What Is African Black Soap Good For? (Beginners Guide)

To use African black soap, wet your skin with lukewarm water, work the soap into a lather, massage it on gently, rinse well and moisturise afterwards. Baraka's black soap is made by hand by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana. Most people start with every other day and build up only if their skin stays comfortable.

This guide gives the steps for face, body and hair, explains how often to use black soap, and says what it is traditionally used for. It also covers how to store it and who should check with a doctor first. It is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or dermatologist for any skin condition.

How to use African black soap: step-by-step guide

Wet your skin, lather the soap, massage it on gently, rinse thoroughly, pat dry and moisturise. That is the whole routine. The detail below helps you get a comfortable result every time.

1. Wet your skin. Use lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water can leave skin feeling dry and tight.
2. Make a lather. Rub the wet bar between your hands, or rub it on a wet washcloth or sponge. You only need a small amount. Each Baraka bar weighs 4.6 oz (130 g), so there is plenty to work with.
3. Massage on gently. Use your fingertips in small circles. Black soap has a mild, natural texture of its own, so there is no need to scrub hard. Focus on the areas that need a little extra attention, such as the neck, back or any spot that tends to break out.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Use lukewarm water and rinse until your skin no longer feels slippery. Soap left on the skin is a common cause of dryness.
5. Pat your skin dry. Use a clean towel and pat rather than rub, especially on the face.
6. Moisturise. Black soap is true soap, so many people follow it with a light moisturiser, or a little shea butter, while the skin is still slightly damp.
7. Let the bar dry. Rest it on a draining dish or soap rack so it is not left sitting in water.

How to use African black soap on your face

Use the same steps, but be gentler. Make the lather in your hands first, then smooth it over a damp face with your fingertips for about 30 seconds. Keep it away from your eyes. If soap gets in, rinse well with water. Rinse until all the lather is gone, pat dry and moisturise. If your face feels tight, use the soap less often, or only at night.

How to use African black soap on your body

Rub the bar on a wet washcloth, sponge or pouf, or lather it in your hands, and wash from the shoulders down. Many people like it on the back, chest and feet. Rinse well, then moisturise, particularly on the legs, elbows and other dry areas.

How to use African black soap on your hair

Black soap is traditionally used in Ghana to wash hair as well as skin. Lather the soap in your hands, massage the lather into your scalp, and rinse thoroughly. Soap can leave hair feeling dry, so many people follow with a conditioner or a little oil on the ends. Start with one wash a week and see how your hair feels.

Using black soap as a liquid wash

Some people crumble or grate black soap and dissolve it in water to make a liquid wash, shampoo or shower gel. Baraka also sells Black Soap Base as crumbs for soap making. It is sold for making your own soap, so it is not the same product as the bars.

How often should you use African black soap?

Start with every other day, or a few times a week, and move up to daily only if your skin copes well. Many people use black soap once a day. It does not suit everyone daily, especially if skin is very dry or sensitive.

All true soap is alkaline, and African black soap is no different. Ghana Standard GS 289:2021 sets a pH of 6 to 10 for black soap. Because of this, using it too often can leave some skin feeling dry or irritated.

Signs to cut back:

• Skin feels tight or looks dry after you rinse.
• You notice redness or itching.
• Skin looks flaky.

If you notice any of these, use the soap less often and moisturise more. If a reaction does not settle, stop using it and ask a doctor or pharmacist. Listen to your skin and change your routine to suit it.

What Is African Black Soap?

African black soap, also called black soap or African soap, is a traditional soap from West Africa. In the traditional method, plant material such as plantain peels, cocoa pods, palm leaves and shea tree bark is dried and roasted to ash. The ash is used to make potash. Oils and butters, such as shea butter and palm kernel oil, are cooked with the potash and water. The potash turns the oils into soap. The ash is what gives black soap its dark colour.

Every Baraka black soap bar is handmade using traditional ingredients and processes. The potash for Baraka's soap comes from the ash of cocoa pods and plantain peels. The bars are made by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre, and they are hand-moulded using a locally made press.

You will find many kinds of black soap on sale. Some makers add honey, camwood, lime or charcoal. Whatever you buy, read the ingredient list on the soap's page or label so you know what is in it.

What is African black soap good for?

African black soap is traditionally used in Ghana for washing skin and hair. Many people like it for gentle cleansing and for the smooth feel it leaves behind. Healthline and WebMD both describe the ways people use it. Here is what people most often report.

Gentle exfoliation

Plant ash gives black soap a mild texture that many people find helps lift away dirt and dead skin cells from the surface. Many people say it leaves their skin feeling smoother and looking brighter.

Cleansing that feels comfortable

Black soap is made with shea butter and palm kernel oil, which many people find leave skin feeling soft. Many people with normal, dry or combination skin like it. Very dry or sensitive skin may find it drying if used too often, so go slowly and moisturise afterwards.

Everyday cleansing for oily skin

Many people with oily skin like black soap because it leaves skin feeling clean and fresh. People with acne-prone skin also use it, but it is not a treatment for acne. Ask a dermatologist if you have acne that bothers you.

Who can use African black soap?

As Baraka's guide notes, many kinds of skin do well with black soap, but it is not for everyone. Here is how people with different skin types tend to use it.

• Oily or combination skin: Many people find it leaves skin feeling clean without feeling stripped. Try it once a day.
• Normal skin: Many people use it daily or a few times a week.
• Dry or sensitive skin: Start with two or three times a week, rinse well and moisturise after every wash.
• Eczema or psoriasis: Check with your doctor or dermatologist before using it.
• People who prefer natural skincare: Black soap is made from plant-based ingredients using traditional methods.

Baraka is Community Certified Fair Trade. You can read more about the women who make our soap in the Baraka Impact Report.

What to know before you start

Patch test first. Try the soap on a small area of skin before washing your face or body with it. This is good advice for any new skincare product.

• Start slowly. Use it every other day at first, then see how your skin feels.
• Keep it out of your eyes. As with any soap, rinse with plenty of water if it gets in.
• Moisturise afterwards. Soap can leave some skin feeling dry, so follow with a moisturiser.
• Check any scent. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, read the ingredient list for added fragrance or essential oils.
• Ask for advice. If you have eczema, psoriasis or severe acne, ask a dermatologist before you start.

Tested periodically by the Ghana Standards Authority in ISO-accredited laboratories.

How to store African black soap

Keep the bar dry between uses. Rest it on a draining dish or soap rack, away from standing water and out of the direct stream of the shower. Keep unused bars in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.

For all practical purposes, African black soap does not go bad. It is true soap with nothing in it that spoils quickly, and kept dry it can be expected to last for years. There are only two cautions. Do not use a bar that has been left sitting wet, and do not use one that smells sour.

Frequently asked questions

Is African black soap good for all skin types?

African black soap is used by many people with oily, combination, normal and dry skin. Individual reactions vary, so patch test first, especially if your skin is sensitive. Very dry or sensitive skin may find it drying if used too often, so start with a few times a week.

How often should I use African black soap?

Start with every other day or a few times a week. Many people use it once a day. If your skin feels tight, dry or itchy, use it less often and moisturise more.

Can I use African black soap every day?

Many people use African black soap daily without trouble. It does not suit everyone, though, especially if skin is very dry or sensitive. Start with less frequent use and move up only if your skin copes well. Always moisturise afterwards.

How to get the most out of your African black soap

Use lukewarm water, make a lather, wash gently and rinse thoroughly. Start slowly, moisturise afterwards, and keep the bar dry between uses. Pay attention to how your skin responds and adjust. If irritation or dryness does not settle, stop using it and ask a doctor, pharmacist or dermatologist.

Used this way, African black soap can be a simple, gentle part of a skincare routine.

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Quick answers

How to use African black soap: step-by-step guide

To use Baraka's African black soap, wet your skin with lukewarm water, lather the soap between your hands or on a washcloth, and massage the lather on gently in circular motions. Rinse well, pat dry and moisturise. Patch test first, and keep the bar dry between uses so it doesn't soften. More in How to use African black soap

Can you use African black soap every day?

Baraka's guide explains that many people use African black soap every day without trouble, but it doesn't suit everyone daily, especially if your skin is very dry or sensitive. Start with every other day or a few times a week, and move up to daily only if your skin copes well. Moisturise afterwards, because using it too often can leave skin dry or irritated. More in Can I use African black soap every day?

What is African black soap good for?

African black soap is a traditional Ghanaian soap for washing skin and hair. People like it for gentle cleansing and exfoliating that leaves skin feeling smooth. Baraka's bar is made by hand by women at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana. More in What is African black soap good for?