To say that beauty is important to us is a gross understatement. Sure, we may know that we are gold on the inside; true gems (and some of us are still diamonds in the rough) but we want the outside to reflect that too.
It’s not always enough to know we have a beautiful personality, we want to know our skin and hair are easy on the eyes too. This is even more so in a society where beauty is said to be ‘relative’, and you are measured against a rigid standard that does not fully accept diversity. Honestly, the half has never been told.
This has launched us into a never ending urge to define and assert what beauty is to us, and we aim to perpetuate our ideals of what beautiful hair and skin looks like.
We will often go the extra mile to seek out the perfect regimen to achieve enviable beauty. We want a heavyweight all rounder that can address it all; enter the African black soap*.
Though it has been used in African cultures for centuries, in recent years we in the western world have been seduced by the popular African export Shea butter* because of its moisturizing effect on skin and hair.
We seem to be bitten by the “everything organic” bug, which is not a bad thing since it has caused a wave of health consciousness which can only benefit us in the long run.
So heightened is our enthusiasm when it comes to all things natural that some of us are convinced that a journey to the motherland would yield our ultimate haul of hair care products.
These days, going green with haircare is all the rage so why not African black soap since there can be many benefits of African black soap* in your hair and skin regimen?
What Is African Black Soap
African black soap is the name given to the textured soap made from cocoa and plantain ash, milled by Africans for centuries. It may come in a variety of dark shades, which makes it hard to pinpoint an actual color.
When it comes to the production of authentic African black soap, each village has it’s own trade secrets passed down from generation to generation. This is to ensure the authenticity and potency of the product, as well as to guard against exploitation from those who wish to imitate it.
Essentially, making authentic black soap is quite a lengthy process. The plantain skins and cocoa pods are left to dry in the sun, then roasted just right, to get the perfect texture. The longer the plantain skins are roasted, the deeper the shade of the soap. Palm oil and shea butter* are then added along with one or two other ingredients that individual tribes may have in abundance and deem beneficial.
It is then left to cure for at least two weeks, the longer it stays, the better. The end product is a light, organic smelling crude looking bar that which can in no way be mistaken for a milled soap. In Africa, it is mostly used to bathe newborns, but it is really an all-in-one kind of product since it can be used for hair and skin as well as laundry.
LOOKS LIKE SOME TYPE OF MEAT TO ME
Already know!!
wow O_O I have this at home and I never use it cuz it looks so distasteful. Well then, time to start using it 🙂
I think I am going to try it, that was my reasoning as well!
LOL! I can see how you might be turned off. Many of the distasteful looking things are quite good for a myriad of things 🙂
Is it in Jamaica and where
Hey Vanessa try Beautiful Earth Natural Hair Studio on Constant Spring Road or in Montego Bay. You can also try some health food stores.
Go on Amazon.com an oder it they ship to Jamaica
Black soap dries my hair out really bad unless I have product build-up. But otherwise, I love it! 😀
Maybe you should try the tips mentioned to alleviate the dryness.
Ewh…y it gotta look like that! Whats in it
Something called potash which is actually roasted plantain and cocoa pod skins, shea butter and palm oil.
I use it on my skin and I recommend it to anyone. It gets rid of blemishes, softens your skin, and gives you a glow.
where can i get it from
Kiki, they sell it at most beauty supply stores now. But make sure it looks like the pic, it’s usually wrapped in cellophane/plastic wrap.
Also, Nasabbs is a good place to order it online.
true ive used it before also.. real good
So far I’ve tried Shea Cottages liquid black soap and its not drying unlike the bar soap like the one above.
<3 it!!!
So not the black soap that’s black that is sold in the beauty supply stores?
It is in the one by my house in Kissimmee, but I am scared to buy it
that works well too..
REAL Black soap looks like pic. SOME BSS actually carry it. It looks kinda like a Lil Debbie oatmeal cookie. lol
Good for a beautiful skin
Were in mobay it see
Check the Beautiful Earth natural hair studio down in MoBay too
It doesn’t look the best but it works wonders. I use it from head to toe. I just ordered more last night.
Really?
LOVE IT!! I use it for my hair and I need to start using it for my skin. This harsh winter weather is taking its toll on my skin. Thanks for the reminder!!
I use black soap everyday I use to hav baf acne scars no more thanks to black soa
Never seen it look like that
Where can u get this soap from???cuz i have bad blemishes plz help
Hey Tiara Jones what this look like…
Great stuff !
Jhosetta M. Gaines-Trahan No what’s at the beauty supply store is a ‘knock off’ so to speak. They add black coloring and chemicals. Real African Black Soap looks like the picture above, may vary in color slightly from lighter to darker brown. But very good for your skin.
SOME Beauty Supply stores are carrying the real soap now. But, I agree there are some out there that are just regular soap with dye added.
Meechie Meechie I buy mine from cleopatraschoice.com or agbangakarite.com Dudu Osun is a good brand too.
it does work good i like it.
Think I may try it!
Shayla Lawrence maybe you should liquefy it and add essential oils so it doesn’t dry your hair out so much. Shred the soap with a cheese grater, add 1-2tsp of almond or argan oil, add 2 tsp of glycerin and 2 cups of boiling water. Mix well, let is disolved completely. ..shake the bottle often for a few days before using and TaDa! Good for face or hair without bejng too dry.
That sounds like a great idea!
Thanks I’m gonna try that
me 2
Thank you Sonia Ebanks-Williams where do I find it? I want to try it. I started to buy that black soap from the beauty supply before but didn’t.
I live in Houston TX
This soap is amazing
Too drying for my skin…
Jhosetta M. Gaines-Trahan I’m in NJ and find it easily in NJ and NYC… Maybe a health food store near you might be able to order you some. Or if you have an African Braid shop close I would ask the stylist if they have or know where you could grab some.
This is great stuff
lol at first i thought that was hog head cheese! Ok I’ve read the benefits and will definitely be buying some pronto. I have the driest skin in the winter
Can somebody tell me a good website that sells the REAL 100% African Black Soap???
@Robyn Walker Amazon.com has it really cheap and it’s 100% real.. 🙂
Jhosetta M. Gaines-Trahan try Amazon…someone just said it’s cheap and 100% authentic. I might just have to order some myself..lol
From where?
My thought exactly!
I’m a user of the African black soap and it does wonders. I deal with oily skin and acne from time to time. This soap has really cleared my skin. I use my bar as it is a bar. I store it in a soap dish Yes. It will cause some dryness to some ppl but i use Clean and Clear moisturizer after (from Walmart) prevent that, and it helps for those low on time. Hope this helps someone.
Been using for 3 years on my face
I used to use it, but it was a little drying on my skin.
Its the only thing i will use to wash my hair with and it doesn’t dry your hair out ..
Sounds good
that looks so disgusting but it sounds good for hair and skin, idk if ill use it though
Too harsh for my skin…it burns my face.
Amazing soap….its all i need plus shea butter, for my skin.
Robyn Walker Amazon.com
I wanna try it
Yes I live in NC now and its has every thing I ever known growing up.
I’m in Texas and Sprouts sells African black soap.
African West soap amazin!
Order from Amazon.com
I love African Black Soap. I started with a popular brand, which was a bit drying. Then, I found a more authetic one. I use it to wash my hair. I slice off a sliver at a time–it has the consistency of potatoe pudding. It leaves my hair so moisturized. I highly recommend it.
My parents bathe and wash me with that since I was born and I used to wash clothes with it when I was still in Togo, Africa.. Now I’m 32 years old living in the US and still using it… I love it
also good for eczima
Looks like well seasoned meat!!!! 😉
OMG I love this soap, I make a shampoo out of it, it will get your hair super clean, I use it for a face wash, I also use it for a body wash. it smells kind funny but I add vanilla extract as a preservative and to help it smell good. I recommend this if you have a problem with acne break outs and really oily skin I swear by it. I get mine off amazon.
Lol whn i 1st saw this pic, i thought it was some kind of bread or cake lol
Looks good to me!
Kiki Keishaboo Arnold the beauty store . Even if you’re not near one, you can go to Walmart in the soap section and get the black soap. Works like a charm .
This soap look horrible but it does wonders for your skin.. I’m not sure if I want to try it in my hair, it’s a bit harsh.. A great combination with it is the raw unrefined shea butter.. Apply it to your skin when it’s still wet.. Does wonders!! 🙂
It looks like hog head cheese lol
I have ordered mine from Nasabbs.com and also SOME Beauty Supply stores carry the real deal. It should look like the pic, kinda like a Little Debbie oatmeal cookie and be shrink wrapped. If you Google Black soap and see the pics, the ones that look like regular soap but just Black are fakes. It should look JUST like the pic and is rarely oval shaped.
I will have to get some…thanks
I love black soap. I use it as a facial wash and made a shampoo with it. Mix it with oils such as coconut, shea and olive, your fav moisturizing shampoo, a little water and voila!! Shampoo! If its too harsh on your skin I recommend turning it to liquid form using water and adding olive oil or shea butter..
Kmsl..
This soap cleans your skin Soooo nicely!! Feels squeaky clean right after u use it 🙂
Ive used it in my hair and it grows my hair!!
I love this soap
I’ve been using it for my daughters and my self. It’s great for anything from discoloration to eczema to dry, flaky scalp. I follow up with raw shea butter as well.
You can order it online @ bambolabodyscrubs @etsy.com
I use it on my face & it’s wonderful
I used African black soap and raw unrefined shea butter. I use apple cider vinegar as a face toner.
So proud to see this here,I’m Nigerian$this is made locally here.you won’t believe Nigerians don’t even appreciate this soap as much as some of you.I want to learn to make this cos it seems there are less people making this stuff here.hard to find
I have yet to try 100% African black soap. However, I do use Shea Moisture African Black Soap bar for my face and body and it’s amazing! My skin is soft and my complexion wonderful. It does have African black soap as the base and they have added other natural ingredients. The bar is BLACK and has pieces that look like oats which I believe is from the African black soap base. You can get Shea Moisture African Black Soap at Walgreens, Target and some local beauty supply stores. Eventually I do plan on trying the original 100% version though. For now Shea Moisture’s will do. 😉
Hello everyone, first time posting here, very interesting, informative stuff here, just wondering, will this soap be ok for my 5 yr old daughter’s hair and skin? Thanks
Yes Debra. It is often used on newborns in Africa. The authentic kind is not harsh but if you want to play it safe, dilute in water before using.
No thank you does not go with my skin
I use it to clarify my hair and my scalp gets very clean. My son uses on his acne and I make liquid hand and body soap for daily use. I can’t live without this soap!!
My hair LOVES Alaffia black soap… It gives my hair a ton of slip! And when I wash it out my hair is so clean and clarified 🙂 … I wash my face with it too.
Where or how can you get authentic African black soap?
Liquid black soap, to me, is less drying than regular shampoos – even sulfate free shampoos.
i swear my face is addict to this soap
Luv this soap! I buy it by the case every 3 months!
Where do u buy it from?
I love it! I buy the Nubian Heritage Brand. It does great with evening out the texture of my skin
I don’t think this works well or everyone. It made my cystic acne so bad worse than it ever has been in my life. But I wish I could use it bc the benefits are amazing for those who do.
Im addicted to it. I purchase it from a supplier on ebay. It comes from Ghana and is wrapped in paper. I chop it up and shape some into bars and liquify the rest.
I love black soap use it all the time