Shea Butter, the trick to growing eyebrows?

The eyebrows serve to protect our eyes from dust, sweat, or even rain. It's worth noting that, unlike eyelashes, our eyebrows can have up to 1,000 hairs. They have a life cycle of about 4 months, composed of three phases: growth, stagnation (catagen phase), and shedding (telogen phase). The growth phase varies from 1 to 2 months: therefore, one must be patient to see the initial results of eyebrow growth.

For an eyebrow to grow properly, it is essential to have a healthy hair follicle. This requires proper hydration, nutrition, and blood circulation. It is also important to protect your eyebrows from free radicals that can accelerate hair loss.

Although shea butter is known for its skin benefits, there are no studies that certify its ability to stimulate eyebrow growth. However, it does hydrate, nourish the epidermis, and protect against oxidative stress at the hair follicle level, which prevents hair loss. To enjoy its benefits, massage a dab of pure, unrefined shea butter between your hands and apply it to your entire eyebrows. Leave it on overnight and remove any excess the next morning if necessary.

The shea butter also possesses other beneficial properties for the skin, divided into two distinct parts: a saponifiable fraction and an unsaponifiable fraction.

• The saponifiable fraction essentially represents the composition of shea butter. It primarily contains fatty acids. Stearic acid is known for its emollient, nourishing, and protective properties. Oleic acid is a lipid that stimulates the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands and helps combat skin dryness. Thus, the saponifiable fraction acts as a "re-greasing" agent, helping to nourish the epidermis and maintain hydration, which is essential for a healthy hair follicle.

• The term unsaponifiables refers to the bioactive agents responsible for the beneficial properties of shea butter. These include antioxidants that absorb UV rays, such as cinnamic acids and karitene. Vitamin A is essential for the proper development and maintenance of hair follicles. It helps protect hair by stimulating sebaceous glands and sebum production. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals caused by oxidative stress. It stimulates oxygenation and blood circulation in the hair follicles and helps combat premature hair loss.