Raw Shea Butter Guide

Open jar of Sanoun raw shea butter showing its natural golden texture beside folded towels

Raw shea, kept simple

Raw shea butter, without the guesswork.

Warm a little. Press it in. Add more only if you need it.

Your first raw shea ritual

Warm. Press. Pause.

In your palms

Warm it

Begin with a pea-sized amount. Rub it between your palms until soft.

Where you need care

Press it in

Smooth it onto damp skin. For hair, apply it over water or leave-in care.

Three women pausing with raw shea butter resting on their skin

Before adding more

Pause

Let it settle. Look at your skin or hair before reaching for more.

One jar. Many rituals.

Choose where you need care.

Raw shea butter resting on a woman's shoulder before being pressed into skin

For body

After bathing, warm a small amount and press it into damp skin.

After a bath or shower

For hands and cuticles

Massage in a pea-sized amount after washing or before bed.

Hands, nails and cuticles

Baby in a diaper holding an open jar of Sanoun raw shea butter

For you and baby

After bath time, warm a tiny amount and smooth it over your little one's skin. Mommy, remember your own care too. Massage a little into tired legs and feet at the end of the day.

After bath time or before bed

Close-up of moisturized natural curls with defined coils and shine

For hair

Apply lightly over water or leave-in care, focusing on the ends. See the Hair Porosity Guide.

Use less than you think

Swipe to see every ritual

Fresh raw shea butter held by hand, showing its natural texture

Things that may surprise you

Changes are often normal.

Temperature can change how raw shea looks and feels.

Hard or grainy?

For one use, the warmth of your palms softens a hard scoop and melts the tiny fat crystals that feel grainy. This smooths that scoop, not the whole jar. To reset the full jar, set the open glass jar in a gentle bain-marie, keeping water out, until every grain has melted. Dry the jar, then place it upright in the freezer until completely firm.

Too greasy?

Use less next time and apply it over moisture.

Melted?

Place the jar upright in the freezer right away and leave it there until the butter is completely firm. Freezing prevents the butter from cooling slowly, which is when larger fat crystals can form and create a grainy texture.

What should raw shea smell like?

Raw shea has a naturally earthy, nutty scent. Sanoun's is especially mild because the Bougouni cooperative carefully sorts the nuts before making each batch. The scent softens on skin. We invite you to notice it as part of the butter's raw, unrefined character.

Fresh shea fruit held in hands in Bougouni, Mali

From Bougouni, Mali

Fresh each season.

The Bougouni cooperative makes our shea in small seasonal batches. Your jar connects their care to yours.

Make the ritual yours

Use a little. Return when you need it.

That is enough.

Shop Raw Shea Butter Find Your Ritual

Whole-ingredient care, from Bougouni to your home.