare products.

I stopped by Genesis One on St. Andrew – where I have been purchasing yellow shea butter for about 4 years.  I then trotted over to Essence of Life Organics on Kensington Ave. to look for a new moisturizing conditioner.  I picked up the Desert Essence Coconut conditioner and co-washed (conditioner washed) today and I am in a bit of love!

When I look for a conditioner, I look for a reasonably priced product and one with quality ingredients.  The Desert Essence conditioner was speaking my language with ingredients like water, olive oil, nettle, coconut and shea at the top of the ingredient list.

I didn’t have to use a generous amount like I do with other conditioners and the conditioner’s slip (the conditioner’s ability to allow a comb to slide easily through hair) made it easy to detangle.

I two-strand twisted my hair with my whipped shea butter mixture and my hair is soft and lovely – and well moisturized of course.

Want to know how I make my whipped shea butter mixture?  You’re in luck! Take a look at the recipe below:

I took a brick of yellow shea butter, cut it into pieces and melted in a Pyrex glass bowl over a pot of boiling water.

Just before the shea butter fully melts I stirred in some jojoba oil, vegetable glycerine, castor oil, coconut oil and olive oil.   I let the bowl cool, then threw it in the fridge to thicken up to a more solid consistency.

I then scooped the solid mixture into my Boysenberry KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer and let it whip on speed 8 for about 4 minutes (until the consistency is whipped and smooth).

Here is the end result.  Extreme moisture, great for the whole body, especially hair and areas of the body that are prone to extreme dryness.

Here’s to the end of the weekend.. and in anticipation of tonight’s snow storm!

Stay warm 🙂