Serf to Surf has combined the healing benefits of hemp soap with the amazing and time tested qualities of an African Black Soap base.

Black Soap or African Black Soap also known as Anago Soap or Alata soap, originates from West Africa. It has been used for centuries in Ghana. It’s methods and secrets have been passed down from generation to generation to keep the soap close to mother nature and avoid exploitation & imitations. Many have tried to create their version of black soap with all kinds of ingredients. Ghana’s Alata soap is the best quality black soap because it is the ORIGINAL.

For centuries, Ghanaians have used Black Soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues.

African Black soap has also been used to achieve beautiful skin. Africans have also used this natural soap for bathing and washing their hair. Great for removing make-up. Black Soap will leave your skin soft, clear and smelling delicious. This soap is not scented.

Alata Samina or Anago Samina is the term used in the local dialect called Twi to refer to Black Soap or African Black Soap. Alata or Anago is a reference to the people of the Northern Region of Ghana, mainly the Hausa tribe. Alata Samina is now used all over Ghana.

Black Soap or African Black Soap comes from plantain skin. It is a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. (Plantain is a popular food in Africa, South America & other parts of the world. It can be found in ethnic or international grocery stores such as Latino, Caribbean or African. It looks like banana but much bigger. It does not taste like a banana & has to be cooked before eating).

The skin of the plantain is gingerly dried to a precise texture under the hot African sun. It is then roasted in a clay oven. The heat must be constant in order to achieve a particular color, texture & smell. In some recipes, Cocoa Pod is used instead of plantain skins. Cocoa Pod is the shell of the Cocoa fruit. The cocoa beans are used for making chocolate or cocoa butter among other things.

The next process is very delicate because if it is not done properly, with the right ingredients, there will be no soap. The roasted plantain skin is mixed with palm oil, palm kernel oil to form the soap. The roasting of the plantains determines the color of the soap. The longer the plantains are roasted, the darker the soap. African Black Soap is centuries old, has numerous benefits & is not scented. It can be used by anyone who wishes to improve the quality of their skin. 

Suggested Uses: Traditional African Black Soap has been used to treat rashes, acne, eczema, dandruff, body odor and much more. The African black soap helps keep the skin clean and helps against premature facial lines.

It is great for showering, bathing, washing of the hair, face and the feet. Black Soap is recommended for the young and the old. It is also recommended for people with with tender skin. Black soap leaves the skin smooth and soft & as a facial soap it is excellent for clearing acne.

Traditionally, African black soap has been used in Africa for the treatment of rashes, ring worm, eczema and also as a natural hair shampoo to avoid itchy and dry scalps.

The Unrefined Shea nut butter and the African Black Soap that we use in our skin care products and offer you are the very finest and are purchased from a family in Ghana who have been creating these products for generations. I have been assured that the payment for these products is directed to those who harvest and toil to process and create them.

At Serf to Surf we re-process the natural base product and add a healthy dose of organic hempseed oil to the final product. The final product we think is the finest soap (and shampoo) we have ever used. Rich in lather, moisture as well as cleansing and healing properties. We're sure that you'll agree once you sample this fabulous product. It will leave your skin and hair feeling fantastic without the chemicals which are so prevalent in today's products.

1 - 4 OZ. - African Black Soap

13.00 CDN

6.00 + 7.00 shipping N America only

Overseas follow links below

Approx 113 Grams - 4 OZ

27.00 CDN

22.00 + 5.00 shipping N America only

Overseas follow links below

4 bars

450 Grams - Approx. 1 lb.

2 - 4 OZ. - African Black Soap

17.00 CDN

12.00 + 5.00 shipping N America only

Overseas follow links below

Approx 113 Grams - 4 OZ

African Black Soap

18.00 CDN

9.00 + 9.00 shipping N America only

170 Grams - 6 OZ

37.00 CDN

32.00+ 5.00 shipping N America only

4 bars

680 Grams - 1.5 lbs.

Why does my African Black Soap get soggy and mushy?

Good question and one I wondered about myself so I did some research and pass this info on to you.

There is a natural by-product produced during soap making called Glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant meaning that is attracts water and thereby attracts moisture to your skin.

Commercially Glycerin is removed during the soap making process so that it can be added to more profitable products.

Being handmade, African Black Soap retains all of the Glycerin produced during the saponification process. I keep my bar in the shower on the rack and as the bathroom and shower in general get steamy the soap absorbs the humidity and this softens it up.

What can be done?

Well, here's a few things you can try if the soft soap in the bar form becomes a problem.

• Keep the soap in a container and let it go through its process. The softness will in no way affect the fabulous qualities of the soap. (I have never found a better product and my job is finding them and offering them to you).
• Keep it in a sealed plastic and ensure that it stays dry between uses.
• Make it into liquid soap. Liquid African Black Soap can be made by filling a container with small pieces of black soap and adding water to fill. The soap pieces will dissolve into the water and form a liquid soap which lathers as much and is just as effective as the bar.
• Keep the soap on a tray with good drainage and in dry area with low humidity.
• Any other tips are always welcome and will be passed on to our clients and guests.

I hope this helps and [mushy or not] I hope that you enjoy the product as much as I do. While you are using this great natural product remember that you are helping those who work extremely hard in less than perfect circumstances to provide food and the basics of life for their families. - Carlos