How to Make the Best Whipped Shea Butter for Glowing Skin and Healthy Hair
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Since 2019, I’ve been working with natural ingredients and experimenting with DIY beauty recipes. It started with a simple eyelash serum that worked. From there, I moved on to homemade scrubs and face masks, and now I can confidently say I’m completely obsessed with my whipped shea butter recipe.
During the winter, my skin gets so dry and ashy that regular lotions just don’t cut it. I knew I needed something richer, creamier, and more nourishing, and whipped shea butter turned out to be exactly that.
If you’re dealing with dry skin, dull hair, or just want to make the switch to more natural beauty products, this post is for you. I’ll show you exactly how to make your own whipped shea butter at home. Let’s get into it.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
What Is Whipped Shea Butter?
Whipped shea butter is just raw shea butter that’s been melted, combined with nourishing oils, and whipped to a soft, fluffy consistency. The end result feels luxurious, melts into your skin, and gives you that buttery glow all day long.
It’s one of the best things you can use for dry skin, rough patches, stretch marks, and even natural hair. I love using it on damp hair right after washing. It locks in moisture and makes my curls so soft and defined.
Why You’ll Love DIY Whipped Shea Butter
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100% natural and chemical-free
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Deeply moisturizing for both skin and hair
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Customizable based on your skin needs and preferred scent
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Way more affordable than store-bought body butters
What You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make a small batch of whipped shea butter for skin and hair:
Ingredients:
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100g raw shea butter
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2ml coconut oil
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2ml almond oil
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2ml jojoba oil
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2ml vitamin E oil
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A few drops of vanilla or sandalwood essential oil (optional)
You can adjust the oils depending on your preference. I personally skip essential oils most times, but when I want that extra scent, I go for warm, calming options.
Tools:
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A metal container or double boiler for melting
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A spoon or spatula
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A hand mixer or stand mixer
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Clean, dry jars or containers for storage
How to Make Whipped Shea Butter (Step-by-Step)
1. Melt the Shea Butter
Place the raw shea butter in a double boiler or heat-safe metal container. Melt it slowly over low heat. Be patient, don’t rush this part. If the butter burns, it’ll lose a lot of its nutrients.
2. Add Carrier Oils
Once melted, remove from heat and add in your coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. Don’t add essential oils just yet; the mixture is still too hot.
3. Cool the Mixture
Let the mixture cool to room temperature. You can place the bowl over an ice bath or pop it in the freezer for a few minutes to speed things up. I usually go the freezer route.
4. Stir Occasionally
While waiting for the mixture to cool, stir it every few minutes. Once it’s close to room temperature (around 23°C or 75°F), it should start thickening up slightly.
5. Add Essential Oils
If you’re using essential oils for fragrance or added skin benefits, now’s the time to add them.
6. First Whip
Whip the mixture while it’s still soft and semi-liquid. This is the secret to getting a creamy texture. If you skip this first whip, your shea butter may turn out gritty or uneven.
7. Chill Again
Place the whipped mixture in the fridge until it’s completely solid. This helps it firm up without hardening too much.
8. Final Whip
Let the butter soften just a bit (not melted!) and whip it again until you get that airy, fluffy texture we all love.
9. Transfer to Containers
Spoon the whipped shea butter into jars or use a piping bag (or ziplock with the corner cut off) to get it in cleanly. Store in a cool, dry place.
How to Customize Your Whipped Shea Butter
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For Winter: Use more shea butter and less oil for a thicker, more protective texture.
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For Summer: Use less shea and more oils to keep it lightweight and fast-absorbing.
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For Hair: Add castor oil or Rosemary oil to promote hair growth and shine.
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For Scent: Try essential oils like lavender, sweet orange, peppermint, or vanilla, depending on your vibe.
There’s no perfect recipe. You can experiment until you find a consistency and scent that feels just right for you.
Tips for Storing and Using Your Whipped Shea Butter
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Store it away from direct sunlight or heat to avoid melting.
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If it does melt, just re-whip it after it cools.
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Apply to slightly damp skin for best absorption.
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For hair, use after washing or as a sealant for protective styles.
Final Thoughts on How to make the best whipped shea butter
Whipped shea butter is one of those DIY products that feels luxurious and nourishing but is super easy to make. It’s a staple in my skincare and haircare routine, and once you try it, you’ll understand why I love it so much.
If you’ve never made your own before, now’s the perfect time to start. Your skin and hair will thank you for it.
Do you make your own body butters? Have you tried whipping shea butter before? Drop your questions or tips in the comments — I’d love to hear from you.
Related posts:
- How to make the best whipped tallow body butter
- How to get rid of your dark lips
- How to lighten up your inner thighs at home
Wao I learned a lot from your blog post
Thanks for taking your time to write such an excellent article
I’m glad you found it helpful. Thanks for reading:)
I loved learning about this! Sounds like an awesome recipe I need to try. I love shea butter.
Oh you should! Shea butter is so amazing for the skin and hair. Let me know how it turns out for you when you finally try it. Thanks for reading:-)
When you say, take out of refrig, let soften to be able to WHIP IT AGAIN, are we whipping it again?
Yes. Whipping it the second time is what will get it to be fluffy and smooth.
Sounds great, will have to try. Only thing. Putting back in the freezer, let cool out and whipped again…will have to try.
Thanks
How do you use this on your hair?
Can you calculate it into a larger batch? I want to gift these
just double each measurement 🙂
This is my first time making whipped shea butter so I made a half-batch. It turned out way to thick/firm. Can I put it in a double-boiler and heat it and add more carrier oils to thin it out? Would I refrigerate it and whip it? Once or twice?
Also, it doesn’t really soak into my skin. I’m hoping adding more carrier oils might help.
And last, it would be beneficial to update the recipe to a more specific amount for the essential oils. I know the amount is personal preference, but the recipe says “a few drops,” which to me means 3-5 drops. I made a half-batch and chose to put 3 drops in, but I can’t even smell the essential oil. So 3-5 drops would absolutely not work for a full batch.
I would love to be able to modify what I have already made to make it more useful, so I look forward to your suggestions.
It sounds like you’re on the right track! Here’s how you can adjust your whipped shea butter:
1.Thinning it out: You can absolutely melt the butter using a double boiler and add more carrier oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or argan oil to adjust the consistency. Start with small amounts (1-2 tablespoons) and mix thoroughly to ensure the oils blend well. Add more if needed until you reach your desired texture. Once it’s mixed, let it cool slightly before whipping.
2.Refrigeration and whipping: Once the shea butter has been thinned out, let it cool to room temperature or slightly solidify in the fridge (about 20-30 minutes). Then, whip it with a hand mixer or stand mixer for 2-3 minutes to achieve a fluffy consistency. Refrigerating it before whipping is a good idea to help the texture firm up. You only need to whip it once unless you want to achieve a super light texture.
3.Absorption: Adding more carrier oils should help with absorption, especially if your current mix feels too heavy. Some oils like sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil are lighter and absorb better than thicker oils like coconut oil.
4.Essential oils: For a more noticeable fragrance, you can increase the essential oil amount. Generally, 1% of the total batch weight is a good guideline for essential oils. For example, if you’re making a 100g batch, 1% would be 1g, which equals about 20 drops of essential oil (depending on the oil’s density). This will give a more noticeable scent without overpowering the formula.
Thanks for the feedback! I wound up using all the first batch as is.
The second batch (half batch) I recently made, I doubled the carrier oils and upped the essential oil a bit, but not nearly to the amount you mentioned. It still doesn’t have a noticeable scent at all, so I will add even more next time. I definitely like the texture better, but will be tweaking it again next time I make it.