African traditional
black soap is one of the most healthful yet unheard of soaps you will find.
Made from dried plantain skins, palm leaves, cocoa pod powder,
and kernel oil for an all-natural cleansing process. Plantains skins are
largely what make this soap so effective. Plantain is a fruit that grows
in Africa & South America that looks similar to a banana, except it is
much larger and tastes altogether different. You can find plantains at
many ethnic or international grocery stores. It is a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. When black soap is made, the skin of the
plantain is dried under the sun and then roasted in a clay oven. The heat must be constant in order to
achieve the perfect brownish black color, texture & smell. Afterwards,
cocoa pod powder is added. Cocoa pod is the shell of the cocoa fruit and
also has natural healing properties.
The next process is
very precise. The roasted plantain skin is mixed
with palm and palm kernel oil to form the soap. The roasted plantains
determine the color of the soap. The longer the plantains are roasted, the
darker the soap.
African black soap is soft with an organic shape. It has a delicate texture and a natural,
earthy smell. It is not oily, and can be used for hands, face, body and
hair. It is most commonly found in Ghana, however other countries have
their versions of black soap as well. Other words for black soap are Alata
Samina, Anago Samina which comes from the Twi language in northern Ghana.
The benefits of
black soap:
- Helps deep clean
skin.
- Works on most skin
types including rough and dry or sensitive skin
- Helps clear skin
bumps and spots
- Helps relieve
acne, oily skin & other skin problems.
- Great for removing
makeup
- Works against
premature facial lines and wrinkles
-
Can be lathered and used as a shampoo. |
