Alaffia African Black Soap is mild enough for all hair types and is excellent for softening hair.
I carried out a full regimen on my hair last week and I will be writing the reviews for each product I tried over the next few weeks.
I started with Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner. Today, I will be reviewing Alaffia African Black Soap.
I reviewed one of Alaffia’s products on the website earlier at Alaffia Beautiful Curls Activating Cream.
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5 Benefits of African Black Soap for Hair
1. Chemical Free
African Black Soap is made of all-natural ingredients and is free from any chemicals making it suitable for all hair types.
2. Moisturizes Hair
Due to the gentle, non-stripping ingredients used in the composition, African Black Soap is moisturizing for dry hair.
3. Suitable for All Skin Types
African Black Soap is gentle enough for all skin types. Back home in West Africa, we use it for hair and skin care.
It is particularly effective for dandruff, dry scalp, and skin conditions like dryness and eczema.
4. Perfect for Scalp Exfoliation
African Black Soap is great for scalp exfoliation in combination with a good scalp massage brush.
5. Softens Hair
The moisturizing ingredients in African Black Soap help make hair soft and easier to detangle. It also promotes curl definition.
What Does Alaffia Mean?
Alaffia is a Nigerian word, which means peace of mind. It can also mean good health and well-being. The word is used in Togo and Benin as well.
Alaffia African Black Soap
Alaffia African Black Soap is made from natural ingredients such as shea butter and palm oil, two popular ingredients for hair and skin in West Africa.
Alaffia African Black Soap was formulated as a multipurpose soap. It can be used as a shampoo, a body wash, a cleanser, and for shaving.
Alaffia African Black Soap is suitable for all skin types and hair types including type 1 hair.
Alaffia African Black Soap for Hair
I used Alaffia African Black Soap to wash my hair after taking down twists. The twists had been in for about a month or so.
With quarantine still in effect, I’m not big on doing hair right now and I’m happy to keep it in twists for a month at a time.
After taking down the twists and separating my strands, I pre-pooed with a mix of oils overnight.
The next morning, I washed my hair in 2 sections with Alaffia African Black Soap.
I only needed two pumps to wash each section of my hair. It lathered up well and didn’t make my hair tangle. I used my scalp massage brush in the process.
I rinsed out without using too much water and it left my hair squeaky clean but still soft and moisturized.
I followed it up with a deep conditioning session with Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner. Review HERE.
Pros of Alaffia African Black Soap
- I loved the gentle and unobtrusive smell of the product. I found the earthy smell comforting.
- It cleanses well without stripping and leaves hair moisturized.
- The standard bottle is 16 oz for less than $10. That is a lot of product for such a great price point and you don’t need too much at a time.
- Easy to use pump bottle so you can control the amount of product you use.
- While I didn’t dilute it, it could be diluted to make it last even longer.
- The soap has a smooth, silky texture that melts into the hair seamlessly. Check out the texture in the pic below.
Cons of Alaffia African Black Soap
I can’t complain about anything. This product is fantastic and I highly recommend it.
Alaffia African Black Soap: Rock It or Bin It?
Definitely rock it. It’s now and forever a staple part of my stash. I rate Alaffia African Black Soap 5/5.
Alaffia African Black Soap Ingredients
Ocimum canum (African Mint) Aqueous Extract, Lauryl Glucoside, Saponified Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter, and Elaeis guineensis (Palm Kernel) Oil.
Please note the palm oil in this product is ethically farmed and sourced from West Africa where there are no orangutans.
Where to Buy Alaffia African Black Soap?
Alaffia African Black Soap is available in 3 sizes – 8 oz, 16 oz and 32 oz. I bought the unscented variety but there are other scents available.
Some of those scents include citrus ginger, eucalyptus tea tree, hemp olive leaf, lavender yang ylang, peppermint, tangerine citrus, and vanilla almond.
You can find Alaffia African Black Soap at the following retailers:-
When you buy a bottle of Alaffia African Black Soap, you are supporting women and families in Togo, West Africa.
Is Alaffia a Black-Owned Company?
Alaffia is owned by an interracial couple – a husband from Togo and a wife from Washington state.
The company was founded in 2003 with values of equality empowerment and fair trade as part of its mission statement.
Is Alaffia African Black Soap Real?
Yes, Alaffia African Black Soap is real and authentic.
Black soap was common in our household when I was growing up so I recognize the distinct smell of some of the ingredients.
Authentic African black soap should have no additives, no parabens, no SLS, no mineral oil, or any other long-sounding names.
Have you tried Alaffia African Black Soap? Share your experience in the comments section.
Abi is a curly hair expert, researcher, product tester, and author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She is also the founder of Ade Ori Hair Care, Healthy Natural Hair Products, and Natural Oils for Hair & Beauty. HNHP has strict editorial standards and ensures all the information on Healthy Natural Hair Products is the best for natural hair care. Learn more about our Editorial Policies
This post may contain affiliate links which means we will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.
Good review, this product is definitely worth a try. Great for both body and face.
Indeed it is. Let us know how you like it.