What is African black soap?
African black soap is traditionally made in West Africa from locally harvested plants like plantain skins and leaves, cocoa pods, and shea tree bark. The plants are sun-dried and roasted to produce ash, giving the soap its iconic dark color.
The ashes are then combined with palm oil, coconut oil, and shea butter before the mixture is left to cure. The resulting soap is chock-full of antibacterial oils, phytochemicals, and antioxidants, making it a deeply nourishing treat for nearly all skin types.
What are the ingredients in African black soap?
Black soap is made from carefully selected plant-based ingredients including coconut oil, raw African shea butter or shea tree bark, cocoa pods, and plantain skin.
The plant parts are collected, sun-dried, and roasted until they turn into ash. Then, different types of plant fats, such as coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and other fats are added to it and stirred on the heat for 24 hours. Once it solidifies, the soap is cured for two weeks before it is ready for use.
• Plantain Skin: It contains antioxidants, such as riboflavin, vitamin C, thiamine, and folic acid.
• Coconut Oil: It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains antioxidants.
• Palm Kernel Oil: It is an excellent moisturizer and emollient
• Palm Oil: It is derived from the palm fruit (and not its kernel) and contains beta-carotene, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants
• Shea Butter: the best moisturizer to ever exist.
Benefits of Using African Black Soap
1; Deep Cleansing - Removes bacteria, dirt, and impurities effectively, even better than some medicated cleansers.
2; Exfoliation - The rough texture from ashes helps exfoliate and remove dead skin cells to improve skin tone and texture. Vitamin A also helps brighten the complexion.
3; Prevents Razor Burn/Bumps - The oils and butter can soothe skin irritation from shaving.
4; Helps Mild Rashes - May improve eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis rashes, but needs more research.
5; Treats Fungus - Some evidence it can control fungal conditions like athlete's foot, toenail fungus, and dandruff.
6; Moisturizes Without Clogging Pores - Strikes a balance with shea butter and coconut oil to moisturize but rinses clean.
7; May Reduce Wrinkles/Lines - Shea butter and coconut oil may help plump wrinkles by boosting collagen.
8; Antioxidant Protection - Helps protect skin against environmental damage and discoloration.
9; Reduces Inflammation - Vitamins A & E provide anti-inflammatory benefits for conditions like rosacea.
10; Treats Acne - Can help exfoliate, open pores, and reduce acne inflammation.
11; Treats Dandruff - Can used as a shampoo, but some butters may worsen dandruff for some.
How to use African black soap
Use African black soap just like any other soap. Wash your body and face, and leave a bar on your bathroom counter for handwashing - some folks even use it as a shampoo.
Because of the deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation black soap provides, it's a good idea to ease it into your skincare routine. Start by using black soap two to three times a week to see how your body reacts before making it your go-to cleanser.
