Black Soap DIY: 20 Recipes Using African Black Soap Base

African black soap base is the natural surfactant that makes DIY cleansing formulations possible without synthetic detergents. Unlike solid black soap, black soap base is in liquid or semi-liquid form — ready to be diluted with water and combined with oils, botanicals, and other ingredients to produce finished face wash, shampoo, body wash, shaving soap, and household cleaning products. Every recipe in this guide uses Baraka's black soap base as the foundation. For the complete guide to what African black soap is and where it comes from, see African Black Soap: The Complete Guide. For the complete guide to formulating with black soap base, see Black Soap Base: The Ultimate DIY Guide and Recipes. All 20 recipes in this guide are also available in the 20 Black Soap DIY eRecipe Book — a downloadable PDF with printable recipe cards.

---

Before You Start: Formulation Notes

All recipes use weight measurements (grams). A digital kitchen scale accurate to 1g is required. Black soap base is alkaline — pH 9–11 — which is normal and traditional. Do not attempt to lower the pH; this is the natural saponification pH of traditional African black soap. Patch test any new formulation before use. Store all finished products in sealed containers away from direct sunlight. Most finished formulations last 4–8 weeks at room temperature. For a complete beginner's guide to equipment and technique, see DIY Skincare Kits: Everything You Need to Start. For the history of black soap and its traditional uses, see The History of African Black Soap.

---

Face Wash Recipes

Recipe 1: Basic Black Soap Face Wash

A simple, effective daily face wash for all skin types. The base recipe from which all face wash variations are built.

Ingredients:
60g black soap base
35g distilled water
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Weigh black soap base into a clean bottle or jar.
2. Weigh distilled water separately and add slowly to soap base, stirring gently to combine.
3. Add baobab oil and stir until fully incorporated.
4. Cap, label with date, and shake gently before each use.
5. Apply a small amount to wet skin, lather, and rinse.

Tips: For oily skin, reduce baobab oil to 2g. For dry or sensitive skin, increase baobab oil to 8g. Follow with a small amount of baobab oil or shea butter on damp skin.

Recipe 2: Black Soap Face Wash for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin

Formulated for people who commonly use black soap as part of a face-washing routine for oily or acne-prone skin. Community-reported use — not a clinical formulation.

Ingredients:
65g black soap base
30g distilled water
3g shea oil
2g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and distilled water, stirring gently.
2. Add shea oil and baobab oil. Stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle, label, and shake before each use.
4. Use once daily on wet face, lather gently, rinse thoroughly.
5. Follow with 2 drops of baobab oil or shea oil on damp skin.

Tips: Black soap is drying for some skin types at twice-daily use — start with once daily and observe. Patch test on the inner arm before facial use.

Recipe 3: Sensitive Skin Black Soap Face Wash

Higher oil content for skin that finds black soap drying. Patch test before use.

Ingredients:
50g black soap base
35g distilled water
10g baobab oil
5g shea butter (melted)

Steps:
1. Melt shea butter gently. Allow to cool to room temperature.
2. Combine black soap base and water, stirring gently.
3. Add baobab oil and cooled melted shea butter. Stir until incorporated.
4. Bottle immediately before the shea butter sets. Label with date.
5. Shake well before each use. Apply to wet face, rinse thoroughly.

Tips: The shea butter may give this formulation a slightly thicker texture. If it becomes too thick, add 5g additional water and shake to recombine.

Recipe 4: Black Soap and Baobab Oil Deep Cleansing Face Wash

Slightly more cleansing action for morning use after overnight facial oil application.

Ingredients:
70g black soap base
25g distilled water
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle and label. Shake before each use.
4. Apply to dry or wet face, work into a lather, rinse well.

Tips: Applying to dry skin before wetting allows the surfactant to emulsify any face oil or sunscreen more effectively before rinsing. Follow with a light facial oil.

---

Body Wash Recipes

Recipe 5: Basic Black Soap Body Wash

The foundational body wash recipe — clean, minimal, effective.

Ingredients:
55g black soap base
35g distilled water
10g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and distilled water. Stir gently until fully mixed.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Pour into a pump bottle or squeeze bottle. Label with date.
4. Shake before each use. Apply to a washcloth or directly to wet skin. Rinse.

Tips: For a thicker consistency, reduce water to 25g. For a pourable liquid, increase water to 40g.

Recipe 6: Moisturising Black Soap Body Wash with Shea Butter

A richer body wash for dry skin — shea butter adds conditioning to the rinse.

Ingredients:
50g black soap base
30g distilled water
10g baobab oil
10g shea butter (melted)

Steps:
1. Melt shea butter and allow to cool slightly.
2. Combine black soap base and water. Stir.
3. Add baobab oil. Stir to incorporate.
4. Add cooled melted shea butter and stir quickly.
5. Bottle immediately. Label. Shake before each use.

Tips: Shea butter in a water-containing formulation may separate. Shake well before each use. For a more stable formulation, replace shea butter with an equal weight of shea oil.

Recipe 7: Exfoliating Black Soap Body Wash with Ground Oats

Light physical exfoliation added to the base body wash.

Ingredients:
60g black soap base
25g distilled water
10g baobab oil
5g finely ground oats (colloidal oat flour)

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Add finely ground oats and stir thoroughly to distribute evenly.
4. Bottle in a wide-mouth jar (oats will block narrow pump openings). Label.
5. Stir before each use as oats will settle.

Tips: Use colloidal oat flour (very finely milled) rather than whole oats for gentler exfoliation. This formulation is not suitable for the face.

Recipe 8: Refreshing Black Soap Body Wash with Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel replaces part of the water component for a more conditioning wash.

Ingredients:
55g black soap base
20g distilled water
15g pure aloe vera gel
10g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base, distilled water, and aloe vera gel. Stir until fully combined.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a pump or squeeze bottle. Label with date.
4. Shake before each use. Apply to wet skin and rinse.

Tips: Use pure aloe vera gel with no added preservatives if possible. This formulation has a shorter shelf life than water-only versions — use within 4 weeks.

---

Shampoo Recipes

Recipe 9: Basic Black Soap Shampoo

A simple, clarifying shampoo for all hair types. Black soap has a long tradition of use as a hair cleanser across West Africa. For more, see African Black Soap for Hair.

Ingredients:
55g black soap base
35g distilled water
10g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a squeeze bottle or flip-top bottle. Label.
4. Apply to wet hair and scalp. Work into lather. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Follow with a conditioning treatment — baobab oil or shea butter worked through damp hair.

Tips: Black soap shampoo will lather differently from commercial shampoo — the lather is less dense because there are no synthetic foam boosters. This is normal and expected. Rinse very thoroughly.

Recipe 10: Moisturising Black Soap Shampoo for Dry Hair

Higher oil content for dry or coarse hair types that need more conditioning.

Ingredients:
50g black soap base
30g distilled water
15g baobab oil
5g shea oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir.
2. Add baobab oil and shea oil. Stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle and label. Shake before each use.
4. Apply to wet hair, lather, leave for 1–2 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
5. Follow with a light leave-in oil on dry ends.

Tips: For very dry or chemically processed hair, add an additional 5g baobab oil and reduce water by 5g.

Recipe 11: Scalp Clarifying Black Soap Shampoo

Higher soap concentration for a deep scalp cleanse — use weekly rather than daily.

Ingredients:
70g black soap base
25g distilled water
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a squeeze or applicator bottle for scalp application. Label.
4. Apply directly to wet scalp sections. Work in with fingertips. Leave 2 minutes. Rinse very thoroughly.
5. Follow with a conditioning oil treatment.

Tips: Use weekly as a clarifying treatment rather than as a daily shampoo. Follow immediately with a conditioning treatment to restore moisture after deep cleansing.

Recipe 12: Black Soap and Baobab Oil Co-Wash

A lower-surfactant co-washing formula for hair types that find full shampoo too drying.

Ingredients:
30g black soap base
30g distilled water
30g baobab oil
10g shea oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and shea oil. Stir to fully incorporate.
3. Bottle in a wide-mouth bottle or squeeze bottle. Label.
4. Apply generously to wet hair and scalp. Work through with fingers. Leave 2–3 minutes. Rinse.

Tips: This co-wash formula provides light cleansing without stripping. It works best for hair types that find traditional shampoo drying. Use in place of shampoo for daily or every-other-day washing.

---

Liquid Soap and Hand Wash Recipes

Recipe 13: Classic Black Soap Liquid Hand Wash

A simple, effective liquid hand soap for bathroom or kitchen use.

Ingredients:
60g black soap base
30g distilled water
10g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and distilled water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Pour into a pump soap dispenser. Label with date.
4. Pump 1–2 times onto wet hands. Lather and rinse.

Tips: For a thicker soap that pumps more easily, reduce water to 20g. For a thinner soap, increase water to 35g. Adjust to the viscosity that works best in your pump dispenser.

Recipe 14: Conditioning Black Soap Hand Wash with Shea Oil

A more conditioning hand wash for frequent washers or those with dry hands.

Ingredients:
55g black soap base
25g distilled water
15g shea oil
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add shea oil and baobab oil. Stir to incorporate.
3. Pump bottle. Label. Shake gently before use.
4. Apply 1–2 pumps to wet hands. Lather and rinse.

Tips: Shea oil helps offset the drying effect of frequent hand washing. Follow with a pea-sized amount of shea butter on damp hands if washing frequency is high.

Recipe 15: Black Soap Kitchen Degreaser Hand Wash

Higher surfactant concentration for cutting through cooking oils, garden soil, and heavy grime.

Ingredients:
75g black soap base
20g distilled water
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Pump bottle or squeeze bottle near the sink. Label.
4. Apply to dry or wet hands. Work into soil or grease before wetting. Rinse thoroughly.

Tips: Applying to dry hands before wetting gives the surfactant more contact time with oils and grime before rinsing. Follow with shea butter on damp hands to restore moisture after heavy use.

---

Shaving and Beard Recipes

Recipe 16: Black Soap Shaving Soap

A pre-shave soap and lather base for face and body shaving. See Baraka Black Soap: An Ultimate Guide to Using It for general usage guidance.

Ingredients:
65g black soap base
20g distilled water
10g shea oil
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add shea oil and baobab oil. Stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a pump or squeeze tube. Label.
4. Apply a small amount to wet skin. Work into lather with hands or shaving brush. Shave. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Follow with a small amount of shea butter or baobab oil post-shave.

Tips: The higher oil content reduces drag and razor burn. Increase shea oil to 15g for very sensitive skin. For a denser lather, reduce water to 15g.

Recipe 17: Black Soap Beard Wash

A gentle cleanser formulated for facial hair and the skin beneath.

Ingredients:
55g black soap base
30g distilled water
10g baobab oil
5g shea oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently.
2. Add baobab oil and shea oil. Stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a pump or squeeze bottle. Label.
4. Apply a small amount to wet beard and facial skin. Work through beard with fingers. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Follow with 2–3 drops of baobab oil worked through the beard while damp.

Tips: The skin beneath a beard is commonly drier than other facial skin. The higher oil content of this formula addresses this while still cleansing the beard effectively.

---

Household and Speciality Recipes

Recipe 18: All-Purpose Black Soap Household Cleaner

Black soap's natural saponins make it effective for household surfaces — countertops, sinks, and non-porous surfaces.

Ingredients:
50g black soap base
45g distilled water
5g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently until fully mixed.
2. Add baobab oil and stir.
3. Bottle in a spray bottle (dilute further if needed — add up to 100g additional water for a lighter cleaning solution). Label clearly as household cleaner.
4. Spray on surface. Wipe with a clean cloth. Rinse surface with water if needed.

Tips: For a more concentrated cleaner for tough grease, use 70g black soap base and only 25g water. Do not use on porous stone surfaces (marble, unsealed granite).

Recipe 19: Black Soap Baby Wash

A minimal-ingredient baby body wash for gentle cleansing. Patch test on a small area of baby's skin and wait 24 hours before use. Consult your paediatrician before using new products on baby skin.

Ingredients:
40g black soap base
50g distilled water
10g baobab oil

Steps:
1. Combine black soap base and water. Stir gently — more water produces a more diluted, gentler formula for baby skin.
2. Add baobab oil and stir to incorporate.
3. Bottle in a pump or squeeze bottle. Label clearly with contents and date.
4. Apply a very small amount to wet baby skin or washcloth. Rinse thoroughly. Pat dry — do not rub.
5. Follow with a small amount of plain baobab oil or shea butter on damp skin.

Tips: The higher water content in this recipe (50g vs 35g in adult formulas) produces a more diluted formula. This is intentional — baby skin is thinner and more permeable. No essential oils. No fragrance. Patch test required. Paediatrician consultation recommended.

Recipe 20: Customisable Black Soap Base Formula

A template recipe that can be adjusted for any application — the underlying ratio framework for all 20 recipes in this guide.

Ingredients:
50–70g black soap base (higher % = more cleansing, lower % = more conditioning)
20–40g distilled water (adjust to desired consistency)
5–20g carrier oil (baobab oil, shea oil, or a blend — adjust to skin type)

Steps:
1. Select your black soap base percentage based on the intended application: 60–70g for cleansing-focused uses (shampoo, body wash, kitchen cleaner); 40–55g for conditioning-focused uses (co-wash, baby wash, sensitive skin face wash).
2. Add distilled water to reach 100g total (soap base + water + oil = 100g).
3. Add carrier oil at 5–20g depending on how conditioning the finished product needs to be.
4. Combine soap base and water first. Stir. Add oil. Stir to incorporate.
5. Bottle, label with full formula and date, and note which application the formula was made for.

Tips: This ratio framework applies to any black soap base formulation. Once you understand how the three variables (soap concentration, water, oil) interact, you can customise any of the 19 preceding recipes for your specific skin type, hair type, or intended use.

---

Get the Full Recipe Book

All 20 recipes in this guide are available as a downloadable PDF with printable recipe cards in the 20 Black Soap DIY eRecipe Book. For the ingredients, browse Baraka's black soap base and the complete DIY Ingredients Collection. Baraka's black soap base is sourced directly through cooperative relationships in Ghana — for the full sourcing story, see Fair Trade Shea Butter: The Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre Story and read accounts from people using these ingredients at Baraka Customer Stories.

---

About the Author

Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region to source traditionally made shea butter, black soap, and natural oils. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients — and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.