{"id":4355,"date":"2020-11-27T17:24:53","date_gmt":"2020-11-27T17:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africanaskincare.com\/staging\/?p=4355"},"modified":"2024-07-09T16:20:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T16:20:25","slug":"how-is-african-black-soap-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africanaskincare.com\/staging\/how-is-african-black-soap-made\/","title":{"rendered":"How is African black soap made?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The process of African Black Soap making<\/h1>\r\n

Africana skincare prides itself in going to the source of things. We connect with the local people directly (no intermediaries) and learn from them.\u00a0\u00a0We want to transmit this knowledge onto our customers because it is really important for us that when buying our product you know\u00a0WHO<\/strong>\u00a0makes it,\u00a0HOW<\/strong>\u00a0it is made and\u00a0WHERE<\/strong>\u00a0it comes from.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

African black soap has been used for centuries in West African countries.<\/b> It originates with the Yoruba people in Nigeria and Yoruba communities in Benin and Togo. In Yoruba language black soap is\u00a0ose\u00a0<\/em>(soap) and\u00a0dudu<\/em>\u00a0(black).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

With time, its use spread throughout many other West African countries and nowadays is sold worldwide because of the amazing benefits it has.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The base ingredients of black soap are: potash and a fruit derived oil, this can be palm kernel oil or coconut oil for example. You are then free to add any other ingredients to it, such as\u00a0shea butter<\/a>\u00a0for example which is specially great for those people with dry skin because it helps by adding a moisturising effect to it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step by step making of African black soap<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We can differentiate\u00a0two different techniques of black soap making.<\/strong>\u00a0One produces a slightly harsher soap that the other. The difference is in the pounding. One technique integrates the pounding of the soap after it is taken off the fire whilst the other doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Let\u2019s have a look at the first technique<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 1: The palm kernel oil is heated on fire wood for approximately 10-15min.<\/p>\r\n

Step 2: The potash is added gradually to the oil (potash is a mixture of dry cocoa pod husk with water – see picture below). It is important to mention that adding the potash to the palm kernel oil has to be done with a specific technique (you cannot just pour it into the pot). The mixture becomes powerful and can splash and cause harsh burning on the skin.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
\r\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Step 3: It is left on the fire wood for approximately 30 minutes.<\/p>\r\n

Step 4: It is then taken off the fire and put into another container for it to cool down (the first few seconds it starts rising quickly, just like a cake!). Once it has cooled down, the women start moulding it into a ball shape (all kind of sizes), and that is it, it is ready for packaging and sale!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n
\"\"\r\n\n\t\t