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What Is Shea Butter?
Learn what shea butter is, where it comes from, how it is made and why it is widely used in skincare, haircare and soap making.
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Shea Butter
Everything you need to know about choosing, using and buying quality shea butter.
About Shea Butter
Shea butter is one of our foundation ingredients. We have supplied it since 2017, source directly from Ghana, and supply makers, small businesses and brands across South Africa.
This resource centre brings together our guides on shea butter types, uses, storage, sourcing and buying — everything you need to make confident choices.
Shea Butter Guides
Learn what shea butter is, where it comes from, how it is made and why it is widely used in skincare, haircare and soap making.
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Follow the traditional process used to turn harvested shea fruit and nuts into fresh, unrefined shea butter.
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Understand the difference between yellow and ivory shea butter, including how each type is traditionally produced.
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Compare refined and unrefined shea butter and learn how processing affects the butter’s colour, scent, texture and uses.
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Find clear answers about the colour, scent, texture, storage, shelf life and everyday use of unrefined shea butter.
Read the FAQ →
Learn about our direct sourcing relationships, Ghanaian supply partners, quality standards and experience supplying South Africa.
Read our story →Choose Your Shea Butter
Best for: traditional use, rich body butters and natural skincare.
Shop Yellow Shea Butter
Best for: trying the different types before buying in bulk.
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Direct From Ghana
Our shea butter is sourced directly from women's cooperatives in Northern Ghana. We work closely with our supplier partners to ensure fair pay, sustainable practices and the highest quality butter.
Straight from Ghana, no middlemen — better quality and fairer prices.
Working with women-led cooperatives that produce the butter by hand.
Traditional methods that protect the butter's natural properties.
Practices that respect people and the land they harvest from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ivory (unrefined) shea butter is the natural off-white butter. Yellow shea butter has a golden colour traditionally from the addition of borututu root. Both are natural — the choice comes down to your use and colour preference.
No. Our shea butter is 100% unrefined and raw, so it keeps all of its natural vitamins, nutrients and skin-loving properties.
Yes. Shea butter is popular in cold-process and melt-and-pour soap for its moisturising, conditioning qualities. See our soap making guide for recommended percentages.
Yes. Melt it gently over low heat or a double boiler. Avoid overheating, and let it cool slowly (or temper it) to reduce graininess.
Graininess happens when the fatty acids re-crystallise unevenly after temperature changes. It's still perfectly usable — gently melting and quickly cooling it restores a smooth texture.
Yes. We supply small and bulk sizes to makers, small businesses and brands across South Africa, with bulk pricing available. Contact us for wholesale rates.
Shop Isivuno Naturals shea butter, available in small and bulk sizes.
