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/.