Teach Soap

Hi there, I have some silk powder. How much would I add to a 7-8 lb. batch of soap? I do Hp so would I add it after the cook?

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Warm and Cozy Blessings, Mamabird

I add my silk to the lye water so it gets broken down into silk proteins.

You'll have to experiment and see how much you like - I feel like the soap is slimy with too much, but that's just me. I'd put maybe a half teaspoon into my water, let it absorb and de-lump (the lumps don't dissolve well, so the better you get it mixed in now the easier it will be) and then add my lye to the water.

Stir it now and then - by the time the lye is cooled off, the silk will be melted. It adds a slight yellowish cast to the water, but not to the finished soap. If you still see undissolved lumps, carefully fish them out and dispose of them safely. Use the lye water as normal.

You can adjust the amounts up or down as you like in future batches. Silk makes a nice lather, and I find that it helps give me a smooth cut with fewer drag marks on the face of the bar.

Have fun!

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http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

I've heard of people actually using a couple square inches of undyed silk cloth into the lye water and letting that dissolve.

Has anyone else tried it? I've got some light weight, ready to dye, silk scraps (left over from wedding dress, actually) that I would actually love to use if I can... have a special batch of soap to give to the folks who had been in our wedding party on our 5th anniversary this Oct.

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-Becka
SingingWolf Soaps

Thankyou. I can't wait to try it. Especially since you mentioned more lather. I put a couple of tablespoons of castor oil in my soap. I've heard it said that it causes more lather as well. But if I put too much it will become too soft? Is that true? My ingrediants include, palm, coconut, olive, a couple T. castor and a couple T. of shea. Could I safely add more shea?

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Warm and Cozy Blessings, Mamabird

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-Becka
SingingWolf Soaps

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http://www.magichandsworkshop.com
http://www.magichands.etsy.com
http://www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.com

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.