Ever wonder how African women keep their skin looking young and flawless and what is their best-kept secret? African Black Soap! I will show you how to make African black soap recipes 3 different ways, from easy recipes to well…more complicated if you are up for a challenge!
This miracle handcrafted face and body soap is said to be better than any skin treatments, toners, lotions, astringents, gels & creams you will ever try. Don’t get turned off by the look of black soap, it is well worth trying.
Authentic black soap is handmade from plant-based ingredients in Africa and the traditional black soap recipe includes cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil.
Black soap, also known as anago soap, alata samina or ose dudu, has long been used for healing multiple skin problems. It is made by sun-drying and roasting locally harvested African plants, such as plantain, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves and shea tree bark. Water and oils such as coconut, palm and shea butter are added, and in some blends, tropical honey as well.
Black soap originated with the Yoruba people in Nigeria, Benin and Togo. It is believed that Yoruba women traders, who sold tomatoes and peppers, introduced black soap to Ghana. These women were called Alatas (pepper traders) and alata samina was a term created by the Ghanaians that meant the pepper traders soap.
Cocoa butter is a natural fat extracted from the cacao bean. It is an extremely effective moisturizer and is readily absorbed by the skin, making it a top recommendation for the treatment of eczema and dermatitis.
Shea butter or karite butter is made from the nuts of the karite tree and is used to heal burns, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis and sores, as well as dandruff and stretch marks. Its moisturizing properties make it a go-to for combating wrinkles, while increasing circulation and promoting cell renewal. It also contains cinnamic acid, which protects the skin from harmful solar UV rays.
Coconut oil is extracted from coconut meat and is rich in saturated fatty acids that lock in moisture. This makes it super beneficial for dry skin or sensitive skin types. Its antifungal and antibacterial properties make it great for removing makeup or even as a deodorant.
Most of the time coconut oil is replaced by palm oil but because palm oil contributes to deforestation, it is best to use coconut oil instead.
Lye, commonly known as potassium hydroxide, is used in making liquid soap and was traditionally made with wood ash and rain water. Black soap uses banana leaves that are naturally rich in potassium, making them a great choice for making lye.
Try your local african or asian store, they may carry them frozen or even fresh if you are lucky!
Plantains are fruits that look similar to bananas but are longer and have thicker skin. The peels of this fruit are roasted in a clay oven to produce an ash. This can be used in replacement to lye. Plantain peels are packed with iron and natural vitamins including vitamin E and A. Vitamin E helps calm irritated, itchy skin while vitamin A boosts collagen production, which reverses signs of ageing.
Plantain peel ask is difficult to find as a final product but you can actually make it if you buy plantains and burn the peels over a grill until they are ashes. Plantain should not be confused with banana, they look similar but plantain. Plantains are lower in sugar but higher in starch. Ask your local asian or african store if they have any!
Potash includes a wide array of soluble compounds that are found in leftover burned plant ashes such as plantain leaves or cocoa pods. it is used as a replacement for lye and is an essential ingredient in making black soap.
The main ingredient is plantain leaves, which makes potash once it is burned over a fire and can be used as a replacement for lye in the black soap recipe.
The difference between potash and the other substances is the solubility in water, which implies that potash will dissolve in water whereas the other compounds will not. This allows the potash to be separated by dissolving it in water and then filtering out the insoluble compounds. Soak the ash in water overnight and the potash will all dissolve into the water. Then the solid waste can be filtered out.
Use a filter paper to separate the potash from the rest of the compounds. Now we are left with just potash in water.
To separate the potash from the water, simply evaporate the water and leave the potash as a crystal. Place the solution in a pan on the stove. To get the best crystals do NOT boil off all the water and instead stop heating once a few small crystals start forming and let the solution slowly evaporate and let large crystals form. Once the pan has cooled, scrape the crystals out.
Check out this video to see the visual process!
For those with oily and acne-prone skin, African black soap can be a miracle product because it gently exfoliates the skin, clearing clogged pores of excess oil, sebum and debris, without over-drying. This is effective because drying the skin too much can actually trigger more oil and sebum production. Furthermore, it deeply cleanses the skin and has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which help clear up acne and even out skin tone all the while lifting dead skin.
Be patient, as black soap can take a few weeks to reach its full effectiveness and some people may even experience a skin purging effect, as the soap naturally detoxifies the skin. Don’t let those initial breakouts demotivate you and use it consistently for 2 to 3 weeks to see results.
Break a small chunk of the soap and rub in between your hands to create a creamy lather and use it to wash your face. If you apply the soap directly to the skin, do it gently, because there could be particles that can tear the skin. Wash and rinse with cool water to reduce the possibility of stinging and redness.
Removing the skin’s oils every day can lead to dehydration, resulting in the skin feeling irritated and dry. Therefore, depending on the type of your skin, adjust your usage to maybe 1 to 3 times a week if you have dry skin. Furthermore, black soap can soften and start to slowly 1disintegrate when left exposed to moisture. It can also develop a thin white-colored film when exposed to air so store it in a cool, dry place. Also, some people are not a big fan of its smell!
Are you ready to make your own DIY African black soap? Here are three recipes you can make at home from easy to more complicated!
P.S – Remember not to use the actual soap bar on your face, because there are grains in the soap that might scratch your delicate skin. Instead lather it in your hands and wash your face, it works great!
The first is the easy “melt and pour” recipe which involves no handling of lye. Just order this premade melt and pour black soap base (made using 5% African Black Soap from Ghana) from the link below and get started. Simply cut the soap base into smaller cubes and melt it. Add some optional essential oils, fragrance, botanicals and additives and pour into your soap mold. Once your soaps have set and fully hardened, simply remove from the molds and wrap. This is the easiest and least time-consuming recipe.
Get the melt and pour black soap base here.
Recipe 2 – Making African black soap from scratch
This second recipe is more technical than the first because it involves making your own substitute lye with banana skin/leaves or cocoa pods. Roast them until they turn to ashes and then add shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, safflower or sunflower oil, and vegetable oil. Cook it for a bit then pour into a mold. When it has somewhat hardened, cut it into bars and cure for a few weeks. This recipe is probably the closest to the real thing albeit the extra hard work.
To read the full instructions, head to this website.
This recipe is an alternative to the above and it substitutes ash of plantain leaves with coconut carbon. The lye is dissolved into water and then the oils and butters are mixed into it and cooked on low heat. Finally, the coconut carbon is incorporated and then the mixture can be poured into molds. If you can’t buy coconut carbon or lye in your local area, this recipe isn’t for you.
Here are more details on how to make african black soap.
Happy soap making!
If making your own black soap feel too adventurous but you are curious and would like to try it, you can buy quality African black soap online.
Though there are many brands out there, beware of the fake ones! Yes, there are many sellers out there selling fake black soap. Here you can buy raw African black soap, which is made from locally sourced ingredients and is 100% pure and natural. It is vegan friendly, fair trade, hypoallergenic and cruelty-free. Once you use this soap, there is no turning back! Yes, it is that good!
Needless to say, you will be amazed by the results. It’s a soap that has the properties of a toner, night cream, acne cleanser and much more!
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View Comments
I like your recipe l am interested am also in Nigeria
Very interesting more grace to your elbow. Please how and where can l get the raw African black soap
Thanks for this ...am for Nigeria you get all this right