Our unrefined shea butter is certified organic and comes from Ghana. The shea butter is produced by a local women's co-operative without the use of chemicials.
Shea Butter Production
Because shea nuts are a natural product, the colour of the shea butter can vary. It can be anything from a creamy white colour to a darker beige colour - this does not mean the shea butter has "gone off".
Unrefined shea butter has an extremely long shelf life and its healing powers stay intact for at leat 18 months after production. Our shea butter is never older than a couple of months as we have a high turnover and only buy freshly made butter.Unrefined shea butter is made from shea fruit nuts (the karite tree). The fruit is collected from uncultivated trees, cracked, roasted and pulverised. It is then boiled in water for several hours until the shea butter rises to the top and scooped into largesr vessels or gourds where it is left to cool and set. This method is the best for producing unrefined, raw shea butter and it is still widely used all over Ghana - there is NO need to use hexane or chemicals to make unrefined shea butter and that is the way we prefer it. Another method is propeller extraction whereby the shea nuts are pressed against a metal press (similar to a meat grinder). the nut is then squeezed out by pressure. the end product is fresh, raw, unrefined shea butter.
This method is now widely used by Ghanese women co-ops, simply because it cuts down on time, helps them to be more organized and produce more shea butter without the need for chemicals.
We also buy shea butter that is produced in this way as we find that the traditional method sometimes makes the butter more expensive to buy in and we cannot get hold of enough butter to sell on.
Benefits of raw shea butter
Unrefined shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E and F amongst others. It absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. It moisturises and protects skin and hair and is great for getting over-treated hair back into shape and health. It does not clog pores or hair shafts. It maintains skin moisture beautifully. It penetrates deep into the skin and helps to maintain its elasticity. It keeps your skin clear and smooth and helps to soothe skin and scalp irritations. In short - its benefits are endless....You can apply a little shea butter to your hair before swimming which helps to protect it from chlorine and salt water. Shampoo and condition you hair right away after swimming and apply raw shea butter in small amunts at least once a week (shampoo after 30 - 60 minutes) to keep your hair's lustre and shine.Raw shea butter is also great for shaving. Best time to use it is in the morning after a shower or bath. Apply a little butter BEFORE you shower to soften the area. Then use a sharp razor with at least two blades and if possible a moveable head. Unrefined shea butter can help to reduce stretch marks and dark spots. Use if together with your sunscreen to prevent peeling and to give you a more even tan. You can add a small teaspoon of raw shea butter to your hot bath to soften your skin and help you relax. Or add a teaspoon of raw shea butter to a foot bath after buffing your heels and toes. Soak your feet for 10 minutes, towel dry and massage in a generous amount of raw shea butter - you will find that the skin on your feet is transformed in no time. Shea butter is also great for dry, chapped hands and keeps the skin soft and supple which is especially useful for people working a lot with water and chemicals (hair dressers for example and nurses).
Keep raw shea butter out of hot areas and in a cool dark place so it doesn't melt and stays fresher for longer.
Information on Rhassoul Clay and it's incredible benefits...
We would think that Rhassoul clay is amazing if it did no more than clean our bodies and condition our skin and hair. However it has a range of properties which account for its extreme efficacy and effeciency. At the microscopic level, each Rhassoul particle contains two cavities or inter-layers around which are arranged molecules with a strong negative charge. The exterior of each Rhassoul particle contains a positive charge, albeit much weaker than the negative charge inside the particle. Toxins within the body have a positive charge and these are attracted to the clay particle. At first they stick to the edge of the particle, then the toxins undergo ionic exchange and drawn inside the clay molecule. The inter-layer expands as the toxins are taken inside the particle. Pesticides, herbicides and heavy metal excess attach and bond to the exterior of the clay particle. These are safety carried away when the clay is rinsed off the skin. Minerals are essential to health and life. 'The body can tolerate a deficiency of vitamins for a longer period of time than it can a deficiency of minerals. A slight change in the blood concentration may rapidly endanger life.' [Musafir & Chazot, 2006, 64] Clay is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, manganese and silica, phosphorus, zinc and even trace quantities of gold. Compounds are released from the clay particle and exchanged for toxins.
Rhassoul has one of the highest exchange ratios of all the clays at 75meq. According to Musafir & Chazot, 'Clay acts as a catalyst, this playing a major role in metabolism and cell building … Furthermore, minerals are the carriers of the electrical potential in the cells which enable the hormones, vitamins and enzymes to function properly. [2006, 64-5].
Montmorillonite particles are very fine-grained and thin layered. 'According to one article on clay (Lei 1996) a mineralogist at the Institute of Technology, Robert T. Marin, stated that one gram of this clay has a surface area of 800 square meters. To give that some serious perspective, that's about ten football fields! The greater the surface of the clay, the greater the power to pick up positively charged particles or toxins many times its own weight. [29-30, 1998, Knishinsky] When Rhassoul clay is washed at the primary production site, it is left to dry under the sun and the moon - perhaps because clay has crystal structure it acquires some sort of energy charge? We have heard of clay users who keep their clay exposed to the sun to increase its energy. Clay is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antiseptic - a versatile medium for troubled skin.
Clay is anti-microbial - The clay particles surround microbes preventing contact with the tissues (the microbe deprived of contact the living tissue can not receive nourishment), furthermore the rough exterior of volcanic clays may break the cell wall of bacteria and viruses. Use Rhassoul regularly, learning to adapt it to achieve your optimal skin and hair condition while being friendly to the environment. Eczema, Psoriasis and Acne Rhassoul clay, also known as montmorillonite is widely recommended for helping improve the appearance of skin troubled by eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea. Make sure that you start with a clear medical diagnosis. Use Rhassoul for all washing, bathing, and showering – using no chemical products on the body or clothing at all.
Soap nuts are a good alternative for washing clothes and bed linen and they are becoming more widely available in health food shops and on the Internet.
For more rapid improvements in the quality, appearance feel of the skin apply partial body wraps/poultices covering the affected part with a clay wrap (perhaps including olive oil, or another carrier oil) for several hours. Make sure the clay application extends 3cm around the affected skin. Do not let the clay wrap dry out - it may be necessary to cover the clay in a damp cloth, or cling film. Once the appearance has improved continue with the applications for a further month. After the poultice has been removed, nourish the area with an application of unrefined shea butter or your favourite organic face cream.
Ethics
- Supports remote desert and mountain communities
- Supports traditional gathering, farming and mining practices
- Traceability Supports ethical trade with developing countries
- Packed at source as far as possible
- Recyclable, reusable or biodegradable packaging
- Transported in dry state to reduce the carbon footprint
- No air miles (transported by ship)
- Kind to the river and marine life
- Products all vegan or vegetarian
- All products are either in their natural state or are minimally processed.
- Chemical and additive free
- Kind to clients skins and hair, kind to therapists skins
- Ecocert certified.(This is the French equivalent of the Soil Association with validation in over 70 countries.)
If you start with a clean sink, bath or shower, after rinsing any clay particles away, it will be as clean as before.
Does using Rhassoul take any more time than normal?
Using Rhassoul doesn't take any more time than normal. In fact it is faster to shampoo/condition the hair in a quick application of Rhassoul than it is to use a conventional process (washing, repeating and conditioning). If you want to mix it fresh each time, it is just a question of mixing the Rhassoul as you start running the bath or preparing for the shower.
Can I mix Rhassoul ahead of time and store it for future use?
Yes, by all means make up a batch to use through the week, just keep it in an airtight container. There is no need to refrigerate it.
Can I use Rhassoul on my hair everyday?
Yes, unlike conventional shampoos there is no build up.
Will Rhassoul remove my hair dye?
Rhassoul may affect the appearance of chemically dyed hair. Do a strand test first. Rhassoul brings a deep lustre to hair which has been dyed with henna, improving the depth of colour.
Does it matter if Rhassoul gets on my lips when I do a face mask?
No, Rhassoul is considered to be non-toxic - in fact in Morocco pregnant ladies often eat the clay to help against gastric disturbances.
Will Rhassoul block my drains?
No, just ensure that all of the clay particles are washed away, passing through the shower, bath or sink trap into the large bore drains. If you are using a septic tank or bio-digester inspect them regularly to make sure that they are functioning optimally. If their function declines while using Rhassoul discontinue usage.
