How to mix black soap for fair skin
A lot of people who struggle with uneven dark skin want to learn how to mix black soap for fair skin. In this article, we will tell you the best recipe of this magical soap that can help you deal with your problems. Make your life easier with our very simple tutorial.
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In case you do not know, black soap is a popular natural West African remedy for blotchy, pigmented skin. It is mostly made out of plant ash, hence the dark colour. While you can buy it at most stores, it is best to make it yourself, as that way you will definitely know what will be going on your skin. Our recipe of black soap to lighten skin is quite flexible, as you can adjust it to your liking, or depending on what you have on hand. Without further ado, let’s get to cooking!
Black soap ingredients list
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To be fair, there is no definitive list of black soap ingredients; everyone uses whatever they feel like. Therefore, we are going to offer you a base list, and you can modify it according to your own needs. Here is what you are going to need:
- Base oils (coconut oil, shea butter, palm oil);
- Banana peels (preferably green) and/or cocoa pods;
- Dried herbs and/or essential oils;
- Distilled water.
If you can get your hands on shea tree bark and palm tree leaves, you can add them to the list of ingredients. As for base oils, they are entirely up to you, but we recommend the oils we have mentioned. Shea butter in particular is one of the most popular ingredients of black soap.
Apart from ingredients, you are going to need some tools for making the soap:
- Two heatproof bowls of different sizes or a double boiler;
- Spatula for mixing the soap;
- Soap mould.
Once you decide on the exact ingredients and measurements (the latter depends on how much soap you want to make and how potent it is going to be), you can proceed.
Black soap recipe
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Here is how you make black soap:
- Take your cocoa pods, banana peels, palm leaves and shea bark (or whatever you have selected) and dry them in the sun. When they are significantly dry, burn them to ash. Then, grind them down until they become powdery.
- Set the distilled water on the stove and heat it up. Turn off the burner before the water starts to boil and add in your ashes. The darker the mixture is, the more potent your soap is going to be. Depending on what you want, you can add more water or more ashes until you get to the consistency and colour you want.
- Melt the shea butter in a double boiler or using the heatproof bowls. It is important not to overheat it, or it might lose all of its important qualities.
- Add in the rest of the oils to the shea butter, along with the ash water and heat it all up slowly. While it is getting warmer, add the dried herbs or essential oils of your choice. They can be purely for the smell, or they can improve the properties of your soap. For instance, dry chamomile flowers can help with exfoliation, and tea tree oil can help you clear the skin.
- Stir the mixture continuously. When you see a soapy film on the liquid’s surface, scoop it out of the boiler/bowl and place it into the soap mould. Do this until there is no more soap left in the boiler.
- Set the soap mould aside to cure in a cool place for up to two weeks. Once it has solidified, you can use it to achieve the even tone of your skin by washing your face with it regularly.
Properties of African black soap
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You might not realise it, but black soap has plenty of other great qualities, apart from skin lightening. Here are some of its benefits you should know about. Black soap is good for:
- Removing skin discolouration (the combination of ingredients used for making black soap is perfect for fading dark spots);
- Fight acne (black soap provides the necessary moisture for your skin, as well as removes microbes);
- Relives irritated skin (the shea butter and essential oils have a soothing effect on the skin);
- Exfoliating (the uneven nature of the soap can help you remove the dead skin cells from your face and body);
- Anti-aging purposes (it smooths out the existing wrinkles and lines and prevents new ones from appearing);
- Alleviating razor bumps (use the soap after shaving your legs to get rid of the annoying bumps);
- Removing dandruff and moisturizing the scalp (massage some soap into your scalp if it is too dry and flaky).
As you can see, it is not that hard to make black soap, and it has a whole lot of benefits that come along with it. So gather your ingredients and make your own soap. Good luck!
READ ALSO: How to make homemade soap bars - guide for beginners
Source: Legit.ng
