African black soap has become one of the beauty and hair care industry’s better-known secrets, thanks to the many benefits that it purports to offer both skin and hair. Show
The benefits of African black soap are wide-ranging. They include:
This article will outline what African black soap is, how it can be used, and even how to make some of your own. This post contains affiliate links and we may earn if you click on them (at no extra cost to you). Please read our full disclosure policy here.
What Is African Black Soap?With antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory qualities, African black soap is a traditional hair remedy that comes from the Yoruba communities of West Africa. As such, it’s known by a variety of different names, including ‘Ose Dudu’ and ‘Alata Samina’. Its composition will vary depending on its origin, but typically African black soap is made from the ashes of cocoa pods, palm leaves, cassava, shea tree bark, and plantain skin. These are mixed with all-natural ingredients palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and coconut butter, left for up to 24 hours, and heated to create a soap. It’s a labor-intensive process that has traditionally been conducted by the women of countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. These ingredients give it its dark-brown, black color as well as antioxidants and nutrients including vitamins A and E, magnesium, and potassium. Because African black soap is entirely natural. It’s really popular amongst enthusiasts of all-natural beauty, as you’re not putting any chemicals or toxins onto your body through its use. But be aware! There are a lot of fake African black soaps available. These these won’t give you the many benefits of the substance and may do more harm than good. So, if you’re buying one, be sure to double-check its authenticity. Alternatively, check out our recipes for homemade African black soap. What Is African Black Soap Used For?African black soap is used for the hair in the following ways:
African black soap is also widely used for skin concerns, and can help with the following:
1. May Help Hair GrowthIf you’re after hair growth, African black soap might just help. In order for your hair to grow, your scalp has to have a steady supply of blood circulating to it. But build-up from excess oil, sweat, and dirt can disrupt the flow of both nutrients and blood to the hair follicle. African black soap contains many antioxidants and vitamins like A and E. Vitamin A in particular promotes the creation of sebum in the scalp. This helps to maintain a healthy level of moisture that keeps the follicle healthy. Vitamin E can help to naturally reduce the impact of free radicals and oxidative stress, both of which can block the hair follicle. African black soap is also deeply cleansing. Its ingredients will vary depending on its origins, but some formulas contain oils like eucalyptus, whereas others may have aloe vera or oatmeal. All of these boost the nutrient and mineral content of African black soap, helping to unblock the hair follicles. This may in turn lead to better hair growth. 2. May Be Anti-AgeingBecause African black soap is so nutrient-dense, it has some major anti-aging benefits. Cocoa pods in particular have antioxidants like polyphenols which have been shown through some research to have anti-aging qualities. 3. Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Fungal, And Anti-InflammatoryAfrican black soap has long been used as a natural acne treatment as a result of its anti-bacterial qualities. It’s also great for people who suffer from skin conditions like eczema or allergies. This is because it is all-natural and deeply soothing. Similarly, if you experience dandruff, African black soap might just be your savior. It will soothe and balance your scalp and strands, helping to naturally hydrate and thereby minimizing dandruff. The cleansing qualities of African black soap are another reason why it may help with hair growth. It balances the scalp and unblocks hair follicles which encourages hair to grow. 4. Moisturizes And Helps To Define CurlsAfrican black soap also has high glycerin and fatty acid content, keeping your scalp and strands moisturized, soft, and shiny – naturally. This is thanks to ingredients including cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter. It can therefore help to better define your curls, keeping them hydrated without weighing them down. DIY African Black Soap Shampoo RecipeAs we’ve already detailed, there are many counterfeit African black soaps available. Making your own is therefore a great way of knowing exactly what’s going into your formula. You can use all of the below or customize the recipe according to what works for you. Ingredients
Method
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Any Side Effects Of African Black Soap?As described above, African black soap is very alkaline – you can rebalance your scalp’s pH levels by using an apple cider vinegar rinse after using African black soap. Similarly, some users of African black soap have reported dryness after using it. You can use a deep conditioning treatment following your use of the shampoo in order to restore hydration. Always remember to patch test your African black soap before use. With the best will in the world, any product – even if it’s all-natural – can nonetheless sometimes cause reactions, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Top 3 Best African Black SoapsRemember, when you’re looking to buy African black soap for your hair, you need to be looking for the real deal. This will typically be soft and quite crumbly in texture (which is why it’s so easy to cut into small shavings in the above recipe). It will tend to be multi-colored as a result of its various ingredients, having a mottled look and a textured feel. It will easily dissolve in water and is very malleable. Fake African black soap is more like every other synthetic bar of soap. It’s brick-like and hard, with a smooth surface. You’ll find it really hard to cut apart and it will neither mold nor dissolve in water easily. Remember, as well as the below pure African black soaps, many companies – such as Shea Moisture – have created hair care products with African black soap. From masks to cleansing shampoos, African black soap has been incorporated into all-natural haircare by a variety of retailers. Below, we’ve chosen the three best pure African black soap bars. Wonderfully Natural African Black SoapThe ingredients of this African black soap are all organic and include coconut oil, shea butter, palm kernel oil, and cocoa pod. It will help to hydrate your skin and hair, intensely cleansing your scalp and strands and boosting your natural nutrients and minerals. The soap follows a traditional recipe, and the company is African-owned and supports fair trade, so a portion of the sale of each soap goes to support the communities in Ghana who create the soap. The glowing reviews are all you need to see to know that this African black soap means business. Our Earth’s Secrets Premium Raw African Black SoapOriginating from Ghana, the ingredients of this African black soap include palm kernel oil, coconut oil, unrefined shea butter, ash from plantain skin, cocoa pod husk, and natural sources of vitamin E. There are no artificial fragrances or ingredients and the soap is made following a traditional recipe. This African black soap is the real deal, so you may find particles of the ingredients in it – as such, don’t rub it directly into your skin, but use a sponge, loofah or washcloth and lather it up. This African black soap is two pounds worth, but Our Earth’s Secrets also do one pound and three pound soap bundles, depending on how much you need. Incredible by Nature African Black SoapPalm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, unrefined shea butter, vitamin E, and plantain skin ash combine to make this African black soap. It’s entirely natural and will work on both your skin and hair to intensely moisturize, soften, and deliver a boost of antioxidant goodness. Lather up with a cloth or loofah and work it into your skin, or add to our African black soap shampoo recipe above. Disclaimer: This site is not intended to provide professional or medical advice. All of the content on LovedByCurls.com is for informational purposes only. All advice should be followed at your own discretion. Ingredients may change at any time so always check the product label before using. Check our full disclaimer policy here. How do you use black soap for hair growth?How to Use African Black Soap to Make DIY Shampoo. Cut off one-third of the bar of black soap. ... . Next pour one cup of warm water over the soap stirring to allow the soap to dissolve. ... . Next, you need to add some moisturizer to ensure the African Black soap shampoo doesn't dry out your hair.. What soap grows hair?Black soap has phenomenal medicinal properties to heal scalp issues and stimulate hair growth. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties, which are great for treating dandruff and an itchy scalp. It's rich in vitamins A and E which both fight free radicals in the environment.
How often should I wash my hair with African black soap?Massage it into your scalp and leave it to work for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing. To treat your scalp without irritating it, limit black soap use to once a month. For more frequent use, opt for African black soap.
How does African black soap help hair?although african black soap is initially claimed to be drying, the oils placed in the solution end up offsetting the dryness and moisturizing the scalp. in fact, the african black soap serves as a clarifying agent to gently rid the scalp of dirt, while maintaining a natural ph.
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