If you’ve ever dabbled in organic and all-natural beauty products, shea butter is probably a key ingredient in hair and skin care. But what is shea butter exactly, and where does shea butter come from? How has a native nut from West Africa taken the beauty world by storm?
What Is Shea Butter?
Shea butter comes from the natural fats inside the tiny, almond-shaped nuts on wild-growing African Shea Trees. At AlataGold, we exclusively use unfriended, organic, high-quality shea butter ethically sourced in Ghana. Unrefined shea butter means no chemicals or preservatives are added during the extraction process. Unrefined shea butter retains all of its incredible natural properties.
Historically, the Shea Tree was considered to be sacred by many African ethnic groups. Even today, the trees are critical to the area’s economic status. Shea butter is even dubbed “Women’s Gold” in Ghana because of its valuable income source for so many West African women.
Where Does Shea Butter Come From?
Women in Ghana locally source our fresh, organic shea butter. African women have a long history of collecting and transforming shea nuts into multipurpose butter. The tradition lives on today. Typically, harvesting and production of shea butter are left in the hands of the incredible, strong, Ghanaian women. AlataGold relies on local villagers to separate the nut from the fallen fruit, then boil and let the butter float to the surface. The butter is then milled and filtered for impurities, packaged in blocks, and shipped to us to bring to you.
The long journey from seed to cosmetic product takes long hours and labor of love by women in West Africa. These women, typically in rural areas, work in groups to ensure there is shared prosperity in the community.
What Is Shea Butter Used For?
This wonder butter has been a critical ingredient in cosmetics for centuries. From hair masks, moisturizers, and scalp treatments to even cooking – shea butter can be used for just about anything! The high concentration of Vitamins A, E, and F and fatty acids helps soothe acne, heal burns, reduce inflammation, hydrate parched skin, and calm eczema.
Women Supporting Women
AlataGold is a proud supporter of the Global Shea Alliance, an organization promoting sustainable, ethical practices and standards for the shea butter industry. Initiatives like the Global Shea Alliance are imperative to the livelihoods of rural African women.
