I bought a container of shea butter at a craft fair. When I opened the lid to get some and use it I find that it is quite hard. I was surprised.
How am I going to use this stuff? And I must use it because it cost a lot.
I usually swirl a fingertip over it to both warm it a bit and get a thin layer on my finger and smooth it over elbows, heels and anywhere where skin needs softening. A little goes a long way.
Other times I’ve gone for the gusto and dug a hunk out of it which I then rubbed in my palms to warm and used it like any other lotion.
Sure smells nice!
I prefer the results of and smell of cocoa butter. I actually just bought a container of a brand I’ve never tried and it was remarkably solid, much like your shea butter I assume.
I dig a hunk out of it and smear it on my heels before I put on my socks in the morning. I get awful heel cracks, and this stuff is pretty much the only thing that helps.
I also smear a small (very small) amount on my hands before I drum. It keeps my hands from splitting during the drumming, and lightly conditions the head of my drum at the same time.
Okay, I’ll try it! Thanks!
I get nasty patches of dry skin in the winter, and it really helps with that. Think of it as a sort of concentrated lotion; it will soften up as you rub it on, and you don’t need very much.
So where do you get just plain shea and cocoa butter? I’d like to try some but can’t find it in stores. All I find is various lotions containing some (probably small) amount of the butters. I must be going to the wrong stores…
redtail23, I’ve found cocoa butter sticks in the ethnic hair and skin care section at Dollar General stores and the like.
cool, I’ll take a look! Much better than the high-dollar froo-froo places I figured I’d hear about! 
Thanks. j