Intro to Chebe Powder African Hair Growth
What is Chebe Powder?
Chebe Powder is a creation of the village women of countries like Chad, Niger, Northern Nigeria, South Sudan, and parts of Ethiopia, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.
Chebe powder is an invention out of necessity. Women use it as a means to maintain their hair to prevent it from breakage. It is important to recognize the dry climate of these places and how it can affect hair growth for these women.
What does Chebe powder do to hair?
The blend of water, karkar oil and chebe when applied to the hair shaft, forms a protective barrier around the individual hair strands. This protection allows the hair to be undisturbed from the harsh elements of the sun and dry arid temperatures that often cause hair breakage.
What is Chebe Powder made of?
Chebe powder is a mix of croton (referred to as shébé seeds from the Croton zambesicus plant), mahleb seeds (Prunus mahaleb), clove, and acacia gum (samour resin). These ingredients are accessible to these areas and are found often in the marketplaces.
How do I use Chebe Powder?
It’s important that Chebe is used correctly in order to achieve the desired results.
To use as a Pre-Shampoo hair mask:
Mix equal amounts of Chebe with an oil of your choice (like Karkar oil, castor oil, even shea butter) until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to wet hair only along the shaft of the hair. Cover hair for at least 2 hours. Rinse thoroughly. Continue with your wash routine.
To use As a Leave-in:
Mix 1 teaspoon of Chebe with 2 fl oz of oil (like Karkar oil, castor oil, even shea butter) until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to wet hair only along the shaft of the hair. Style as usual and carry for up to 3 days before washing.
*We do suggest that you perform a patch test with the product in a small section following these steps prior to putting it to use on all of your hair.
Why does Chebe Powder smell burnt?
As a part of the process, the seeds are roasted on an open flame before they are ground by hand and sieved. The result is a soil-like colored powder with a strong scent. The scent is char-like ash. When used with karkar oil, the scent is somewhat diffused.
Where does Awomi Naturals Source their Purely Chebe Powder?
We trade with the women in our Northern Nigerian network. They are known to have family and do business in Niger, and Chad. We have developed a working relationship with these women and recognize the tensions occurring in this part of the world. Our goal in working with them is to increase their economic independence in a way that does not endanger them or upset their culture.
