Teach Soap

I have heard that some people make bars of soap that can be used for lathering and shaving your legs. Has anyone made and used this kind of soap? Did it work well? What is in the soaps and how are they made?

Thanks!

Hello everyone. Nice to be back after a 9 month sabatical from visiting relatives in Europe. Hope everyone is doing well and had a pleasant holiday.

For a nice shaving soap I substitute liquid aloe (available at any health food store) and a level teaspoon of bentonite powder per pound of oil. Some say you can use more but I find this amount very adequate (available from BB website). I use my standard recipe. The aloe makes it very conditioning and the bentonite provides good razor "slip".

Great! I'll pick up some bentonite and aloe. Do you have a recipe for it? I'm not sure I'm understanding what the aloe is being substituted for. . .

Thanks very much for your help!

You substitute aloe for the water in your recipe. Recipes among soapmakers are like recipes among world-renouned chefs.....and probably guarded just as closely.

Just use your standard recipe, after developing one you like. I read your other posts regarding a good standard recipe. It took me about 2 years to come up with my current "standard." But I always experiment. That's the joy of soapmaking....just like cooking.

I add the bentonite powder to my batch at trace. You may need to play with your colorants a little because the bentonite will dull your colorants. Good luck.

Ahhhh . . . got you. I figured there might be some kind of basic, simple recipe that people start out with and then they begin personalizing it from there. As a beginner I definitely don't know enough to start creating my own recipes yet but maybe I'll get there someday

I'll just search for a basic recipe at one of the soapmaking supply sites and then go from there with your suggestions of substituting aloe for water. Thanks for the tips!

You can also make a nice rebatch soap using 100% aloe vera gel (I got mine at walmart in the lotion section). Just use about 12 ounces of plain soap shavings mixed with 3/4 cup of aloe vera gel & a little water if you need it. Melt together and pour into your molds. You can also cut the aloe down to 1/2 cup and add 1-2 ounces of vitamin E oil as well.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Welcome back to Daniel Craig! This is you isn't it? I for one have been missing your posts and I don't think I'm alone there!

Aloha,
Mella

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I will. And I'm glad you warned me that it will be thick and gloppy, otherwise I would have thought I had done something wrong.

Hahaha. Hi Mella. Yes, it's good to be back. Did some traveling to mostly Italy and Russia to visit family mostly. Had some issues with the family business and needed to stick around longer than we wanted but it was nice being able to spend quality time with the families. Also had some opportunities to obtain some very unique soaps in my travels. Got some "black African" and another soap made from volcanic ash that has a very high sulfur content that is supposed to aid in healing bumps and bruises. It's good to hear from you and hope you are doing well.

I read about that Black African soap somewhere when I was researching soapmaking. Hey, SuperSoaper, I can't see your avatar. Does that mean it's a problem on my end or yours? I can see most everyone else's . . . Can you see mine?

Traveling does offer opportunities for additives too! I recently picked up some pink salt to use in a swap. The Black African is very popular and I've read good for the complexion. Is it made with clays or charcoal.

Activated charcoal in a shaving bar would give it a masculine look.

Linda not everyone has a avatar!

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

Yes....I have a ninja avatar. He just moves so fast that you can't see him.

The black African I have is supposedly made from tree tar. Not sure how accurate that is. An amount the size of a dime will lather like crazy and will last days when used for hand washing. It is very drying though so I imagine it would be good for complexion acne soap.

Yes, Midnightstorm I can see your avatar. And I'm just kidding about the ninja avatar. I'm a guy and that stuff really isn't that important to us. Kinda like taking little quizzies in magazines. But yes, I will wear lavender and pink if I'm in the mood.

Hey Mella. PM me your address and I'll send ya a little piece of Black African.

Super Soaper - it is good to have you back, I always wonder about those that disappear!

Midnight - there is something special about coming up with your own recipe. The experimentation is part of the fun. Then one day a friend or relative will come to you and say... that bar of soap "xxx" was the best one you gave me, I'm trying to make it last as long as possible" Then I go back to see what I put in it and scratch my head... how did I ever decide to use that combo? What a great hobby this is! I have to say I am not against sharing recipes (soap or food) but I would rather have people use their own creativity.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!