What's the difference.....(coconut oil vs. shea butter)

[Julesn]

...between coconut oil and shea butter? I am currently using coconut oil, but was thinking about trying some shea butter also. What experiences have you all had w/each?

Thanks!

Julie :)

[detritus]

Coconut oil is much, much lighter. I really liked shea butter when I was around the length in your siggy because it acts like a light pomade or hair wax. Now that I've gained a little length I find it just plain too heavy. It really softens my ends though, so I've been thinking about mixing up one of the shea recipes floating around here.

[Missie]

I have the whipped shea butter from Chagrin Valley, the earth blend with patchouli oil and I so much want to use it in my hair but it just doesn't work for me.. my hair doesn't seem to be able to absorb it... but if shea butter does suit your hair, the fragrance of the patchouli in the earth blend is awesome

[manderly]

Shea is VERY heavy. I rarely us it and when I do I only use it on my ends overnight prior to washing. It absorbs ok overnight to where I could be seen in public if necessary though. It's got the texture of paste until it starts to melt, then it is like a thick pomade texture.

[TwirlyTresses]

I rarely use shea butter on my hair either--it's just too heavy. But I love it on my skin, especially in the winter.

[lora410]

To me coconut is more oily then Shea butter. I have raw organic Shea and i just melt a tiny bit between my palms and smooth over my hair. It feels sorta odd for about 30 seconds and then your hair feels normal again. It really helps soften up hair and I find it not nearly as greasy as coconut oil.

[Ashley]

Is it really that heavy for most people's hair?

I use shea after almost every wash, on damp hair as a leave-in. I just melt a dab of it between my fingers and use it all over the length and ends. It makes my hair wonderfully soft! :)

[Missie]

Julesn, try some shea butter for yourself.. the raw organic type is probably the best. If it doesn't work for your hair your skin will love it for sure :)

[Cinnamon.locks]

Coconut oil made my hair crunchy and so dry and stiff, it was way too greasy for my hair, it left it very greasy on top and some length and very dry and crunchy in the last 8 inches, not my best experience with oil. On the other hand, Shea Butter is a gift from heaven for me. I have been using it for 3 weeks and so far i love how my hair feels with shea butter vs coconut oil. my hair is not crunchy or dry, the ends are soft and silky even when i smooth alot of it on my ends in a braid. I used it 2 days ago after washing and condish and my hair became like new! it felt virgin, soft and shiny and so silky. i used very little of Kimo's shea butter, aloe and oil mix, which you can use any oil in that mix. i spread it on wet combed hair and bunned it for a few hours, then let it down to air dry and 12 hours after washing my hair it dried to feel soooo soft and shiny, i highly recommend anyone trying this recipe. i have baby fine, basically straight hair and it did not weight my hair down at all, my hair actually felt thicker, more bouncy and with more body, plus softer than it has felt in the last 4 years.

My skin loves the recipe also, it penetrares quickly and leaves my skin soft and dewey, something every woman wants when trying to look younger. the slight lines around my eyes and mouth have basically disappeared even when i smile or laugh. Kimo's recipe is a god-sent for me. and i thank Kimo for sharing her recipe. you can find this recipe and many more in the recipe board. and the best thing about this recipe is that it is recommended to be used with coconut oil. so you get the benefits of both, shea butter and coconut oil and you can mix as little or as much as you desire.

[Euphony]

Funny, I've always found coconut more greasy than shea, but come to think of it, I've always used whipped shea butter on my hair. That could be why. I should try whipping some shea with coconut - bet my hair would love that since it loves both oils so much.

[LadyMoon11]

Funny, I've always found coconut more greasy than shea, but come to think of it, I've always used whipped shea butter on my hair. That could be why. I should try whipping some shea with coconut - bet my hair would love that since it loves both oils so much.
I have also found coconut oil to be more greasy than Shea. I do not use whipped shea.
Both work well on my hair. I do find the coconut oil leaves my hair more greasy. I usually use coconut oil on damp hair only, if I use it.

I prefer shea of the two. Shea butter is my dry hair saviour. I swipe a bit on my ends when my hair is dry to keep any frizzies down, or keep tangly ends in order. If I want to brush through my har, I apply a bit of shea on the ends and then brush. Softness. :inlove: My hair is very soft with shea butter- never feels heavy. I use a very small amount- melted in my hands before applying.
The coconut oil I use for deep overnight damp-bunning conditioning. If I get coconut oil anywhere near my scalp, I will have very greasy looking hair through several washes- so I just keep it on the ears down level.
They are nice mixed together, too! An overnight shea/coconut treatment = silkiness & happy hair. :D

[n3m3sis42]

The coconut oil I use for deep overnight damp-bunning conditioning. If I get coconut oil anywhere near my scalp, I will have very greasy looking hair through several washes- so I just keep it on the ears down level.
They are nice mixed together, too! An overnight shea/coconut treatment = silkiness & happy hair. :D

I have this same problem with coconut oil.

Sadly, I cannot use shea butter because my hair HATES it. Some people who have latex sensitivities also have problems with shea butter, and I guess I am one of them. My hair and skin both get dry and yucky if I put unrefined shea butter anywhere near them. They will tolerate and in some cases even like shampoo bars or soaps that contain unrefined shea as an ingredient, but that's about it. It makes me sad.

[Shanarana]

My hair did not care for shea butter for some reason. I always preferred coconut oil anyways. I couldn't take the smell of it so I'm thinking I may have gotten the wrong kind.