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How to make Black Soap in Nigeria
Black soap is a lye-free soap that's made from potash. It has
been used for centuries throughout West Africa to gently cleanse
and exfoliate skin. It may also help alleviate various skin
conditions, such as eczema, for some people. You can use it on
your body, face, hands, and hair. It's suitable for both dry and
oily skin type.
The product is in great demands in Nigeria. Considering the
estimated national population of one hundred and eighty
(180,000,000) million and per capital consumption of thirty (30)
tablets, the national demand for soap is estimated at five
million (5,000,000) tablets per annum.
Make sure that the pot is deep, like what you’d use for pasta.
This will ensure that the soap won’t boil over when you make it.
Like with the pot you used for preparing the potash, make sure
that you won’t use this one again for cooking.
If you don’t have castor oil, try palm oil instead.
Mix 1.8 ounces (68.19 g) of potash and 3⁄4 cup (180 mL) of warm
water. Use a kitchen scale to measure out 1.8 ounces (68.19 g)
of your prepared potash. Place the potash into a bowl, then pour
3⁄4 cup (180 mL) of warm water over it. Let the potash sit for a
few minutes until it dissolves.[8]
Use distilled water for best results.
How long it takes for the potash to dissolve will vary each
time. Expect it to take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.
Store the rest of the potash in an airtight container. This is
important, otherwise the potash will absorb moisture from the
air and turn corrosive.
Pour the dissolved potash into the warmed oil. Use you rubber
spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl clean so that
you don’t waste any potash. Give the mixture a stir to combine
everything.[10]
Cook the soap over high heat, stirring often, until it thickens.
This process will produce a lot of smoke, so it would be a good
idea to open up a window and turn the fan above your stove on.
If you have a portable stove that you can bring outside, that
would be even better. Pour the soap into soap-making molds. The
best mold to use for this type of soap is the long, rectangular
soap-making mold. You will need to cut the soap into bars after
it finishing curing. You may be able to use smaller plastic or
silicone molds too, however.
Use a rubber spatula to scrape the soap from the sides of the
pot so that you don’t waste anything.
Alternatively, leave the soap in the pot. This way, you can pull
it apart into smaller tufts later.
Don’t wait; once the potash starts to thicken, move onto the
next step.
Take the pot off the stove and let the soap cool to room
temperature. This completes the soap-making process.[12] At this
point, you can stir dyes or essential oils into your soap,
although this is not typical for black soap. Most people leave
black soap in its purest form, without any additions.
Allow the bars to finish curing for 2 weeks on a wire rack. This
is very important. Much like lye-based soap, black soap needs to
cure and harden as well. Keep in mind, however, that black soap
will never be quite as hard as regular soap.
After 1 week, turn the bars over so. This will ensure that they
cure evenly.
Store the soap in a sealed container when you aren't using it.
Wrap extra bars in plastic wrap or keep in them plastic,
zippered bags. If you made individual "portions" of black soap,
then you can keep those in a jar or zippered bag.
If you wish to keep the soap in a soap dish, make sure that it
has slots so that the excess water can drain out.
Keeping black soap away from moisture is important. If it gets
wet, it will start to dissolve again.
Black soap can develop a white film over time. This is normal
and doesn’t harm or change the soap’s ability to function.
Work the soap into a lather before you use it on your skin.
Black soap is very grainy. If you use it directly on your skin,
it may irritate it. Instead, work the soap into a lather, then
use the lather to cleanse your skin.
If you're used a tuft of black soap, roll it into a ball first
so that it doesn't have any sharp edges.
Black soap may cause a tingling, burning sensation, which is
normal. If you develop a rash, however, stop using the soap and
consult a dermatologist.
Packaging is another opportunity to incorporate creativity and
design into your product. Eye-catching packaging that is
consistent with your brand’s aesthetic can attract potential
customers and increase your product’s perceived value. For
example, a company selling natural soaps may choose to use
naturally dyed packaging and handwritten fonts, while a product
designed for children might choose brighter colors and a graphic
font.
How much does it cost to start a soap business?
The monetary requirement for this project depends on the
capacity you wish to install. With as low as N940,000 to as much
as N120million is suitable for the investment .
To enhance the color of your soap, consider using charcoal as an
exfoliator for your skin. Charcoal not only provides color but
also offers excellent exfoliating properties. Alternatively, you
can opt for mica powder, a safe and natural black pigment.
Adding mica powder to your soap recipe will effectively darken
its color while maintaining its safety and natural appeal. Get our Practical Training Guide on Black Soap Production. The project is both technically and economically viable. The production technology is simple and the equipments are locally fabricated. The raw materials are readily available. The production plant comprises of Soap Reactor, Cutting Machine, Stamper, Mould, Scale, Wood Pallets, Accessories, Generator and Project Vehicles. The estimated production capacity of the plant is eight hundred (800) litres or four (4) drums or twenty-six thousand, four hundred (26,400) tablets of black soap per day at ninety percent (90%) of the installed capacity for three hundred (300) working day producing about eleven thousand, eight hundred and eighty (11,880) catons of one hundred (100) pieces of one hundred and fifty (150) grams pack of black soap bi-monthly. This report seeks to examine the financial viability or otherwise of establishing a black soap production plant in Nigeria.
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