How to use cocoa butter for hair?
Cocoa butter has long been used not only as an aromatherapy, but also used to restore the vitality of the hair. What properties this product has, for which curls it is suitable, and also how to use this product for hair restoration, let's figure it out.
Beneficial features
Cocoa butter is obtained from the fruit by cold pressing. As a result of this technology, a maximum of useful substances is preserved in the composition of the final product.
Everyone knows that cocoa butter in its composition has many beneficial vitamins and minerals that can restore radiance to your hair. The composition of this product includes vitamins of groups A, E, D, as well as caffeine. In addition, it is rich in stearic, lauric and palmitic acids.
Due to this composition, cocoa butter has a number of useful properties. Here are a few of them.
- Healing and anti-inflammatory effect. This product is able to soothe irritated scalp, heal microcracks on the surface of the epithelium.
- Increases cell regeneration. This property can increase the growth of new cells, which will have a beneficial effect on the length of the hair.
- protective properties. The product will protect the hair from overdrying in cold weather, as well as from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. And it can also be used for thermal protection if you often use a hair dryer or curling iron. In addition, this product perfectly nourishes and moisturizes the dermis of the head.
There are no contraindications for cocoa butter, with the exception of individual intolerance to the product.
To understand if your skin will react to this ingredient, you should conduct a test. To do this, apply a small amount of the product to the elbow bend and leave it for 15 minutes. At the first redness, itching or burning, the oil should be thoroughly washed off the hand, and not used for application to the hair, so as not to get a serious allergic reaction. If no manifestations of allergies follow, it is quite possible to use the oil in the form of a hair mask.
Harm and benefit
The stores offer a fairly wide range of hair masks, the main ingredient of which is cocoa butter. But many people prefer to make products based on this component at home to nourish their curls.
- The main value of cocoa butter is that it gives shine to curls, provides unsurpassed care, facilitates their combing, makes them obedient.
- And also it prevents hair loss, makes them stronger, strengthens the roots.
- This ingredient is one of the best for caring for overdried curls.
In order not to harm your hair, you should follow a few tips.
- Use only high quality products.
- Do not overdo this product on your curls. This can cause their fat content, which will be quite difficult to get rid of.
- If your curls are prone to oiliness, do not apply cocoa butter formulations to the dermis of the head, but distribute it only over the hair itself.
How to use at home?
Applying cocoa butter at home is quite simple. This can be done in several ways.
- Since this tool is sold in the form of frozen bars of fat, it can simply be rubbed into the dermis of the head without first melting.
- Melt the butter in a water bath.
- Apply masks made on the basis of cocoa butter.
Since cocoa butter enhances hair growth, at first it may seem that the hair has begun to fall out, but this is not at all the case. This is how the hair follicles are released to give rise to new, strong and healthy hair.
Cocoa butter-based curl formulations should be used no more than twice a week. This will be enough to restore the radiance of your hair.
Whether you use cocoa butter as a single product or as part of healing masks, the following technology should be used for applying it to the dermis of the head and hair.
- Since the oil is applied to clean hair, you should first rinse your head thoroughly with shampoo. Balms and conditioners should not be used, as these products close the hair scales, preventing nutrients from penetrating inside.
- The hair should not be very wet. It should be well blotted with a towel. No need to use a hair dryer to completely dry the curls.
- Cocoa butter can be rubbed simply in a solid state or melted in a water bath, warming it up a little. The ingredient should not be hotter than 40 degrees, since at this temperature the maximum of useful substances in its composition is preserved. You can also use the microwave to melt the butter.
- Before applying the composition to the hair, the hair must be carefully combed and divided into separate strands, secured with clips or elastic bands.
- Initially, cocoa butter is applied to the dermis of the head in a circular rubbing motion.
- Further, the product is distributed over the entire length of the curls. Why are the clamps removed, and the composition is applied from the roots to the tips with the help of hands, if the product is solid, or a special brush for applying masks, if you have melted the butter. In the absence of a brush for applying masks, you can use a regular brush for coloring curls or a simple sponge.
- After applying oil to the hair, cover it with plastic wrap and wrap it with a towel. To obtain a more pronounced result, this design is recommended to be heated with a hairdryer.
- Keep the product on your hair for 20 minutes. The maximum duration of exposure should not exceed 2 hours.
Rinse off the oil from the head is not so easy. To do this, apply shampoo directly to the oily head, only then wet and lather the composition. The procedure should be carried out several times until a creak characteristic of clean curls appears on your hair. The water temperature should not exceed 39 degrees.
But to facilitate the rinsing procedure, it is better to use a special mask based on rye flour. To do this, dilute 3 tbsp. l. of this ingredient in water. The consistency of the mask should be similar to the dough for pancakes. The composition should be applied to oily hair, after which it is necessary to massage the head as if foaming the mask. Leave the composition on the curls for 5-10 minutes. After the time has elapsed, lather the mask again, and then rinse with cool water.
At the end of the procedure, it is recommended to rinse the curls with water with apple cider vinegar diluted in it, or simply apply conditioner.
Mask Recipes
There are quite a few recipes for therapeutic compositions for hair based on cocoa butter. Here are a few options that are suitable for various problems with hair.
Strengthening composition for hair:
- egg yolk - 1 pc.;
- melted cocoa butter - 1 tbsp. l.;
- burdock oil - 1 tbsp. l.;
- kefir - 1 tbsp. l.
Beat the egg yolk with a whisk, add butter, mix well, pour in the fermented milk product. Apply the composition to the curls according to the technology described above. Keep on hair for 1 hour 30 minutes, then rinse. The procedure is carried out twice a week for a month. In case of severe hair loss, apply the mask for two months.
Nourishing mask to restore damaged curls:
- olive oil - 2 tbsp. l.;
- cocoa butter - 1 tbsp. l.;
- egg yolk - 1 pc.
Melt cocoa butter in a water bath, add olive oil and egg yolk. Mix everything thoroughly. Apply to the entire length of the hair according to the technology. Keep for about an hour, then the mask needs to be washed off. Carry out the procedure no more than twice a week for a month, then take a two-week break.
Egg yolk in the recipe can be replaced with banana or honey.
Mask to give shine and silkiness:
- cocoa butter - 1 tbsp. l.;
- henna colorless - 1 tbsp. l.;
- rose essential oil - 2 drops.
Melt cocoa butter, add henna. If the mixture is too thick, dilute a little with warm water to the consistency of batter. Add rose oil. Apply to the roots and along the entire length of the curls in the manner described above. Keep on hair for 30 minutes, then rinse.
Reviews
There are quite a few lovers of using cocoa butter for hair care. They note the excellent condition of the curls after the very first procedure, which can be compared with the hair lamination procedure in the salon. In addition, this ingredient has a pleasant smell of chocolate.Among the negative points, users point out the difficulty of washing this ingredient off the hair, but this drawback applies to all oil-based masks.
See below for details.