How I came into possession of my first large chunk of real black soap:

Thomas Amoah aka The Shea Butter Man contacted me in January for ideas on how to package the authentic black soap his village of Aburi (25kms outside of Accra, Ghana) makes. We are working on packaging this black soap into clear topped canisters for use in the shower and for travel. Thomas has bought a 1.5-acre compound and plans to hire people who live on the streets of Accra to make shea butter and black soap for the international market and with my help, lotions and creams for African markets.

Origins

Black Soap, Ose Dudu or Alata Samina is a true West African Soap. Black soap has its origins among the Yoruba in Nigeria but receives more widespread use and production among Ghanaians.

Legend has it that the black soap was introduced to Ghana many years ago, by Yoruba traders doing business in Ghana. These traders were women and many were in the business of selling tomatoes and peppers. They were called the Alatas (Pepper Sellers). Samina is an Akan word for soap. The word Alata Samina, coined by Ghanaians, means 'The Pepper Traders Soap'.

Description: In Africa, black soap is the only homemade soap used by mothers to wash their newborn babies as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying for their sensitive skin. This African Black Soap is produced in small batches by hand, using age-old traditional techniques. The authentic African Black Soap is handmade in Ghana from pure virgin oils following fair trade and organic guidelines.

Storage of African Black Soap African Black Soap is a soft milled soap and has a very high natural glycerine content. As a result, it readily absorbs moisture from the air. It must be stored in a dry location or in a sealed container or it will become soft as it absorbs moisture. Black soap exposed to the air will have a thin white-coloured film. This film is not moulded - it is caused by the absorption of water from the air. This can be avoided by keeping the soap in a dry location away from moisture until ready for use.

***When using bath bars - DO NOT allow them to sit in water or they will dissolve into a mushy mess. Keep them on a soap dish with sufficient drainage.

How African Black Soap is Made: All of the ingredients are simple and natural. The soap is made in the traditional way from charred plantain skins and cocoa pods soaked in water to form the lye, which is then added to palm oil. The soap-making process is highly sophisticated and requires hand-stirring for at least a day. The mixture is cooked, and then the semi-liquid soap is scooped out and left to set. After the soap has crystallized, it is allowed to cure for two weeks.

Uses of African Black Soap: African Black Soap is an excellent all-purpose soap. It is recommended especially for individuals with sensitive skin. In Africa, it is known for making smooth skin and is also used to treat skin irritations and other skin conditions. African Black soap can be formed into bars or balls with pressure. As soon as you begin using the soap, the contact with water will make it keep its shape. Also, you can make liquid soap, shampoo or body wash by filling a container loosely with the black soap and adding water to fill (see below instructions). The soap pieces will dissolve into the water and form a versatile soap.

Aroma The scent of the African Black Soap is mild and pleasant.

How to Make Smaller Bars from Large Loaves: If you want, you can just take a knife and cut the soap loaf into bar sizes of your choice. BUT- If you want more uniform bars, you can use your fingers and crumble soap into smaller pieces. After you have your loaf in smaller pieces, you can mould it into smaller bars OR for a more firmly compact bar - you can press the soap pieces firmly into a flat square plastic or wooden mould. Cover the top of the soap with plastic wrap and beat the soap evenly with a soft mallet (also known as a rubber hammer). After the soap is compressed and even - turn the mould upside down, dump out the soap, and cut it into bars. Be sure to wrap them securely in cellophane or a zip lock bag to preserve freshness.

SHAMPOO AND BODY WASH RECIPE 8oz/240ml of shampoo. LASTS 1 MONTH.

100+g (4 oz) African Black Soap

120ml (1/2 cup) filtered water (heated)

Mixing Bowl

Storage Container

Hand Mixer / Stick Blender (optional)

OPTIONAL ingredients:

Don't have the optional ingredients? You can order jojoba, vegetable glycerine, vitamine E and other oils in the DIY section of my online store.

7ml (1/2T) jojoba oil or oil of choice (suggestion: pumpkin seed or hemp!)

7ml (1/2T) vegetable glycerine

2.5ml (1/2t) vitamin E oil (acts as a mild preservative)

2.5ml (1/2t) raw honey (acts as a mild preservative)

2.5ml (1/2t) essential oil of choice (check to see its effects on scalp & hair first!)

Basic Directions:

Crumble into small pieces or grate the soap into a bowl. Next, slowly add 1/2 cup boiling hot distilled water and stir soap into the water. Next, add all of your optional ingredients and stir everything well into the soap by hand or using a stick blender. Cover the bowl and let sit for 24 hours stirring a few times in between. After 24 hours, your soap should have melted well with the water and oils. If you are happy with the consistency - Stir until smooth and pour into a storage container. May use it immediately.

VARIATIONS: If you want your shampoo thicker, add more grated soap and let sit for another 24 hours to repeat the process. If you want your shampoo thinner, add more water and mix well. Use within a month.

For a more dry scalp: Use more oils such as hemp, pumpkin or almond.

For a more oily scalp: For an astringent shampoo, use walnut or rice bran oil.

*Before each use, shake the container well to remix the shampoo. Massage shampoo into hair. Leave in a minute, then rinse. Leave in longer to treat scalp conditions such as dandruff. Repeat if needed.

You can mould the soap into smaller bars or even make it into an all-natural shampoo (see above recipe).