Cocoa trees initially grew only in South America. Nowadays, they can be found all over the world. Depending on where they come from, cocoa can have a different taste. That is why you may notice different flavor in your chocolate from time to time.
Cocoa butter is the latest product made of cocoa that we are going crazy for. Among the many benefits of the product, today, we will talk about how to use cocoa butter for hair benefits.
Cocoa butter is a great ingredient that comes from nature, and can help us in a variety of ways. Cocoa does wonders for our skin, hair, and much more. And in addition to all the benefits, cocoa butter smells amazing, making your hair irresistible.
Chapter Overview
Benefits of cocoa butter for hair
When you look at the nutritional breakdown of cocoa butter, you will easily notice why we love the product. For starters, it is rich in minerals and vitamins.
Here is a quick breakdown of all the minerals and nutrients you can find in cocoa butter:
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Iron
- Vitamin E
- Short-chain fatty acids
Are you convinced yet? If you are not convinced, let’s take a look at the many ways cocoa butter helps your hair:
- Moisturize the hair
- Prevents hair loss
- Strengthens the hair shaft
- Makes your hair more manageable
- Adds volume and strength to your fine hair
- Repairs damaged hair strands
- Replenish lost oil due to chemical processes
- Prevents frizz and makes your curls last longer
- Prevent further damage to your hair
With cocoa butter, it is all about improving and maintaining the health of your hair follicles. If you didn’t know, healthy hair follicles enable nutrients into the growing hair.
On the flip side, when the hair follicles are clogged, infected, or dry, your hair is not getting enough nutrients.
Last, but not least, cocoa butter has antibacterial properties that can help you with infections and prevent dandruff issues.
Cocoa Butter vs. Shea Butter
Many people compare cocoa butter to shea butter. It is only logical, these two ingredients are quite similar, and both are fantastic for your hair and skin. There are many similarities between these two, but also differences.
Here are the similarities:
- Both cocoa and shea butter have moisturizing properties
- Both protect the hair by coating the strands and stopping loss of protein from the shaft
- Cocoa and shea butter help in hair growth
With that in mind, the main difference between the two is the smell. Cocoa butter smells amazing, while shea butter has more of a neutral scent. And unlike shea butter, cocoa butter is something you have probably tasted in your life. It is part of almost every chocolate.
Cocoa butter is often sold in water form, so that you can make your DIY recipes easier. Originally, cocoa butter has hard texture.
The best cocoa butter is raw and unadulterated. You will need something sharp to cut it, and then melt it at 93-101 degrees F.
How to use cocoa butter for hair
Depending on what you need, cocoa butter can help your hair in a variety of ways. Some people use it to prevent hair loss, promote hair growth, or just add volume to your hair.
With that in mind, here are several ways you can use cocoa butter for hair.
Pre-wash
Because of its many benefits for your hair, and the amazing smell, cocoa butter is actually an amazing pre-shower treatment. By adding cocoa butter to your hair, you reap all of the benefits, while your hair receives nourishment due to the many minerals.
Here is how to use it.
- Melt the butter, and then massage it into your hair and scalp
- Leave melted cocoa butter in your hair for 10 to 15 minutes, but no more than 20 minutes. If you leave it longer, cocoa butter can solidify
- Wash your hair as usual with shampoo. Make sure to wash the butter thoroughly, as it can harden on your hair. Do not worry, your hair will smell amazing even if you wash away all of the butter
Conditioner
We said cocoa butter has great moisturizing properties. In the shower, the butter makes for a great conditioner as an alternative to your chemical-filled and commercially-produced conditioner.
You can use cocoa butter as a conditioner in two ways. Add it in your regular conditioner, or use it on its own. We recommend the latter.
- Wash your hair with shampoo as normally
- Apply melted cocoa butter only to the ends of your hair. Stay away of your scalp
- The ideal amount is a small sized drop, and then spread it through the ends
- Leave the cocoa butter for 3 minutes, and then rinse away
More potent conditioner
Cocoa butter works on its own perfectly. But if you want to mix things up, or take them to the next level, you can use coconut oil as part of a more potent solution. If you have extremely dry hair, you might need little more help.
With that in mind, this recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil.
- Melt cocoa butter, and then add coconut oil. Continue melting, since coconut oil is also usually in hard state. Use a double boiler for melting
- Once the oils and cocoa butter are completely melted, add jojoba oil and mix them together
- Let the mixture cool down a bit, and just before it becomes completely solid, whip it. Your aim is whipped cream texture, which you can achieve in 4 to 5 minutes
- You can apply this moisturizer anywhere on your body, including your hair and skin. Same as with regular cocoa butter conditioner, apply only to the ends of your hair, and rinse after 3 minutes
Cocoa and shea butter
We said that cocoa butter and shea butter are very similar. And if you want a more potent conditioner, you can combine them together.
- Mix shea butter and cocoa butter in 1:1 ratio
- Melt the butters together. Before they completely solidify, whip to get a whipped cream texture
- Apply to the ends of your hair, wait for 3 minutes and then rinse away
Cocoa butter leave-in conditioner
You can use cocoa butter as a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair if you do not use conditioner. This will help you tame frizzies.
Here is how to do it.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
- Melt them and whip them as previously. Apply to the ends of your hair, and leave it to stay. Do not wash away
Styling your hair
If you want to style your hair, you can use cocoa butter as a pomade. Cocoa butter will keep any frizz away.
- Rub a small amount of cocoa butter in your palms
- Smooth over your hair
- If you like extra scent, add a drop of essential oil
- Style your hair anyway you like it
Improve color of your hair
If you are a brunette, and you want some depth to your hair color, cocoa butter is one way to do it.
- Mix a cup of pure aloe vera gel, ¼ cup of honey, ½ cup of cocoa powder, and 1 tablespoon of conditioner
- Mix the ingredients in a bowl, and then apply to your hair as a hair color treatment