Help! I am looking for either a good homemade remedy for daily moisturizing my hair or a  good inexpensive store bought product that does not contain mineral oils, lanolin or petrolatum. In regards to a home remedy, I have noticed that a lot of sistas keep talking about Shea Butter but I am not clear on what kind to get refined, unrefined etc??? I use to use Pink Moisturizer Creme Hairdress on my medium length hair...loved the way my hair felt but it was starting to break off.  I am presently using jajoba oil and I want buy some other ingredients from the health store to add to it. Also if you suggest a home remedy, could you also include info on how long the mixture will last and the best way to store it. 

 I live in a small Canadian city and where I'm located it is almost next to impossible to find a  product that does not contain mineral oil. So for any store bought products suggested,  a good web site as to where to buy it would be great.   

shea butter unrefined has an odor but is far better the refined. refined shea butter has been chemically proecessed to change the color and smell.

Thanks for clearing up Shea Butter,  another question regarding unrefined, id there anyway to cover up the smell?

Like dee said, unrefined shea butter is best and you can add essential oils to it to mask the smell.  The smell dosen't bother me now but it used to.  You don't have to melt it, you can use it as it is.  I melt mine a little in the microwave and keep stirring it to make it creamy, otherwise it's kinda hard but melts once it gets on your skin.  I got mine from here.... http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_products.htm - http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_produc ts.htm

For moisturizers the only one I can think of from the store that dosen't have mineral oil is Cantu.  It's a good one.  I usually buy mine online though. 

http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php - http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php  <-----this site has great moisturizers.  I love the Amla and Olive heavy cream.  It's my staple.  I'm going to try the Sidr Tree Butter soon.

PS I used this site

http://www.curlmart.com/store/home.php?cat=33 - http://www.curlmart.com/store/home.php?cat=33  because it is the canadian referal to the http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php - http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php   site Pokahontas recommended.

sweetalmond2 wrote: Thanks Pokahontas, your tips were great. Funny I was just reading around here a  bit about the Cantu moisturizer and it sounds lovely.  Unfortunately it is not sold here so I might look for it online. My Mom is also heading to DC at the end of this month and I was thinking of asking her to pick some up. Any suggestions as to where to purchase it there? I was wondering if Walgreens, or any of the major chain of drug stores would carry it? Once again, I am Canadian so any detailed tios as to where to find it would be wonderful.

Your welcome.  I'm making a curlmart order soon also.  I'm still pondering on what I want.  Oyin was the other site that I was going to mention to you but I forgot.  They have great stuff.  The Whipped Pudding my next fav moisturizer, the first is the heavy cream.  I'm also ordering the Sidr Tree Butter from Qhemet, I heard it's good.  The shea butter from oyin is supposed to be good too and I want to try that one.

I'm ordering some Curl Junkie stuff too, the Thick and Lucious sample pack.  I'm ordering Elucence also, it's a really good leave in conditioner that detangles like a dream!

The Mango Butter Moisturizer from Elasta QP is great! But it's water based, so if your hair waves/frizzes when it's wet, you may want to use it before you blow dry.

edit: or before you air dry.

I'm in Australia and make my own products to save money.  I used to buy commercial products online but the shipping cost more than the actual products!   I've experimented a bit but for my latest concoction I used unrefined shea that is sold cheaply here by someone who imports from W Africa and mix it with mango butter, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, Vit E oil and mask the smell with ylang ylang and rosemary essential oils.  For good measure I added some conditioning emulsifyer.  My hair really loves shea butter.  You can buy these sort of products from online soap making companies.

For shampoo I use African black soap diluted in water and honey.  Very soft on my hair and cheap!  

i get my pure unrefined shea butter at http://www.agbangakarite.com - www.agbangakarite.com

i use water/glycerin/honey/liquid aloe vera/lil eo as my moisturizer.

I'm natural if that helps.

For shampoo- currently loving castile soap- http://www.thechemistrystore.com - www.thechemistrystore.com or local trader joe's - 16 oz for $2.99

Also saloncare shampoos and conditioners from sally's are very gentle too.

Pokahontas wrote: Like dee said, unrefined shea butter is best and you can add essential oils to it to mask the smell.  The smell dosen't bother me now but it used to.  You don't have to melt it, you can use it as it is.  I melt mine a little in the microwave and keep stirring it to make it creamy, otherwise it's kinda hard but melts once it gets on your skin.  I got mine from here.... http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_products.htm - http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_produc ts.htm For moisturizers the only one I can think of from the store that dosen't have mineral oil is Cantu.  It's a good one.  I usually buy mine online though.  http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php - http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php  <-----this site has great moisturizers.  I love the Amla and Olive heavy cream.  It's my staple.  I'm going to try the Sidr Tree Butter soon.

Thanks for sharing info about the Qhemetbiologics range. I went on to the website and i thnk i have just found what i'm looking for my hair needs . I panicked alittle as its rather difficult ordering all these  products online overseas with shipping/ handling costs. The closest i found to getting this range is from a company called  http://www.mariposaimport - www.mariposaimport a indedependent distributer named Lori (and very helpful too) dedicated to natural hair lovers around europe/ worldwide. The Amla heavy cream sounds  just gr8

Sharon71 wrote: Pokahontas wrote: Like dee said, unrefined shea butter is best and you can add essential oils to it to mask the smell.  The smell dosen't bother me now but it used to.  You don't have to melt it, you can use it as it is.  I melt mine a little in the microwave and keep stirring it to make it creamy, otherwise it's kinda hard but melts once it gets on your skin.  I got mine from here.... http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_products.htm - http://nasabb.com/catalog/shea_butter_products_240179_produc ts.htm For moisturizers the only one I can think of from the store that dosen't have mineral oil is Cantu.  It's a good one.  I usually buy mine online though.  http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php - http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/conditioners.php  <-----this site has great moisturizers.  I love the Amla and Olive heavy cream.  It's my staple.  I'm going to try the Sidr Tree Butter soon. Thanks for sharing info about the Qhemetbiologics range. I went on to the website and i thnk i have just found what i'm looking for my hair needs . I panicked alittle as its rather difficult ordering all these  products online overseas with shipping/ handling costs. The closest i found to getting this range is from a company called  http://www.mariposaimport - www.mariposaimport a indedependent distributer named Lori (and very helpful too) dedicated to natural hair lovers around europe/ worldwide. The Amla heavy cream sounds  just gr8

Your welcome.  I'm glad you found something that would be useful for you.  I hope you will like the products.  I waiting on my order to come in now.  I ordered the Amla and Olive heavy cream and the Sidr Tree Butter.  I can't wait!