FAQs

Frequently asked questions

If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please contact us.

What’s the difference between shea butter based and non-shea butter based cosmetic products?
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Shea butter is a natural emollient and humectant widely used as a hair conditioner and skin moisturizer especially in the coldest and driest seasons
due to its high fatty acid and triglyceride contents. It locks the moisture in the skin and hair making it soft and hydrated. Particularly outstanding is the
high fraction of unsaponifiables consisting of bioactives (triterpenes, tocopherols, phytosterols and cathechins) that are anti-inflammatory, sun
protection properties, wound-healing properties and anti-oxidants. The unsaponifiable content is absorbed by the skin and makes it pleasantly soft and supple.  Non-shea based cosmetic products do not have the naturally-occurring actives of shea butter but rather contain added
essential ingredients to achieve the benefits needed in the product. Therefore, it is understandable that the shea butter in cosmetic products is an important factor as compared to products without shea butter in achieving a healthy skin, hair or health.

Are the TAMA products also suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
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Yes! TAMA Products are 100% natural, free from animal-derived ingredients, synthetic or petroleum derived ingredients and not tested on animals.

What is the difference between refined and unrefined shea butter
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Unrefined shea butter has a creamy, pale-yellowish or ivory colour and has a distinct nutty scent. The shea nut is processed under controlled
conditions and no added ingredient is involved during extraction which preserves the natural efficacy of the butter. Refined shea butter
on the other hand is the processed form of unrefined shea butter. It is almost white with little or no distinct nutty scent due to the processes involved in refining. Refining involves chemical processes like deodorizing and bleaching or usage of chemicals that remove most of the bioactive content which reduce the therapeutic properties and nutritional value of the butter.

What is the difference between black and shea soap?
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The shea butter soap is very moisturizing because 50% of the oils is shea butter and is ideal for dry skin. The black soap has an antibacterial effect, since it contains not only the antibacterial properties of neem oil and coconut oil but also natural plant extracts which help to soothe irritation and inflammation and remove pimples and bacteria from the skin surface.

Are there certificates for Tama Products?
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The Shea Butter contained in our products is certified by the US National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205) as 100% organic - ECOCERT -
Certificate of Organic Operation. The same applies to the conditions of production of our African partner Sekaf Ghana Limited, which have also been
controlled and tested by ECOCERT and meet the requirements of the Directive (EC) No. 834/2007.

In addition, TAMA products are notified via the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP) of the European Commission in accordance with the
directive Article 13 L 1223/2009. They are also registered with Ghana Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Health Canada and Kenya Ministry of Health.

Why is the hair oil or the body oil sometimes firm or solid?
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Both oils consist basically of liquid substances and should arrive also in this condition. However, due to transport-induced temperature differences, the oils can solidify. The oils are in their natural forms are composed of fat molecules known as fatty acids which determine the melting and freezing points of the oils. The hair oil and body oil solidify in cooler temperatures (from approx. 19 ° C) and their physical states are dependent on the prevailing temperature. This proves the high quality and natural composition of our products - simply put the bottle in tepid or warm (not hot!) water bath and the oil liquefies itself within a very short time without losing quality.

Can I also use Tama products for neurodermatitis?
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Yes! In the case of neurodermatitis, shea butter can significantly alleviate the consequences. Affected persons report that after the application of shea butter, a velvety film has formed on the skin after some time, which remains there for a long time.

Can I use Tama products as sun protection?
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Yes and no! Pure, unrefined shea butter has a light natural sun protection factor. However, this sun protection factor is only about SPF 4, so that it alone provides adequate protection only in the case of pre-bred skin or weak sun. If an excessive sunbath has taken place (sunglasses), for example, The Tama Body Oil has an exceptionally soothing effect.

Can I order larger quantities of pure shea butter?
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Yes! If you want to purchase larger quantities of pure shea butter, you can always contact our sales department via email or telephone. We are able to deliver Shea butter in quantities of 1kg or more. Prices and delivery times depend on the individual conditions. We would be pleased to make you a personal offer.

Why is black soap black?
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The black soap is black because one of the raw materials which is the cocoa pod ash is mainly made up of plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pods, tree barks that were first sun-dried and then roasted before they are being burned to ash. The ash is subsequently leached and the leached water (black colour) is used to saponify the shea butter and other oils. This gives the black soap its dark colour.

When should you use shea soap and when you should use black soap?
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In principle, both soaps can be used at any time - as desired and intended. For those who bathe or shower several times a day, it is recommended to use our Shea Butter Soap in the morning so that the skin is moisturized for the entire day, giving the skin a special feeling of freshness.
In the evening, on the other hand, our Black Soap is particularly suitable due to its antibacterial properties, so that contamination of the skin, which
inevitably results during the day due to environmental influences, is intensively cleaned and thus the skin also before the sleep go fresh and clean. For skin problems such as acne, dandruff or neurodermatitis, our "black" is also highly recommended.

What are the differences between organic and conventional shea butter?
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Organic shea butter is processed from nuts collected in reserved or wild areas where there has not been any known activity of humans such as farming. The butter is produced according to organic rules and regulations from nut picking to packaging label requirements to ensure that there are no chemical contaminants present. Organic shea butter is fully traceable, documented and requires a certifying body (like EcoCert and USDA National Organic Program) to ensure the nuts have been grown and harvested naturally and that the finished product is organic. Organic shea butter is the purest form of unrefined shea butter.

Conventional shea butter is produced from nuts that are not fully traceable and documented, and can be collected in parklands where human activities are not controlled. The processing of the nuts into shea butter is not regulated according to organic protocols, chemical contaminants may or may not be present and the finished product is not certified as organic.

SeKaf Ghana Limited produces organic shea butter and is certified by EcoCert and USDA National Organic Program.

Is Sekaf a fair trade company?
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SeKaf Ghana is currently not a certified fair trade company and currently does not market fair trade products. Still, SeKaf does implement fair trade principles to uphold environmental, labour, and development standards and expects a 2018 third-party audit of our fair trade systems. SeKaf Ghana was created to reduce poverty in West Africa through a market-oriented approach. Social entrepreneurship is in our core DNA, and at the core of why SeKaf exists.

What is the minimum quantity that can be purchased?
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Our minimum quantities depend on the product and destination. Please contact us for more details.

What are the prices of the products?
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Please contact us for current prices and promotions.

What are the costs of freight to some countries?
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Freight costs depends on the quantity ordered and delivery destination. We are able to do both Full Container Load (FCL) and smaller orders than FCL. Please contact us for more details.

CONTACT US

SeKaf Ghana Ltd.
P.O. Box TL 2209, Tamale
Nyankpala Road, Near Utrecht Football Academy Kasalgu,Tamale (Northern Region), Ghana
Mobile: +233 (0)268-48-92-98/+233 (0)268-48-93-01
Office: +233 (0)372-095-708
Email: sales@sekafghana.com

TAMA® BY SEKAF GHANA

About SeKaf Ghana LTD