Black SOAP or African Black Soap

Black Soap, also known as African Black Soap (Anago Soap, Alata Simena,or Ose Dudu), has long been used to heal problem skin.

Ingredients:       Black soap is made from the ash of locally harvested plants and barks such a plantain, cocoa pods, palm tree leaves, and shea tree bark.

African Black Soap is traditionally made by hand in Africa. Research has revealed that black soaps might contain many different ingredients, but majority of black soaps contain various oils, like the coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, shea butter and cocoa butter. They also contain ashes from different plants, like shea tree bark, banana trees, cocoa pods, and plantain leaves. Along with these water is used as a base for producing these soaps.

First the leaves and bark are sun-dried and then roasted in a kettle or pot at an even, constant temperature, which is important to ensure color, texture and smell.

Then water and various oils - palm oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil (including shea butter and cocoa pod powder) - are added to the mixture and stirred for at least a day. After that, the "soap" is  left to set for two weeks to cure. Oftentimes the soap is made by women and is fair-traded, though not always.

Some of the many PROMISES of AFRICAN BLACK SOAP:
1.Helps to remove scars caused by acne.
Since acne is not caused by dirt, but due to the release of excessive oils within the skin, the soap cannot remove acne. But use of African black soap helps to remove scars cause due to acne.

2.Helps to remove skin irritations.
Use of black soap helps to remove skin irritations like rashes.

3.Suitable for all skin types.
Black soap can be used for the treatment of problems on all types of skin including the dry and rough, oily and moderate skins.

4.Beneficial for skin diseases.
Black soap is very beneficial for reducing the discomforts that are associated with skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema

5.Helps in removing make-up.
Black soap not only cures skin problems but can also be used as a perfect cleanser for removing make up. It removes every bit of chemicals that can spoil the skin and help to make it clean and fresh.

6.Delays ageing on the skin.
Regular use of black soap helps to remove facial lines that are mostly early signs of ageing. Thus black soap can be used to delay ageing of skin.

7.Benefits to oily skin.
Regular use of black soap helps to remove extra oils form the skin. It is thus useful in preventing the formation of pimples and other problems associated with oily skin.

8.Benefits to the hair.
Black soap can be used for cleaning of hair. After cleaning use your regular conditioner for shiny lustrous beautiful hair.

 

The TRUTH:      I have bought several brand of ‘African Black Soap’. I have bought some from Akuwood, then  got the Dr. Woods from Amazon and another bottle by Body Organiks {all pictured}.

I am really impress with this soap, I have used it on my face and skin {all over like a shower gel}. It cleanses very well. You need to moisturize well afterwards. As it gives it a real deep cleanse when it comes to the face and body.

Now using it on my hair, I used it a number of times on my hair and I am also very pleased. My first impression was that it reminds me of when I use the soap bars of either {Aritha OR Shikakai}. The ABS cleansed my hair better though but it made it felt very strong as those soap bars did. It cleanses by scalp by removing any build I may have experienced from products I have used and it also remove and excessive oil build up, BUT it did not felt as if my hair was stripped, it felt very clean, strong and the smell I liked.

I have tired both the soap (cake type) as shown in the first imagine above as well as the liquids in the picture(s), they are both nice either ay, but I honestly prefer the ABS in liquid form.  So much easier to work with on both the skin and especially the hair. All in all the soap in hard form works just as well as the liquid and liquid as well as the soap in form. Both yield good results.

After I cleanse my hair with the ABS I then proceed to DC with moisturizing conditioner. When I use on my skin I also use a moisturizer than moisturize my skin also.
I will be using black soap for cleansing my hair as well as my skin for a while to come. I am hoping to reduce sulphate shampoo by replacing them with African Black Soap.

Rating: 5/5

Price: varies