Head skin. - What to put on them to maintain

[Bataboom]

I read some people use hand lotion and such to put on the goat skin head of a djembe. What would you use on goatskin and bufallo skins of congas and djembes to maintain the heads from drying and cracking?

[mco]

The following applies to djembes only. Generally, if you play your drum often the naturally occuring oils from your hand are enough to keep the goatskin head from drying out. Depending on your climate and time of year (winter especially), you may find your hands drying out and becoming chapped. The African drummers I haved played with all use shea butter to keep their hands and drumheads from drying out. If your drumhead is in need of some moisturizing, rub some shea butter between your palms (don't use too much), and then play your drum. Don't apply shea butter directly to the head.