Okuma Blog

In 2019, an article published by Business Day states that Nigeria, through the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) statistics produces 361,017 metric tonnes of shea butter. Nigeria is the leading exporter of shea butter with only about 20% of shea butter produced being consumed locally. Shea butter production clusters around the country have between 30 to 50 women in each cluster producing between 250 to 500 metric tonnes. With each metric tonne ranging in price from N350,000 to N750,000 as at 2018. Shea butter prices are currently around double the price of what they originally were in 2018. Many efforts by the government, NGOs and private individuals have been made to increase both quantity and quality of shea butter products and production. In another article written by the Guardian in 2020, it says Nigeria is currently earning over $5 million yearly from shea butter exports and hopes to double this amount

Shea butter has very many uses in both the refined and raw state. People tend to refine shea butter to get a better aesthetically looking product or base for the product they wish to incorporate it into. Shea butter is also refined to remove the earthy smell which it is known for that can sometimes be off-putting to some people.  raw shea butter But when it comes to raw shea butter, that’s when you enjoy the true healing properties shea butter is widely known for. Raw shea butter has a high healing fraction compared to its refined counterpart which is what makes it more popular to use. Depending on what you would like to use your raw shea butter for, here are a few; • Prevent chaffing on skin • Calm inflamed skin  • Soothe diaper rashes and other skin rashes • Clear eczema • Tackle acne • Nourish dry skin • Lighten dark spots and dark under eyes • Soothe minor burns and insect stings • Remove makeup • Revive dull, tired hair and beards • Aftershave balm •...

Here are a few ways to help you identify original shea butter Skin contact Original shea butter melts in about ten to fifteen seconds when in contact with body temperature. Adulterated shea butter will maintain its form for a while when applied to the body Completely melted shea butter has a golden yellow colour when you observe it through a transparent container. I have come across shea butter that was black when melted down however, this was adulterated shea butter Colour The natural colour of shea butter ranges from off white (not white) to a beige type of colour. Pure white shea butter is often an indicator of refined shea butter Texture Original shea butter is firm but easy to cut through with a knife. Unlike cocoa or mango butter which are harder, shea butter can be scooped. Shea butter isn’t greasy but sinks into the skin after applied.  Smell My first contact with shea butter wasn’t exactly fantastic as the smell to me was off-putting but I’ve grown accustomed to it. The sm...

If you're reading this article I'm not going to bore you with all the magical and amazing benefits of shea butter because I know you already know all about it! I'm also fairly certain you  know how to use your shea butter or at least have a good understanding of how to use it. So we'll go right into it how to mix essential oils to your shea butter. Being able to combine your essential oils with shea butter gives you the best of both worlds because you get the skin nourishing properties of shea butter while being diffused with essential oils. I find that essential oils tend to diffuse quickly and easily in warmer temperatures and environments. While working with essential oils in shea butter, you want to retain as much of the aromatic properties as well as the therapeutic properties of the essential oils to remain for as long as possible in your mixture, so here are two ways to go about it. First, I allow the shea butter to melt down completely, then I add my liquids (oi...

 Hello mums and sisters, It's Easter and I'm happy to be sharing this easy DIY hair butter recipe I and my daughters have been using since they were born. Forget whatever you think you know, shea butter is the best. And if you are fortunate to have access to raw unrefined shea butter, like we have, you are certainly in for a treat. So first things first, we are giving our customers 10% off all shea butter products purchased from us this Easter. But you have to hurry because it ends pretty soon. And if you are here for the hair butter recipe let us dive straight in.  To make your own recipe you will need; 250g Okuma Organics raw shea butter 100g cold pressed coconut oil 150g olive oil 25- 35 drops rosemary essential oil (optional) 1. Start by placing the raw shea butter in a bowl and placing the bowl over hot water till butter has completely melted. 2. Add the coconut and olive oils as well as the rosemary EO 3. Mix all the ingredients properly by giving a good stir. 4. Place i...