# How do you use shea butter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340 "2008-12-09T02:19:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/1 "2008-12-09T02:19:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/2 "2008-12-09T02:38:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/3 "2008-12-09T02:44:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/4 "2008-12-09T02:50:46Z")
Okay, I’ll try it! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/5 "2008-12-09T03:20:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/6 "2008-12-10T14:38:56Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/7 "2008-12-10T16:43:28Z")
**redtail23,** I’ve found cocoa butter sticks in the ethnic hair and skin care section at Dollar General stores and the like. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-shea-butter/476340/8 "2008-12-10T21:38:45Z")
cool, I’ll take a look! Much better than the high-dollar froo-froo places I figured I’d hear about! 😉 Thanks. j