What is African Black Soap?

African Black Soap is a traditional, handmade soap from West Africa that has been used for generations for skin and hair care.

The soap is made from the ash of local plants and bark, such as plantain peels, cocoa pods and palm leaves. These are roasted and then mixed with oils such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil and shea butter.

Our African Black Soap is produced by a local cooperative in Ghana and is 100% natural and vegan. The soap has a dark color, an earthy scent and a somewhat crumbly texture.

How is African Black Soap made?

African Black Soap is made in a traditional way. Plant materials such as cocoa pods and banana peels are first dried and then roasted. This creates ash, which forms the basis of the soap.

Water and nourishing oils are added to this ash, such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil and shea butter. The mixture is stirred for a long time and then aged, so that the soap gets its characteristic structure.

This traditional production process creates a soap with a very unique character, which feels clearly different from a standard industrial soap.

Benefits of African Black Soap

Gentle but effective cleansing
African Black Soap cleanses the skin thoroughly and helps remove dirt and excess sebum, without the skin having to feel tight immediately.

Suitable for skin and hair
The soap is versatile in use and can be used for the body, face and hair.

Nourishing character
Due to the combination of plant ash and natural oils, the skin feels clean, soft and cared for after use.

Great for blemished skin
African Black Soap is often used by people who like to deep cleanse their skin and want to bring their skin back into balance.

How do you use African Black Soap?

Break off a small piece of the soap and rub it between your hands with water until it lathers. Then apply the lather to damp skin or wet hair.

For face and body, rinse off the soap afterwards with lukewarm water. For use in hair, massage the lather in and rinse thoroughly.

Because African Black Soap can be quite powerful, it's wise to start gently. Start with once a week, for example, and gradually build this up, depending on how your skin reacts.

Tips when using African Black Soap

African Black Soap can feel somewhat intense when first used, especially on sensitive or dry skin. Therefore, build up usage gradually.

Store the soap in a dry place so it doesn't become soft. After cleansing, you can optionally use a nourishing oil or butter, such as shea butter or jojoba oil, to provide extra nourishment to the skin.

What makes African Black Soap so special?

What makes African Black Soap special is the traditional way of production and the simple, pure composition.

Our variant is handmade in Ghana and consists of roasted cocoa pods, palm kernel oil, organic coconut oil and a high percentage of unrefined shea butter. It's precisely this combination that creates the characteristic appearance, texture and the way the soap cleanses.

Side effects of African Black Soap

African Black Soap is a natural, but quite powerful cleanser. On sensitive skin, the soap may initially feel somewhat irritating or drying. Therefore, always test first on a small patch of skin and wait 24 hours to see how your skin reacts.