African Black Soap Benefits for Hair and Skin

Did you know African Black Soap has multiple benefits for the hair and skin? The soap is made from the ashes of plantain skin, cocoa pods, palm leaves, and palm oil and is rich antioxidants and nutrients that benefit the skin and hair.

In this post you will learn all the benefits of African black soap, as well as how it can be combined with other natural ingredients such as coconut oil and shea butter to make the best hair products.

Black soap, also known as African soap, has been used for many years in African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. It is rich in anti-bacterial oils and phytochemicals which deeply cleanse and nourish the skin and hair.

The soap originated in the Yoruba communities in Nigeria, Benin and Togo and the ingredients for the soap are entirely sourced from West Africa. It has become known by different names including ose dudu, alata samina, and anago samina.

To make the soap, plantain peels are sun-dryed before combined with cocoa pods and baked in a clay oven. The ash from the plantain and cocoa pods is then added to water and filtered. The liquid is mixed in with other natural ingredients such as palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil and shea butter and then the mixture is heated and stirred to form a soap.

The soap has been found to have multiple beauty benefits including moisturising dry skin, encouraging hair growth, reducing dark spots and fine lines, soothing irritated skin and preventing hair loss.

This post is all about African black soap benefits for hair and skin

African Black Soap Benefits for Hair and Skin

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Last update on 2023-03-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

African Black Soap Benefits for Skin

It Protects the Skin from Free Radicals

Since black soap is rich in antioxidants it protects the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals cause premature skin ageing, fine lines and wrinkles. Our skin is constantly exposed to free radicals in the environment from UV rays and pollution. African black soap can not only protect the skin from damage but can reduce dark spots already caused from sun damage.

If you want a simple black soap to protect your skin from free radicals, I recommend the Shea moisture Organic African Black Soap Bar with Shea Butter. It moisturises irritated skin whilst absorbing any excess oil. It also helps to calm and clear blemishes if you have oily skin.

African Black Soap Bar

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It Soothes Redness and Skin Inflammation

One study showed that black soap was useful in treating a variety of skin conditions, including acne, dark spots, razor bumps, eczema, and fine lines. It can be used to calm skin irritations and soothe dry, inflamed skin. Since the ingredients in black soap have both antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an effective natural remedy for sensitive skin. It can also be used to combat athlete’s foot due to its antifungal properties.

If you have irritated or red skin I recommend the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Lotion, with oats, aloe and vitamin E. It’s a very gentle formula made specifically for dry, sensitive skin. The combination of oats and aloe vera along with black soap is extremely soothing and calming for the skin.

African Black Soap Body Lotion

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It Exfoliates the Skin and Unclogs Pores

Black soap contains vitamin A which helps to shed dead skin cells and unblock pores. This, combined with the antibacterial properties of the soap, may help to reduce skin conditions such as acne and blackheads. Regularly exfoliating the skin also has other benefits such as reducing fine lines, and softening rough skin.

If you want to use African black soap as an exfoliant, I recommend using Moroccan black soap which is made from naturally detoxifying ingredients such as olive oil, black olive extract, and potassium. It helps to improve the skin texture and is free from artificial ingredients and artificial fragrances.

Moroccan Black Soap Exfoliant

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It Moisturises Dry Skin

The shea butter, cocoa, and coconut oil in the soap may help to moisturise and soothe conditions like psoriasis and eczema. It is also beneficial in helping to make the skin more supple and thereby reducing stretch marks.

If you have severely dry skin I recommend the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Soothing Body Wash which contains oats, aloe vera and vitamin E. The African black soap helps to calm irritated skin while the shea butter and oats restore moisture.

African Black Soap Body Wash

Last update on 2023-03-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

African Black Soap Benefits for Hair

It Helps to Maintain a Healthy Scalp

Since African black soap is naturally antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial it is an excellent ingredient for promoting a healthy scalp and preventing dandruff. Common ingredients in black soap including coconut oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder, are all packed with nutrients which deeply nourish and moisturise the scalp. It helps to relieve an itchy scalp and exfoliate dry skin.

If you want to use African black soap to assist with scalp issues, I recommend the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo. The product contains tea tree oil and willow bark extract to help hydrate the skin and soothe inflammation.

African Black Soap Cleansing Shampoo

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It Moisturises Dry Hair

African Black Soap contains cocoa butter which has been used for thousands of years as a hair moisturiser. Cocoa butter contains several different essential fatty acids which add hydration to dry hair. Black soap also commonly contains coconut oil and Shea butter which also help to moisturise and softens the hair.

When African Black soap is used to cleanse the hair it won’t dry the hair out the way synthetic shampoos do. If you have dry hair I recommend using an African black shampoo along with a black soap masque as part of your hair care regimen.

Shea Moisture make an excellent African Black Soap Purification Masque. It helps to not only moisturise the hair but also soothe and add hydration to a dry scalp. It contains drops of tea tree to help combat dandruff along with coconut oil, shea butter, mango butter, avocado oil, kaolin clay, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and aloe vera juice which all add hydration.

African Black Soap Hair Masque

Last update on 2023-03-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

It Encourages Hair Growth and Prevents Hair Loss

If there is a buildup of dead skin cells, excess oil, and dirt on the scalp, this can block the pores and hair follicles and result in thin, unhealthy hair. Cleansing the scalp with black soap creates a healthy environment for hair growth and allows the hair follicles to be properly nourished.

Since black soap promotes blood circulation in the scalp, it allows the hair root to get all the nutrients it needs to grow. One study involving mice showed that a good supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles was necessary to have healthy hair growth.

If you are already washing your hair with African black shampoo I recommend adding the conditioner from the Shea Moisture African black soap range. As well as black soap it also contains bamboo, charcoal, tea tree and willow bark which all have scalp nourishing benefits.

African Black Soap Conditioner

Last update on 2023-03-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This post was all about African black soap benefits for hair and skin

Thank you for reading my post about the benefits of African black soap for the hair and skin. African black soap can be used on all skin types and hair types as well as mixed with other natural ingredients such Argan oil, apple cider vinegar or essential oils to make your own beauty products at home. If you have tried African black soap or any of the products I’ve recommended then please leave me a comment below and let me know how you got on!