Ananda Mahony
NaomiHow does Black Soap get you clean?
June 7th 2008 01:51
If you are used to conventional, fragranced white soap then African Black Soap is big departure from this standard. Also known as Ose (soap) Dudu (black), or Anago after the Anago language of Nigeria, black soap originates in West Africa. Made for thousands of years, this is a mild soap that is different from any soap you will have used before.
Traditionally Anago is made from an organic compound of pure oils, butters and roasted plants, each village or region with their own recipe, which is handed down from generation to generation and often a secret which helps with local trade and avoids poor imitations. Ingredients such as dried, roasted cocoa pods and plantain peels along with butters such as shea butter or coconut give it the distinctive colour which ranges from light tan to dark chocolate brown depending on the mix of local ingredients used to make it. In its raw form it often contains pockets of plant matter which are compressed into the soap. The coastal regions of Africa tend to produce soap that has a higher percentage of coconut oil, while the interior regions product soap that contains more Shea butter (1).
Anago is unlike anything available on the commercial market from conventional syndet (synthetic) bars to naturally made soaps.It has healing and emollient properties that make it more than just an effective cleansing agent. Free of animal fats and synthetic ingredients such as colours and fragrances, it is very gentle on the skin making it suitable for all skin types. Anago has a milder pH than conventional soaps because it is caustic soda free. The rich butter and oil ingredients such as shea butter ensure a high glycerine content which creates a creamy lather and afterwards a soft skin feel. True black soap is unscented and just has a mild “clean” smell.
Part 2 of this article looks at the benefits of Black Soap.
Author: Ananda Mahony ND. Ananda is a naturopath and skin specialist. She owns Vitale Natural, an organic skin care store and beauty salon in Paddington, Brisbane. www.vitalenatural.com.au
Traditionally Anago is made from an organic compound of pure oils, butters and roasted plants, each village or region with their own recipe, which is handed down from generation to generation and often a secret which helps with local trade and avoids poor imitations. Ingredients such as dried, roasted cocoa pods and plantain peels along with butters such as shea butter or coconut give it the distinctive colour which ranges from light tan to dark chocolate brown depending on the mix of local ingredients used to make it. In its raw form it often contains pockets of plant matter which are compressed into the soap. The coastal regions of Africa tend to produce soap that has a higher percentage of coconut oil, while the interior regions product soap that contains more Shea butter (1).
Anago is unlike anything available on the commercial market from conventional syndet (synthetic) bars to naturally made soaps.It has healing and emollient properties that make it more than just an effective cleansing agent. Free of animal fats and synthetic ingredients such as colours and fragrances, it is very gentle on the skin making it suitable for all skin types. Anago has a milder pH than conventional soaps because it is caustic soda free. The rich butter and oil ingredients such as shea butter ensure a high glycerine content which creates a creamy lather and afterwards a soft skin feel. True black soap is unscented and just has a mild “clean” smell.
Part 2 of this article looks at the benefits of Black Soap.
Author: Ananda Mahony ND. Ananda is a naturopath and skin specialist. She owns Vitale Natural, an organic skin care store and beauty salon in Paddington, Brisbane. www.vitalenatural.com.au
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