100% unrefined shea butter

Scott, you want to look for the unrefined version. I am sure you should be able to find some where you live at a local health (food) store.
Failing that, you can try on-line or I believe a few of the artisanal soap makers offer it.

There are a few different ones you can buy with some being more like a cream and some being more solidified.

Good luck.  

Thanks celestino last time I just looked on Amazon just to see what was out there and there were so many choices and sellers, paralysis by analysis set in and I stopped looking.

you'd probably want something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Highest-Quality-...rkt%3D1%26

or this: https://www.amazon.com/Ivory-Unrefined-S...hea+butter

my neighbor is from Ghana and gives my wife some of their unrefined shea butter they get from Africa every now and then.

Thanks andrewjs18

I use it with a mix of glycerin and a bit of grapeseed oil in the pre-shave that I make and love the effects that the hyper-hydrating shea butter has on a shave when used as a pre-shave butter.  Before and after the shave (and during, as many artisan shaving soap formulas use shea butter any more) I think shea butter is really great.

Just remember that a little bit goes a very long way

Glycerin - nice idea. I have a bottle that I haven't used yet.

Tried the shea butter.....way too greasy and it stinks. I like it as an ingredient in soaps though.

Step 1 complete. I have made a shaving stick that is 20% shea butter and the rest soap [mainly a Stirling sample, and a mixture that was already in the stick. Maybe I just love this stuff too much but I am optimistic. Remember, the goal is an excellent preshave stick although I will almost certainly try it for the shave as well.

Ted, I have been using unrefined shea butter as a moisturizer for over 15 years, now, and as a balm/post-shave for over five years since starting DE shaving.
It is fabulous stuff.

I concur. My second wife (1980) played perfessional tennis who loved playing outside, she had skin like an aligator she used shea butter. Because of the cold winters in chicago the tips of my fingers would split open, she recommended the butter it was great, then I began to use it as a balm. When I put it on my hands or face I towel off the top butter grease.

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I ,ve been buying a pound of shea through Amazon the last dozen years. I only use the unrefined it is a hard butter. I have a container that i keep filled also in the winter because it is a hard soap I put the container on the radiator to soften it up.



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Tried the shea butter.....way too greasy and it stinks. I like it as an ingredient in soaps though.

that's why I don't use it as well.

Tried the shea butter.....way too greasy and it stinks. I like it as an ingredient in soaps though.

that's why I don't use it as well.

One thing I have to say about unrefined shea butter being felt to be greasy or stinky: if one ever has the occasion where one has some irritation(maybe a bad shave or reaction to something), this stuff is just about unbeatable, IMHO, to make you're face feel oh, so much better!      

I've also found that like many other things, a little goes a long way with unrefined shea butter.  YMMV!(of course!)

One thing I have to say about unrefined shea butter being felt to be greasy or stinky: if one ever has the occasion where one has some irritation(maybe a bad shave or reaction to something), this stuff is just about unbeatable, IMHO, to make you're face feel oh, so much better!      
I've also found that like many other things, a little goes a long way with unrefined shea butter.  YMMV!(of course!)

+1

I find it has a pleasant 'nutty' smell and the 'greasy' feeling usually dissipates after 30 minutes or so if you rub it well.
Of course, YMMV.