Looking for an effective way to brighten your skin while fighting off skin infections? Use an African black soap in your skincare routine. The soap is touted to be a solution for stretch marks, dark spots, and other skin concerns. Here’s a guide on how to use African black soap on your skin.
The soap is an affordable solution and the ultimate beauty product for flawless skin. You can even make your African black soap at the comfort of your home as you only need plant-based ingredients.
The black soap is used as a skin cleanser because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can be used effectively to improve the appearance of the skin.
Read ahead to find out how to use it for an overall beauty boost.
How to Use African Black Soap on Your Skin
When you want to make or buy black soap, ensure that you avoid ingredients like Iye that can irritate the skin. You can also carry out a patch test to check how your skin will react to the soap. Follow the steps below to use the soap correctly on your skin.
1. Slice Out a Bar of the Soap
The black soap is usually sold and bought in big blocks. Since you can’t use all of it at once, it is best to slice little bars from it anytime you need it. This also allows you to refrigerate the remaining soap as that will help to prolong its life span. You can put the bars in a container never your sink.
2. Pinch off a Small Piece From the Soap Bar
Take a little of the black soap bar and roll it into a ball. Start by using that and maybe add more later. The vegetables used in the soap may be rough on your skin and applying the soap in small portions may help to prevent irritation. This will help to prevent stinging or burning on your skin.
3. Wet the Soap and Rub It to Create a Lather
Applying the soap directly to your skin can cause a burning or stinging sensation. Therefore, it is best to lather it first before applying it to the skin. The lauric acid content will help to create a foamy effect as you rub the soap between your hands.
You can also use the soap as a liquid cleanser by leaving a piece to dissolve in water.
Note: Only create enough lather for your skin as too much lather can dry out your skin. If you wish to, you can use a washcloth or bathing glove to lather the soap and scrub your skin.
SEE: African Black Soap: Everything You Need to Know About It
4. Rub the Lather Gently Into Your Skin
Apply the black soap to your face and body by massaging the soap into your skin with your fingertips, bathing gloves, or any other applicator that you like. The black soap will penetrate your skin to cleanse and remove dead skin cells from it.
5. Rinse Away the Soap With Cool Water
After washing your body and face with the black soap, rinse off the residue of the soap using clean water. Leaving the soapy residue on your skin can cause your skin to become dry. That can even cause your skin to break out.
6. Dry Off Your Skin and Apply a Toner
African black soap is alkaline and can disrupt your skin’s pH balance. You can restore your skin’s pH balance by applying a toner that works for your skin type. Use a cotton ball to apply toner to your skin.
It is best to use a toner that contains soothing properties like rosewater, witch hazel, aloe vera, and so on. Avoid ones that contain alcohol, sulfates, and other irritants.
7. Apply a Gentle Moisturizer to Your Skin
The black soap can have a drying effect on the skin. Therefore, be sure to use a moisturizer in your skincare routine. You can use moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid or vitamin E to give your skin the much-needed moisture boost.
Moisturizing your skin will also help to keep all the nutrients from the soap in your skin. Use a moisturizer designed for your skin type and complexion.
8. Apply Sunscreen
It is important to use sunscreen at the end of every morning skincare routine before heading out of the house. The sunscreen will help to protect the skin from sun damage like sunburn, hyperpigmentation, and so on.
9. Store the Soap in an Airtight Container
To increase the shelf life of the black soap, ensure that you keep it in a sealed container. Leaving the soap exposed to air will harden the soap and make it difficult to use.
SEE: 10 Best African Black Soap – Treat Your Skin Issues, Get a Flawless Skin
What Are the Benefits of Using Black Soap for the Skin?
Black soap has several benefits to the skin, ranging from its moisturizing effects to soothing effects on the skin.
One of the crucial ingredients used in black soap is shea butter, as it can help to relieve dry and itchy skin while cocoa and coconut oil helps to moisturize the skin.
It helps to soothe irritation caused by eczema, dermatitis, rashes, and so on, which is why oatmeal is also a beneficial ingredient in an African black soap.
The soap contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to fight against and reverse environmental damage. It may also help to improve the appearance of acne by reducing oil in the skin.
The soap also contains antimicrobial properties that can help to clear acne-causing bacteria.
The shea butter, vitamin C, and E properties in the soap can help to boost collagen production in the skin. This will help to reduce and prevent the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other blemishes
Not only will the soap help your skin tone, but it will also improve and even out the texture as well. The soap works as an exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.
SEE: How to Use African Black Soap- Save Your Skin With These Tips
Can You Use African Black Soap on Your Hair?
The black soap is not only meant for your skin, you can use it on your hair as well. The soap can help to cleanse your scalp deeply, and a clean scalp is a healthy scalp.
The soap mostly contains oils like eucalyptus and other natural ingredients like aloe vera and oatmeal. These are nutritious ingredients that can help to repair your hair strands.
It contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties that can help to hydrate and soothe the scalp. It will help to unclog your follicles to remove product buildup and dead skin cells from the surface.
Using the soap will help to strengthen your strands and make your curls bouncy. This is due to the soap’s high content of glycerin and fatty acids.
Can You Use Black Soap in Your Private Area?
Don’t use black soap in your private area like your crotch. Always remember that the soap is naturally strong and can dry out sensitive areas like your private area.
If you are already doing it, stop now to avoid irritating that part of your skin. If you experience extreme reactions, stop using immediately and contact your dermatologist for help.
Should You Use African Black Soap Every Day?
Even though the soap is very effective in treating skin concerns, you may not be able to use it every day. Start by using it two to three times per week. This will help to prevent the risk of skin irritation.
For oily and acne-prone skin, you can increase your usage frequency gradually as your skin gets used to it. Rushing to use the soap every day can irritate your skin badly, therefore, avoid it.
Does Black Soap Help With Dark Spots?
Using black soap in your skincare routine will help to lighten the dark spots on your skin. Dark spots are areas of the skin that are darker than others. While several factors may be responsible for the appearance of dark spots on your skin, you can clear it with black soap.
According to research, 45% of people who used black soap for the reduction of dark spots were very satisfied with the result.
Does Black Soap Make Your Hair Grow?
Using black soap as a shampoo or cleanser for your scalp can help your hair grow more. The black soap will penetrate your scalp to deliver essential oils and nutrients into your hair shaft.
Asides from that, the soap will help to increase blood circulation to the scalp and that can promote hair growth. A study found that blood flow may help hair grow. According to the study, promoting hair vessel growth led to an increase in hair volume up to 70%.
The connection between blood flow and hair growth is the circulation of nutrients and oxygen that happens in the process. Another good reason for hair growth is that black soap helps to remove dirt, dead skin cells, and product buildup in the hair follicles.
When the follicles become blocked, nutrients won’t be able to penetrate them and that can cause your hair to thin out. When the black soap removes the dirt, the follicles absorb nutrients and flourish freely without limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use African black soap on all skin types?
Yes, you can. You can use African black soap on all skin types to clarify and brighten your skin tone.
However, the soap has a drying effect on the skin. Therefore, dry and sensitive skin types should proceed with caution to avoid skin irritation. Oily and acne-prone skin types can use black soap to regulate oil production in their skin.
Will black soap help dandruff?
Yes, it will. Using African black soap as a shampoo for your hair and scalp will help to treat dandruff.
The soap contains antifungal properties that can help to clear and treat scalp infections including dandruff.
How long does it take for black soap to clear dark spots?
4 to 8 weeks. Using black soap consistently in your skincare routine will help to clear dark spots in no time. You will begin to see improvements in just 2 weeks of using it.
Conclusion
African black soap is an effective traditional treatment for acne, dark spots, eczema, and other skin concerns. The soap is packed with ingredients that contain anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, and moisturizing properties that are beneficial to the skin.
You can also use the soap on your scalp as a shampoo to treat dandruff and promote hair growth. The soap will deep cleanse your scalp and allow blood to flow freely to enhance growth.
Thanks for reading.
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