RAW BLACK SOAP POWDER

With all that being said you are probably wondering wouldn’t it be better to just buy a Bar of African Black Soap from a local retail Store. No!!! Nothing could be farther from the truth. Yes the bars might be shiny, nicely packaged and smell like perfume (why do they say Natural fragrance when they are made from from Artificial Perfume Well… that’s aa Gist for another day). But, the truth is there are tons of imitation black soaps on the market. Although they claim to be true African Black Soap, they are nothing but Vegetable based soaps that have been Dyed Black. Why are we telling you this? Because we believe it is an insult to the Original Authentic Makers of Real African Black Soap. This is not much different from Amish dolls made in China or American Indian relics made in Singapore. Furthermore, imitation black soap won’t do anything more than any other regular bar of soap made with chemicals. Without true African black soap, you never reap all its therapeutic benefits.

HOW TO USE

Add a little water or Lemon/Lime But Lemon/Lime Preferably, to a spoonful of African Black Soap,More Camwood Powder,Honey etc. Form soap into a paste. Apply to skin. Rinse off. African Black Soap can be made into a liquid by adding more water. Use on face and body. When diluted, may be used to shampoo hair.

Origins of “The Black Soap”

What is Black Soap

Black soap is a dark colored cleansing bar. It is soft and porous and dissolves faster than most cold press soaps. Black soap produces a very rich lather and gives the skin a clean soft feel. Black soap clears up acne, eczema, blemishes and discolorations.

Black soap is 100% natural, Organic and Vegan in origin and process.

Varieties of African Black Soap

The color varies from jet black to light brown depending on the ingredients used in making the soap. The Jet Black is actually the Real Colour of Africa Black Soap Made By the Yoruba People of Nigeria. The Light Brown is Mostly the one from Ghana. The basic ingredients used in Black soap are Shea Butter, Red Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Roasted Plantain Skins, Roasted Cocoa Pods. Other additives like Agoa bark, scents and other oils are optional.
The darker soaps tend to have more of the roasted plantain skin in the ingredients. The oxidation from the plantains make the soap bar darker. For a lighter bar more roasted cocoa pods are used.

Recipes in Black Soap.

How Black Soap is Made

The process of making African black soap is involved, but in the short version, plantain peels are dried under the sun.  The skins (and/or palm leaves and cocoa pods) are then roasted in a clay oven to produce ash.  Water is added to the ashes and filtered.  Ingredients like Shea Butter‎, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, Cocoa Butter‎ are heated and added, and hand stirred by local women for 24 hours. The soap solidifies and moves to the top, is scooped out and the mixture is set out to cure for two weeks.

What Makes Black Soap Different:

• Black soap is made with rare tropical honeys that are known for softening the skin and creating a smooth surface.
• Black soap is also a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. This helps to strengthen the skin and hair.
• Black soap contains a high amount of glycerin, which absorbs moisture from the air and literally deposits it into the skin, making the skin soft and supple.
• For centuries, Nigerians‎ and Ghanaians have used black soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. Many swear by it for skin irritations and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
• Women in Africa will use black soap during pregnancy and afterwards to keep them from getting stretch marks and to protect them from dry skin that is often accompanied by pregnancy.
• Black soap can also be used as a hair shampoo. The shea butter in the soap softens the hair, while the vitamins give it strength.
• Men can use black soap in shaving. The high shea butter content leaves the skin smooth and protected.
• African black soap is unique in that it contains no preservatives, color enhancers, or fragrances. African black soap creates a soft lather without the animal fat additives that are commonly used in soaps made in the US.
• African Black Soap is familiar to many people of African descent for It’s Skin Care Benefits‎.  It has been known to soothe skin irritations and diseases from simple rashes to contact dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as fading skin discolorations and evening out skin tone.
• Women used black soap for Skin Care during and after pregnancy to keep from getting dry skin, stretch Marks‎ and other skin conditions caused by hormonal changes. When the Baby is Born,the soap is also used on babies because of its purity and it was gentle on sensitive skin.

Is African black soap for all skin types?

African black soap is considered to be safe and beneficial for all skin types—dry, oily, normal, combination and even sensitive in some cases. For the most part, users of African black soap have found it to be beneficial, even healing to the skin.

But while some find the soap moisturizing, others might find it drying.   Skin will react in different ways depending on the individual and the product, especially since black soap can vary from batch to batch and can have varying proportions and types of ingredients.

There are numerous recipes and ingredients used in making black soap, which begins with potash from plantain skins and leaves and cocoa pods, mixed with palm kernel oil.  Batches vary, so it’s possible that one batch could be fine for an individual while another has more of a certain ingredient that could possibly cause a reaction in the skin.

Upon first use, even those with oily skin might notice that the skin feels dry and tight. This might last for a week.

It’s believed this is caused by the soap drawing out impurities and excess oils.  After a few days the PH levels of the skin will balance out (which is why it is believed to be good for both dry and oily skin.)

The soap can also cause a tingling, sometimes burning sensation leading to red skin.  This also seems to eventually resolve

Dry Skin

• For some individuals the raw black soap dries out the skin.  Other black soap that includes Shea Butter,or another moisturizing ingredient in the formula will probably be better for dry skin types.

• If it’s drying out your skin, try using less.  A little goes a long way and using too much soap will definitely be drying to already parched skin.  If you have sensitive and/or dry skin start out by using it only once a day.
• Be sure to use moisturizer Like Shea Butter,or oils like Macadamia oil afterwards, especially if your skin tends to be dry, and during winter months when cold weather could further dry out the skin.

Oily skin

• African black soap is great for oily and acne prone skin.  It’s efficient for deep pore cleansing because of its natural exfoliating qualities.  For some oily skin types it seems to keep the skin hydrated without increasing oil.
• Even if you have oily skin you should moisturize afterwards with a non-comedogenic lotion or oil like sweet almond oil and virgin coconut oil.

Cleansing with African Black Soap

• If you are using raw African black soap, take the soap apart and knead it into a ball to make sure there aren’t any jagged edges, and rub between hands to work into a lather.  If you apply the soap directly to the skin, do so gently, because there could still be particles that can tear the skin.
• Washing and rinsing with cool water can help reduce the possibility of stinging and redness.  Avoid getting the soap in the eyes.
• If you have sensitive or very reactive skin, don’t leave the soap on the skin for a long period of time.
• You could experience tingling or a burning sensation in acne areas, open sores and cuts.
• If your skin feels squeaky clean afterwards, it means the skin is too dry. Try reducing the amount of soap that you use.  A very small amount (the size of a marble) can cleanse the face and neck.

Make your own body wash

You can dissolve the soap in purified water and use it as a body wash.  Let it soak for a while and liquefy.   Purified water is not necessary, but recommended because you could experience different results from tap water, since some tap water has more chlorine and can be either soft or hard.

Natural Exfoliation

African black soap deep cleanses because of exfoliating properties, so you don’t need to scrub hard.   Avoid rubbing the skin with raw black soap, especially on delicate facial skin.  Lather up soap in hands first before putting on face. The soap contains ash granules and other debris that might not dissolve quickly and can scratch and damage the skin.

Make Your Own Body Scrub

Mix black soap with brown or white sugar and use it as a scrub.  When making liquid black soap, you can also use the granules that sink to the bottom of the bottle as an exfoliant, but remove any sharp particles—some customers have reportedly found wood pieces (splinters) and pebbles in the raw African black soap.

Reactions to African Black Soap

• If you break out in a rash or contact dermatitis discontinue use and consult your dermatologist.
• If you are latex-allergic you could have latex fruit syndrome and could have a reaction the plantain ash in black soap, as well as palm and coconut oil.
• If you have a chocolate allergy or are sensitive to caffeine, also be aware that there could be a high concentration of cocoa pods (which make the ash) used in the soap.

Care & Storage of Black Soap

Make It Last

I’ve read complaints about African black soap not lasting very long.  If this is the case for you, you’re not storing it properly.  African black soap contains a high amount of glycerin, which absorbs moisture from the air and helps retain moisture on the skin, leaving it supple and soft.  For this reason the soap can soften and start to slowly disintegrate when left exposed.

Since black soap absorbs water, don’t let it sit in a puddle after use.  Keep it dry to keep it from dissolving.  Place the bar on a wooden soap dish with slats to allow the soap to drain.

Before you toss that soap…

• When exposed to air black soap can develop a thin white-colored film.  This is not mold.
• You might even want to cut off a portion from the bar, or cut and roll into small balls and place in a Ziploc bag to make it easier to use daily.
• If you purchase by the pound or in bulk, cut off part of the soap and store the rest.  Store in a cool, dry place.  Leave it wrapped in plastic and then put in a Ziploc bag.