If you are on a healthy hair journey, the chances are that you have heard of Chebe powder. Chebe powder has been used for centuries by African women to grow healthy long hair.
If your hair breaks off quickly, your hair is dry and frizzy, or there’s no length retention, then chebe powder could be the remedy you seek.
Table of content
What is Chebe Powder?
Chebe powder is made of Shébé seeds (from the croton zambesicus plant), mahllaba soubiane seeds, missic stone, cloves and samour resin. The powder has a mild fragrance and is used to coat the hair strands. Chebe is excellent for all hair, including relaxed or natural hair.
Because of its small ingredient list, chebe powder is excellent for those seeking natural and non-toxic beauty buys, especially since some hair products can be packed with sulfates and unpronounceable chemicals.
Benefits of Chebe Powder
- Chebe powder helps to keep the hair moisturised. Our African hair is prone to dryness which leads to breakage. If you have thick hair like me, then you know how hard it can be to keep moisture on the hair for even a whole day. Chebe is excellent for locking in moisture for longer and strengthening your hair.
- Chebe protects the hair. Regularly coating your hair strands with chebe powder and oil gives the hair a protective barrier. This protection and moisture retention allows the hair to undisturbed from the harsh elements of the sun and dry arid temperatures that often cause hair breakage and split ends.
- Chebe reduces knots. Suppose you find it challenging to detangle your hair due to single strand knots and find yourself ripping through your hair when combing. In that case, chebe powder can eliminate that problem. The weight of the powder keeps the hair stretched, reducing shrinkage and removing knots.
How to make Chebe Powder
Chebe powder is made up of natural plant-based ingredients. These include Shébé seeds (from the croton zambesicus plant), mahllaba soubiane seeds, missic stone, cloves and samour resin.
Here’s how to make chebe powder
You’ll need:
- Chebe (lavender croton) powder – 3 tablespoon
- Mahalaba (cherry kernels) – 1 tablespoon
- Coconut oil – 3 tablespoon
- Misik (incense resin) – 0.5 teaspoon
- Cloves – 0.5 teaspoon
- Roast all the seeds
- Blend all the seeds.
- Sieve to collect only the fine powder.
- Add the coconut oil and mix properly.
- Store in an airtight container.
The colour of the chebe varies from light to dark brown and depends on the different techniques used to extract and grind the powder.
How to use Chebe Powder
There are so many ways to use Chebe, but the hair butter is by far my favourite way, so I’ll start with that. Pick a method of application that is easy for you and will fit your lifestyle.
Chebe Powder as a hair butter
Add the oil and chebe powder to a glass bowl—place the bowl in a hot water bath on low flame. Stir constantly and heat for 5 minutes. After that, strain and set aside.
Melt 200g of any hair butter of choices like mango, shea, cocoa or kokum butter. Add chebe infused oil. Place in fridge for 30 minutes to solidify. After that, whip butter till you achieve desired consistency. Finally, store in a dry container.
Most importantly, apply to damp hair only
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Why this works
Hair butter is a great alternative to oils. They are thicker and help to hold in moisture longer than oils. This hair butter has all the goodness of chebe incorporated into it. This will strengthen weak, damaged hair and keep dry hair soft and manageable. Bonus points for the hair butter because it is great for protective styles such as twist out, braid out, Bantu knots, and sleek buns. In addition, they are also perfect for laying your edges and smoothing your ends.
Pros of this application method
- Super moisturising
- Easy application
- No residue in the hair
Cons of this application method
- Longer preparation time
- Slower results
As a pre-poo mask
Mix equal amounts of Chebe with coconut oil until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to wet hair only along the shaft of the hair, avoiding the scalp. Cover hair for at least 2 hours. Rinse thoroughly. Continue with your wash routine.
Why this works:
Coconut oil is great for penetrating the hair shaft. Coconut oil is predominantly made up of a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid. This gives coconut oil a long, straight structure, which is more easily absorbed deep into the hair shaft to strengthen the hair.
Chebe has ingredients that will make your hair softer and bouncier.
Applying this paste to your hair before you wash it can reduce the amount of water absorbed by the hair shaft and the degree to which the cuticle swells. This makes it less prone to damage and breakage while it’s wet during wash day.
Pros of this application method
- Super strengthening
- No residue in the hair
- Fast preparation time
Cons of this application method
- Messy application
- Slower results
- Can clog bathroom hole
As a deep conditioner
Mix 1 teaspoon chebe powder with 1 cup aloe vera gel, half cup coconut milk and one tablespoon of any oil of your choice. Whisk ingredients to mix properly and apply to clean damp hair.
Cover with a shower cap for 30 – 45 mins and finally rinse off completely with cool water.
Why this works
Aloe vera is a fantastic hair conditioner and leaves your hair all smooth and shiny. It also makes the hair easy to detangle.
Coconut milk has protein and essential fats, which can promote hair growth or prevent hair loss. Together with aloe vera gel, it will soften the hair.
Pros of this application method
- Super strengthening
- Fast preparation time
Cons of this application method
- Messy application
- Slower results
- Can clog bathroom hole
Using Chebe Powder as a leave-in conditioner
Mix equal amounts of Chebe with any sealing oil like castor oil or butter of choice like mango or shea butter. Mix until it forms a paste. After that, apply the paste to wet hair only along the hair shaft, avoiding the scalp. Style hair as usual and subsequently reapply by first soaking the hair and applying the paste every three days.
Why this works
Sealing oils like castor oil just literally sit on top of your hair. Once a heavy and thick oil is applied to your hair, it creates a seal. That seal is a barrier that helps prevent moisture from getting out, making this an effective leave-in conditioner.
Pros of this application method
- Super strengthening
- Faster results
Cons of this application method
- Residue in hair
- Messy application
- Can clog bathroom hole
As a hair oil
Add one teaspoon of chebe powder into 1 cup of sealing oil like castor oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil or shea butter.
For cold infusion
Infuse for 4 – 6 weeks in a cool dark area. Regularly stir every week to assist infusion. After that, strain and apply to damp hair.
For heat infusion
Firstly, add the oil and chebe powder to a glass bowl. Secondly, place the bowl in a hot water bath on low flame. Stir constantly and heat for 5 minutes. Finally, strain and apply to damp hair only.
Why this works
Oils like jojoba oil and chebe help lock in moisture, keep the hair moisturised for days and prevent damage. More importantly, infusing chebe into the oil gives you all the powerful benefits of chebe without leaving residue on your hair.
Pros of this application method
- Easy application
- No residue in the hair
Cons of this application method
- Longer preparation time
- Slower results
I suggest that you perform a patch test with the product in a small section following these steps before using it on all of your hair.
How to get the best results
Chebe powder requires a particular method of application.
The method I recommend for type 4 hair is called LGC: “L” stands for liquid or water to moisturise your hair before any hair care product is applied. “G” stands for any natural hair gel such as aloe vera gel… “C” stands for chebe paste, chebe oil or chebe butter.
However, if you don’t have a natural hair gel, ensure your hair is damp before chebe application.
A quick summary
I have used chebe powder as a paste, oil and butter. My favourite way to use it was as butter. The application was easy, the smell was minimal, and I could style my hair without the fear of residue or stain. It reduced shedding, and I found that detangling my hair after using chebe was super easy.
You can find plenty of reviews on youtube, different application methods, and before and after results using chebe powder. To sum up, I recommend you start using chebe as an infused oil or butter before going all in and using it as a paste. All in all, the benefits of chebe powder make it worth the hassle of preparation.
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