Pure black soap is a handmade substance created by the people of Africa. There are a number of regional variations to its names in the west but generally speaking it is called black soap. As of the recent, the dark brown african soap product has become very popular in the west for its skin rejuvenating properties.
A bit about its background:
– Black soap, also known as ose dudu, anago soap and alata simena, and has been created by the female members of various African tribes for hundreds of years. To name a few, some of the regions of Africa where it is made include Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, where the soap is a West African specialty. Each tribe is well known for adding its own ingredients and secret additions, causing the texture and color of the soap to vary between tribes (however, not too immensely different). However, the product is sometimes manufactured in areas of Europe and the USA, but only the West African Black Soap can be considered authentic given the unique climate conditions in Africa.
Ingredients consist of:
– The soap contains water, the bark of the shea nut butter tree, palm tree leaves, the bark and leaves of the banana tree, the plantain plant and the pods of cocoa. The soap itself also contains some other carrier oils such as hemp seed oil, shea butter, olive oil, coconut, palm and kernel oil (to make it an effective lathering and skin product). The actual content depends on the brand of soap as well as any additional scents, herbs and fruits that are added to the base ingredients however the most effective has been found to have hemp seed oil and shea butter.
The black soap benefits include:
– Numerous claims have been made about African black soap (testimonials) including its effectiveness in being able to cure acne, remove blemishes, help manage dry and cracked skin. Additionally, many people use it as a skin enhancing cleanser due to its ability to reduce the number of visible wrinkles and fine lines.
The manufacturing of pure black soap:
– The leaves and barks of the various ingredients (aforementioned) are shreded and put into a metal vat allowing them to burn until all that is left is the ash. The ash is then mixed with water. The mix is filtered off to remove the larger ash particles. The filtered water is mixed with oils or butters to create the soap. The work is all done by women by hand and the mixing process takes an entire day. The soap is then left to set for about two weeks.
Availability of the black soap resource:
– The black soap is available for purchasing on the internet, and in specialty fair trade shops who support the women of Africa. Always check the label for country of origin and to make sure that the item has been fairly traded. The soap is typically available in block form as well as in lotions and creams as a supplemental ingredient.
Jonathan is a Pure Black Soap enthusiast, looking to promote the most ethical and integrous aspects of the resource and its application in society today. He has recognised that social responsibility and product quality are inseparable entities to compliment our lives. Click to check out a body pleasing Pure Black Soap Product.