Hey there,
Out of lurk for a moment
Someone had to wake me up. LOL!!
You've gotten some excellent ideas already. I've got a big ole brick of shea butter that I've got lots of plans for...
Just like the butter we eat, it's great straight up or with as many fancy additions as you can stand.
If you heat it, try to do it slowly over a double boiler and you don't have to melt it all the way. Just soften it up enough to recieve whatever goodies you want to add to it: essential oils, other nourishing carrier oils, whatever.
A year or two ago, I'd would make this fab hair butter that was a combo of shea, cocoa butter, coconut milk, and a ton of essential oils. Don't even. LOL!! I'm old, I don't remember the measurements. The whole mass would expand overnight, I'd whip it again with a touch of honey and store it in the fridge. It was so darn good and I can't remember the recipe. Mind you, this is not the butter Letitia's talking about.
That was yet another experiment.
Anyway, just have fun with the shea. It's one of my favorite things to work with. Let us know what you come up with. I have some pics of non-extension twists in my fotki. Those were done with a shea product I think, but not one of my concoctions. Straight up shea for twists is fine. Looking forward to seeing your results.
p1