Shea Butter??

[Fashionislove]

I was wondering if it would be ok to use pure Shea Butter as a lubricant? Can it be used straight without contraindications? Or is it better blended? Lots of :?: 's , I know!
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[morris994]

Pure shea butter is hard until you melt it a little, which is probably one reason (other than cost) why most places blend it with other ingredients. You can try to get it warm enough to use without melting it (or melt it and use it as you would oil?)

I can't see any reason why it would be contraindicated?? I use it blended with other ingredients in some of our spa treatments.

Angie

 

[Frankie Jay]

I was wondering if it would be ok to use pure Shea Butter as a lubricant? Can it be used straight without contraindications? Or is it better blended?

Shea butter is a great lubricant that can be applied directly to the body. However, it's VERY thick, and therefore most effective for spot work on extremely dry skin. For personal use, I use pure shea butter for cracked heels, peeling cuticles, chapped lips, dry-flaky skin. Nothing works better!

However, I wouldn't use pure shea butter as a massage lubricant for 3 reasons:
1. it would be too hard to work with.
2. it would leave your client feeling very sticky.
3. it would stain your sheets terribly.

 

[Om Nom Nom]

Thanks for the replies. I was at a friends home the other night doing massage. I forgot my oil and all they had was shea butter. I went ahead and used it and yes, it was hard at first but it softens within seconds in your hands. I would not want to do a full body with it but it did work real well in those spots you want to get deep but also dont want to slide off : ive used cocoa butter for those spot treatments also.

BTW, what would you blend with shea butter?

 

[Pompal 09.]

My health food store sells a simple cream made of shea butter & jojoba oil, but there are many other possibilities. Here's a link to a forum thread where the first post is a recipe for a combination of aloe, shea, olive oil, clay & rose powder:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2054

Here's a link to a thread that has a couple of recipes for massage butters that include shea:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89

Have fun experimenting!

 

[MissMoi]

During NMT I used refined Shea Butter exclusively.
It is only good, IMO, for spot work.
Unrefined shea stinks to high heavens..again, IMO.
I had an extra tin of it as it is a failsafe present to me from a friend.

Robyn

 

[b_dracula]

Unrefined shea stinks to high heavens..again, IMO.

It's funny how people react to the smell of shea butter. Some people hate it; others find it to be a very neutral smell. I'm one of those who prefer unrefined shea butter because it retains more of its healing properties, and the smell doesn't bother me. (To me, it smells like nuts). On a side note, I have a friend who loves to be massaged by oils that smell like food. She said peanut oil is her favorite oil to be massaged with. She'd probably love getting some spot work with shea butter. :

 

[Ted]

Don't use shea butter with your nut-allergic clients. My daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts and she reacts terribly to shea.

 

[gsquared]

Love the stuff

We use FRESH aromatherapy shea butters - both the lemon sugar and orange-chocolate ones. Our clients and therapists love it, especially when used on feet and hands for moisturizing.

Keeping it warm is the key - and the aroma is amazing when used in a hot stone massage.

The stuff aint cheap - 100 Ml tub retails for $38

 

[Lesley]

i love shea butter and i mix it with all kinds of oils to make body butters, which i usually use on my clients feet. i also give the body butters as gifts and have found a wonderful, inexpensive resource for fair trade, unrefined shea butter:

http://www.agbangakarite.com/whole_bulksheabutter.php

much less than $38/100 ml

 

[KathyC]

i love shea butter and i mix it with all kinds of oils to make body butters, which i usually use on my clients feet.

Hi Karmassage.....could you share your recipe for making these body butters?? I'm taking a class on Thai Foot Reflexology in March and they ask that you bring "a rich shea/cocoa butter based balm." It sounds like the ones you make might be just what I'm looking for.

Thanks!
Angie