I get my pure, unrefined shea butter from an African merchant, but have also ordered it online in the past. I've been experimenting with using it on my hair for years, but still haven't found the right way to do that because it always leaves a film on my hair and dulls its natural shine.
It was too heavy when I tried to use it after washing my hair. So I've tried mixed it with different single oils and combinations of oils, such as olive and almond, and heated it as a pre-shampoo treatment. But after washing it out and conditioning, I am left with that dulling film on my hair and a weighed down feeling. I get the same results with just using olive oil, though, so I usually stick to light oils like almond and jojoba. I just don't think my hair can handle heavy substances, even though they are supposed to be wonderful. Every few months, I get the urge to try the shea butter again and get the same disappointing results.
I hope you have better luck than I've had if you try it. If anyone else has any tips to share regarding using unrefined shea butter, I'd love to learn them. /images/graemlins/smile.gif