African Black Soap
African black soap comes from West Africa but is mainly exported out of Ghana. It’s made by women for fair trade, allowing them to support their families and communities. While it is considered a luxury type of soap, it is probably one of the most unheard-of soaps on the market. You can’t just walk into your local pharmacy or five and dime and pick up a bar of black soap. In most areas of the United States, this is a product that would have to be specially ordered.
Making of Black Soap
Black soap is made from the ashes of local plants and barks such as shea and palm, cocoa pods, and palm tree leaves. The leaves are left to dry out in the sun, then roasted in a pot which helps to ensure the color, fragrance, and texture of the soap. Then various oils such as palm, coconut, and palm kernel are added along with water. Shea butter and cocoa pod powder are added to the mixture and stirred for two days before being left to cure for two weeks.
Black Soap Ingredients
There are various recipes for black soap, and most tribes and communities have their secret mix of oils, plants, and cooking techniques that account for the color differences. African Black Soap contains honey, Shea butter, Osun or camwood, Palm kernel Oil, Cocoa Pod ash, palm bunch ash, aloe vera, Ume juice water, and a secret blend of essential oils. The soaps exported from Africa are pure and do not contain artificial ingredients like the black soaps made in Europe or the United States. The essential oils used in these products soothe the skin to soft perfection while giving it a luxurious glow.
Black Soap Benefits
Safe for infants
African Black Soap has many benefits, thanks to its natural ingredients. The plantain peels in the recipes give the soap vitamins A, E, and iron. The Shea butter is included in such high amounts that it provides natural protection against UV rays. Black soaps can be used on both your body and your hair. They can help with dry skin, rashes, scalp itchiness, and body odor and are great for sensitive skin. Many black soap makers claim the soaps to be beneficial against skin aging, chronic eczema, acne, freckles, and dark spots. Sellers of African Black Soap also claim that it is marvelous on sensitive skin because of its natural ingredients and can be used safely for infants.
Prevents dry skin
African black soap for acne has astonishing results in reducing blemishes. It cleanses deep into your skin to wash away the dirt and bacteria particles found under the surface. We can also use black soap as a shampoo and eliminate dandruff just after a few uses. There has been some research into the benefits of African Black Soap by the University of Maryland. The university confirmed that the soap helps prevent dry skin and stretch marks. However, even though it is claimed to be appropriate for sensitive skin, it is harsh and hurts if you get it in your eyes. Consumers of black soap have given varying reports of its effectiveness on acne that span the spectrum. Most people report some relief but excessive drying.
Remove Stretch Marks
Black soap gives the skin a deep clean, leaving it radiant, soft, and healthy. It’s also excellent for completely removing makeup from the face. Black soap is effective in treating eczema and psoriasis. Women in Africa use black soap during and after pregnancy to avoid getting stretch marks and dry skin, usually accompanied by pregnancy.
When buying black soap, a person should be careful and pay close attention to what they are purchasing. True African black soap is not found in a hard brick or shaped bar. With the high level of fatty acid in the soap, it is impossible to cause it to be hard enough to stay in a bar shape. True black soaps are in liquid form or a malleable loaf-like shape. There are over 100 different types of black soap being sold on the market today.
You must be cautious about which soaps you purchase because they may contain harmful ingredients. Getting authentic black soap is a challenge. Check the ingredients and make sure they are correct before making your purchase. Black soap doesn’t contain preservatives. If you are lucky enough to find the soap in your local store, you must store it correctly. It is much too scarce to abuse it. When not in use, we should wrap it in plastic. Keep the soap covered in a dust-free environment. Plastic baggies are perfect for storing soap. Please do not leave it in the shower or bath. You want to keep the moisture away from the soap when not bathing.
Use with caution
Based on the research, the African Black Soap Reviews of consumers, and the claims the makers themself make, it would suggest that the soap be used mainly on people that already have oily skin. Soap can dry your skin out. Evaluate it frequently to see if it is causing your skin damage. Don’t use the product if it causes your skin problems. As with any treatment for skin conditions, you should probably check with a dermatologist before continuing the use of the black soap, as there seem to be some effects of overdrying. The reviews say that it is a fabulous product but should be used with moderation. Too much product use will be harsh for you.
Although more clinical research on the benefits of this product is needed, it is safe to use. When you search for this soap, make sure it is authentic because it has been found that many have tried to knock it off in other countries. Some report that in the United States, people dyed ordinary soap black and are calling it “African Black Soap” while charging you inflated prices, making people think they were getting a specialty item. It won’t hurt anyone to use the knock-off product, but consumers are getting ripped off by these hoaxes by being charged $10.00 or more for a bar of soap that should only cost $2.00.
