African Black Soap Shampoo Recipe

 

I made African Black Soap a staple product when I discovered how well it works for my skin and hair.  The soap worked wonders for my skin, but I needed a resolution for my dry kinky hair. Purchasing shampoos became a costly hobby. I soon began to have a love hate relationship with sulfates. They are not the best for my hair, but I sure did love those suds! I finally let go. I went on a frantic search for a shampoo, that would not strip the life out of my hair. Sulfate free products are not for everyone, but my hair needed moisture, and lots of it.

 

In the Kitchen with Keshia

I'm always mixing things up in the kitchen, so I decided to make a simple shampoo. African black soap has a high ph when mixed with water. I recommend lowering the ph in order to make it safe to use on your hair. Below is a quick and easy recipe that you can make on your own. You can adjust the amount of ingredients depending on your preference, but I can give you a good starting point. Remember that a little soap goes a long way. You will need a few items before you get started.

Items needed:
8 oz. Distilled Water
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice              (squeeze from a fresh lemon)
2 tsp. Olive Oil                     (can use oils of choice)
1/2 tsp. Xanthan Gum          (optional - makes the shampoo thicker)
African Black Soap              (amount added is your preference)
Applicator Bottle                 (container with lid if making for multiple apllications)
Ph strips                               (to test the ph, I prefer a ph of 6 or 6.5)


Directions:
Dissolve african black soap into 8 ounces of water. Once soap is dissolved, straining is optional. Add the olive oil. Squeeze in lemon juice to lower the ph level. Test the soap with the ph strips. Add more lemon juice until you reach desired ph. Pour into bottle or container. Store in cool area.

Tips:
*add xanthan gum to increase desired thickness of shampoo (optional)
*baking soda raises the ph again if you've added too much lemon juice.
*can add vitamin e, or an essential oil to extend shelf life


Here is more information if you would like to learn more about the effects of sulfates...http://www.livestrong.com/article/135127-the-harmful-ingredients-shampoos/.

Yay or Nay to Natural Hair

Deciding to go natural can be an emotional, but rewarding experience. Maintaining natural hair in the beginning may not be easy. You will definetly make some wrong turns along the way, but you will eventually get the hang of it. Some people decide to do the big chop and cut off all of their hair. I would say go for it! You can add a pop of color if you're bold enough! Some may not be ready to make such a drastic change in their appearance. Transitioning slowly is a great option for those who are not ready to part with their hair. Decide what's best for you. Your experience will be more enjoyable if you follow some basic practices.

Searching for products that cater to your specific hair care needs, can be a very frustrating and costly experience. Retaining moisture is the key to having healthy natural hair. Products that may work for others, may not work for you and is dependent on your hair type. Hair that is low in porosity, may not have the same results as someone with high porosity hair. These factors really affect what types of hair products will work best for you. A great starting point is by using a great moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. I'm personally not too picky as in choosing sulfate free products over those with sulfates. However, natural hair needs all of the oils and moisture that we can give it. I do recommend a sulfate free shampoo if there is a problem with dry hair.

Sealing the hair is the next step that follows the shampoo and conditioning process. This is an essential step in retaining moisture in natural hair. The water is helping to create the moisture. The goal is to seal the water inside of the hair to keep it moisturized. I prefer to use natural oils to seal my hair. My favorites are grapeseed oil, and extra virgin olive oil. I love them! I usually mix the oils with shea butter, or mango butter for the added benefits of a moisturizer. This is a great moisturizer for the skin as well!

The last step is defining the natural curls or stretching the hair. This is a common practice among naturals. Searching for the right products may become costly. Rocking your curly hair texture would involve investing in a product(s) that helps to define and hold the curl pattern. A curl defining product that leaves your hair feeling moisturized, and soft is ideal. You do not want to use products that leave the hair crunchy, hard, and dry. Some people have had great results with just using ECO Styler Gel as a curl definer. The gel is usually placed on top of hair that has been moisturized for a great ending result. I use The Rose Butter Hydrator by Nature's Ego. My hair is left moisturized and soft. I also use it when I stretch my hair with twists. Natural hair shrinks in a major way when it dries. Stretching the hair with twists, braids, or ponytails is a way to avoid shrinkage.

Natural hair can be a wonderful experience with the right knowledge. Make your natural hair journey your own. Love your hair and the person that you have become. Live confident and free.

Rose Butter Hydrator 16 oz. available @ http://www.mynaturesego.com/