African Black Soap: The Growing Popularity Of This Natural Soap And How You Can Benefit From Using It

African Black Soap has become more popular among consumers in the western world as it becomes more important for many buyers to use beauty products that are biodegradable and natural and because of its many benefits.

For many years, this soap has been made from ingredients including palm oil, raw shea butter, and coconut pods, which are found in various West African countries, primarily Nigeria and Ghana, but also Mali and Togo. This soap is packed with emollients and vitamins that work well for thorough hydration, gentle exfoliation, and deep cleansing. Authentic soap of this type is a healthy addition to your health and beauty regimen.

Depending on where the soap is made, this soap may contain different ingredients. For example, the type of soap made in the Nigerian region, known as Dudu Osun soap, contains wild honey, palm ash, glycerin, and lime juice, in addition to the basic ingredients mentioned above. Dudu Osun is an excellent treatment for skin blemishes such as acne blackheads and is also helpful in diminishing uneven skin tones such as dark marks and blemishes. Honey makes Dudu Osun valuable for softening and soothing skin, but if you have sensitive skin, this type of soap can dry it out. You may want to apply a lotion after showering or bathing with Dudu Osun soap.

Ghanaian-made soap, known as Alata Samina, is usually made from banana skin, which is an excellent source of iron and vitamins A and E. The banana skin is carefully dried in the African sun and then roasted inside a clay oven. It is only roasted for a precise time, to achieve the correct smell, texture and color. In some areas, they may use cacao pods, the shell of the cacao fruit, instead of bananas. This soap is also excellent for treating acne, with its natural healing properties. Like Dudu Osun, it is useful for treating dry scalp and will make your hair clean when used as a shampoo bar. If you have nut allergies, African black soap may not be the soap for you, as shea butter is made from a nut.

If you find African black soap that is almost too black in color, it may have had artificial coloring added to it, and it was likely commercially manufactured with other impure ingredients. Organic soaps are usually more brownish in color and have no scent unless added. After bathing or showering with this soap, you’ll want to store it somewhere away from your tub or shower, perhaps in a soap box, as African black soap can shrink due to its glycerin content. You also shouldn’t be surprised if this soap falls apart after you’ve used the bar, as this is common with this type of soap.

Unlike soaps that are cold processed, African black soaps are made over an open fire, so they retain the ashes from the burned leaves, which will add to the excellent exfoliating properties of the soap. Color variations range from slightly dark blackish to brown. If you want to be sure that the soap you are buying is authentic, avoid added dyes, as genuine soaps made in Africa do not usually have them.

African black soap is also wonderful for hair care. It is rich in glycerin and works well as a conditioner. It will leave your hair quite light and soft. Natural, gentle moisturizers can even add a bit of curl or wave to your hair.