8 Benefits of African Black Soap in 2022
As the proverb dating back thousands of years states; There is no need to be afraid of the wind when the roots are deep.
Since the advent of the twentieth century, personal health and skincare have become a trending topic. Theories about how, why, and what to buy from the market today are all over the place. If care is not taken, we fall victim to not only buying the wrong product but causing harm to our skin cells. Despite their short-term efficacy, synthetic skin care products can cause serious and expensive damage to the skin, from acne to eczema not to mention the elephant in the room; skin cancer.
Natural skin and hair care products are not only best for the environment, but they don’t harm animals and are guaranteed to be healthy for you. In the unfolding paragraphs, we aim to discuss the process, benefits, and nitty-gritty of the African Black Soap.
But before that, let’s start from Genesis.
African Black Soap's History
Being one of the world’s most tropical continents (occupying 18 percent of the planet’s total 20 million hectares), Africa is endowed with an abundance of natural resources like its tropical forests, which provide a wide range of plants and herbs critical to the world’s health and beauty industries.
Soaps made from the bark of trees, including Shea Butter and dried Cocoa-pods as well as dried plantain skin, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and tropical honey, have been used by West Africans for thousands of years.
Alata Samina or ANAGO SOAP (Local name for African Black Soap in Ghana) is believed to have been discovered among the Yoruba People in Nigeria and then spread across Cocoa farming areas in Ghana like Adansi Asokwa, New Edubiase, Tepa, Kona Etc. because of the abundance of cocoa pods in these regions.
Because of this, Ghana has become a household name for African Black Soap in the West.
How Black Soap Is made?
Ash (Potash- an alkaline potassium compound) is made by drying and roasting cocoa pods and plantain peels in a clay oven, and this ash is then mixed with water to create LYE. Shea butter and Palm kernel oil are heated for about three hours, while a small amount of LYE is poured into the oil at regular intervals and stirred for an additional two hours. In order to shape the African Black Soap into desired shapes and sell it on the market, it is scooped out and allowed to cool.
Benefits of Black Soap
African Black Soap is rich in Vitamins B1, B2, C, antioxidants (anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and catecholamines), proteins, Folic Acid, Potassium, and Vitamin E among others, making it suitable for use on the skin and also as a shampoo for hairs.
Some of its perks include:
- It is antibacterial and antiseptic. The ingredients of Black Soap make it a perfect cleanser than inorganic soaps due to the chemicals present in them.
- It combats rosacea and acne.Black Soap is a remedy to acne-prone skins because it has Sulfur which is contained in the ash. It contains potent antimicrobial properties that kill off microorganisms causing acne and rosacea.
- It exfoliates the skin. The rough nature of the soap opens up pores of the skin for exfoliating the skin. With time exfoliating dead cells and hyperpigmentation.
- It soothes irritations on the skin and hair. Oils present in the soap stop excessive water loss in the skin during bathing and this combined with its anti-inflammatory properties makes Black Soap great for soothing irritation on the skin and hair caused by eczema or Psoriasis.
- It is anti-inflammatory. The active ingredient in the ash of the soap is sulfur which is a potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory thereby making the skin and hair unsafe for rashes and defects.
- It helps reduce photoaging and aging. Black Soap natural ingredients have antibacterial properties which can help improve certain skin conditions that slow down aging. All damages done to the skin by Ultra Violet(UV) light are repaired by the usage of Black Soap.
- African Black Soap smoothens the skin and improves the skin texture. The exfoliating properties of the soap help dead skin cells to be removed.
- It helps prevent razor bumps and related rashes. The exfoliating properties of the soap and the presence of Sulfur kill fungus and bacteria on the skin. Thus helping with shaving or razor bumps.
Feel free to purchase your black soap in our store.
