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Bacuri and Tamanu: 2 Wonderfully Healthy Hair Butters You (Probably) Haven’t Heard of!

By Jacqueline Samaroo

Hey! Here’s the fourth installment in our series on healthy hair butters. If you’ve heard naturalistas raving about hair butter and you’re wondering, “What? Is hair butter good for hair? Really?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!!”

One of the awesome things about hair butters (apart from the fact that they are fabulously healthy, that is) is that there are so many different kinds. We’ve already covered shea, mango, and murumuru butters. We also took a look at cocoa, ucuuba, and kokum butters. Then, we went on to the goodness of cupuaçu and tamanu butters. Be sure to check out those posts and the upcoming ones, as well!

Each healthy hair butter post includes links to raw, unrefined butters that make the perfect addition to any DIY hair butter recipe. They also include links to hair care products that feature the butters in their formula (check out the one from Gabrielle Union featured here!).

1.      Healthy Hair Butters –  Bacuri Butter

What is bacuri butter?

Bacuri butter is extracted from the oily seeds of the bacuri (platonia insignis) tree. The tree is one of many trees from the Brazilian Amazon with known benefits for health. Bacuri is a dark-colored butter with a strong earthy or mossy scent. It is commonly used in preparations of scar and stretch mark creams. It can also be found in some anti-aging facial creams. Several massage oils and pain-relieving balms, as well as hair conditioners, also use bacuri butter.

Bacuri butter can be used on its own or in hair butter recipes. It is very readily absorbed into the skin but does have the tendency to be greasy before absorption. Keep in mind, too, that this butter can stain clothes and other materials.

Bacuri butter health benefits

Bacuri butter contains several beneficial fatty acids. One of these, palmitic acid, gives bacuri butter its high tripalmitin content. Tripalmitin contains methionine, one of only three essential amino acids that help to supply organic sulfur needed for general health.

Bacuri butter for hair growth

Bacuri butter’s sulfur helps with the strengthening of keratin, a vital protein in the structure of skin and hair. Bacuri butter also

• Stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. These contribute to hair elasticity and how well it resists breakage.
• Works as an excellent emollient to protect, lubricate, and moisturize both skin and hair.
• Contributes to scalp health as it contains antioxidants that help to fight signs of aging, reduce redness, and eliminate blemishes.

Three Bacuri Butter Products for Natural Hair Care

3CayG All Natural Bacuri Butter

This 100%, pure, unrefined bacuri butter makes a great addition to any hair butter recipe. It can also be used on its own for both skin and hair care. This is just one of several types of natural butters by 3CayG.

 

Flawless by Gabrielle Union

Actress and author Gabrielle Union launched her Flawless by Gabrielle Union line in 2017. Her products are specifically formulated for all types of textured hair. Flawless hair care products include conditioners, stylers, and cleansers featuring natural ingredients. Among them is this hair oil treatment.  It contains Brazilian bacuri butter and an impressive list of natural oils, including soybean, sweet almond, coconut, and rice oils.

 

 

Five Butters Set by Paris Fragrances and Cosmetics Supplies

Whether you’ve been DIYing your own hair butter recipe for a while now or are new to it, here’s a real treat you might want to try out! Five butters in one go – bacuri, murumuru, cupuaçu, ucuuba, and tucuma butters. Go ahead and experiment with them to find the one or combinations that work great for your hair!

 

 

2.      Healthy Hair Butters –  Tamanu Butter

What is tamanu butter?

The tamanu tree is native to Southeast Asia but is now also found growing naturally on the coast of East Africa. Wood from the tree is often used in shipbuilding. However, it is the tamanu oil that has come to the attention of modern-day makers of skin and hair care products. It is a rich, green oil cold-pressed from kernels of the tree.

Tamanu butter is made from tamanu oil and (most often) shea butter. Other commonly used additions include beeswax and a variety of essential oils. The resulting butter ranges from whitish to greenish-yellow with a mild and pleasing scent.

Tamanu butter health benefits

Tamanu butter helps to improve skin elasticity. It is also said to aid in healing and is often used on bruises. What’s more, tamanu butter is thought to not only help reduce the appearance of scars but also to prevent them from forming in the first place. It is also thought to aid skin tissue rejuvenation.

Tamanu butter for hair growth

Tamanu butter can be used in DIY hair masks and deep conditioners. Some naturalistas use it as a part of their hot oil treatment routine. Because it is made of tamanu oil and other natural ingredients, you get benefits from each of its components. It is said to help stop hair loss and is also noted for

• Improving scalp health.
• Boosting hair growth.
• Preventing hair breakage and treating ingrown hairs.

Two Tamanu Butter Products for Natural Hair Care

Sulu Organics Unrefined Tamanu Butter

Shea butter, cocoa butter, and tamanu oil come together in this unrefined and organic tamanu butter. It can be used as part of both your skincare and haircare routines. Great for mixing with other kinds of butter and oils in your very own hair butter recipe.

 

Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner

Tamanu butter heads an impressive list of ingredients that come together in this leave-in conditioner from Innersense Organic Beauty. Also in the lineup are organic rice proteins, rosemary oil, honey, lavender, rooibos tea, and oregano. Use in gently towel-dried hair and enjoy its beautifully scented goodness!

 

 

 

 

Do you use natural butters in your hair? Tell us which ones and how!

* This article was originally published here