Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2015 1:34:09 GMT
Someday I might like to learn how but right now my plate is full. I'm happy to purchase homemade soap from locals at the farmer's market and festivals. But I figure this would be a good place to get my questions about homemade soap answered. So, first, what is the difference between soap and shampoo bars? They look and feel the same and I've been tempted to use one or the other for all purpose but I don't want my hair to fall out or something! Um, no. And second, is it possible to make soap with stronger scents than I usually find? I like a scent that hangs on to my skin for a while but I can't find any. So, for now,I use the natural soap and then spray on the chemical scents.
|
|
|
Post by jamiecatheryn on Apr 16, 2015 2:26:40 GMT
Any bar soap works fine for shampooing short hair, I'll often use it on my kids. Hair certainly won't fall out. Shampoo bars usually are formulated to get better suds, more coconut or castor oil in it for instance. You can add more scent in the recipe sure. I use a light amount of essential oils usually, but one could certainly double or triple the essential oil or fragrance oil in there.
|
|
|
Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 16, 2015 15:50:19 GMT
Any bar soap works well for a shampoo. Since there is not a 'standard recipe' for making soap or shampoo, ymmv depending on the soapmaker and the oils used for their soaps.
Some soapmakers will create a shampoo high in oils that are purported to help hair such as Baobab, Brazil Nut, Camelina, Hazel Nut, Meadowfoam & Jojoba ... mostly these oils are best used as a serum applied on freshly washed hair.
One thing you should be aware of when using homemade soap ... the pH of hair is more acidic than the pH of homemade soaps. Your hair will benefit from a vinegar rinse after using home made soap to lower the pH.
As for the fragrance of the soap ... that too is up to the individual soapmaker. Responsible soapmakers will not exceed the safe limit of essential & fragrance oils (3% of total recipe). This should give you plenty of scent in your soaps!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2015 17:04:17 GMT
Thank you! I have a lot to learn but now I feel like I am better equipped with the right questions to ask Of the people I buy my soap from.
|
|
|
Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 16, 2015 17:46:43 GMT
My pleasure, @tojo66. Other things you could ask: Are the soaps made using lye (Cold Process or Hot Process) or are they Melt & Pour. M&P 'soaps' generally are not soap at all, but synthetic detergents & alcohols. How long they allow their soaps to 'cure' (allow the cut soap to sit out & have the excess moisture evaporate from it) before they sell them. (only applies to CP & HP) The longer they 'cure', the harder the soap, the better lather & the longer they'll last. I won't sell soap less than 6 weeks old ... unless it is one of my log soaps ... the cutting/curing takes place at the customers home. Both gelled CP & HP soaps are safe to use when unmolded. Both CP & HP soaps benefit from a long 'cure' time. If you want a soapmaker to make a special soap for you, don't be surprised if you need to buy the whole batch of soap. Don't be surprised if a soapmaker will not make a special soap or alter their recipe for you. When you want to learn how to make soap yourself, there are plenty of good, trusted websites to visit to answer your questions, like Kathy Miller's page or my soapmaking page. And feel free to ask here!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 19:39:08 GMT
So much has changed since this original post. No one sold soap at the Farmer's market this year. So, I decided to give it a try. So far I've purchased a stick blender and digital scale. I'm watching the thrift stores for a cheap stainless steel pan. I joined the Facebook page that was mentioned in another post (just lurking.) Next I'll be looking for suppliers and then I'll be set to go! I hope y'all are ready for all the questions I'm going to have! I have a lot of goat milk frozen that needs used up so I'll be looking for help in that area, too.
|
|
|
Post by Maura on Feb 2, 2016 20:17:44 GMT
You only use a stick blender for small batches. Since I always use the entire can of lye, I use over 7 pounds of oils and don’t need one. You might need one for an olive oil only soap, but that would be expensive. Any kitchen scale will work that measures 25 pounds. I also have a couple of cheap diet scales that go up to 16 ounces when adding small quantities. For essential oils you need metal measuring spoons.
I use the granite (granny) pots from K-Mart, 8” tall will handle up to to an 18 oz lye recipe.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2016 23:58:02 GMT
You'll need to get something to mold your soap in. For starters, you can use boxes (like Velveta cheese boxes, or large shoe boxes) that you line with parchment paper. (I think freezer paper works also).
I started out making mine with lard, since it was the cheapest ingredient and if I messed up, there was not a lot of money lost. I still make a batch of lard soap every year as I have several people that want it.
Then I moved on to things I could get locally, like Coconut oil, Almond oil, and olive oil, before I tried using Palm oils, cocoa butter and other items that I have to order online in order to get a decent price. I'm not sure if there is anywhere to get lye locally now, all of our hardware stores have discontinued carrying pure lye (sodium hydroxide), so I order mine online. Sometimes I've been able to get good buys on Amazon, especially if I'm not purchasing other oils.
Good luck! Dawn
|
|
|
Post by feather on Feb 3, 2016 0:27:35 GMT
I've made soap for more than 10 years. This is what I think of shampoo bars on long fine hair. It just never worked out for me.
|
|
|
Post by Maura on Feb 4, 2016 17:57:41 GMT
I have fine hair and use my home made soap. I use castor oil in it.
|
|
|
Post by Wendy on Feb 5, 2016 21:17:59 GMT
I only use lard & coconut oil in my soap. I love the old fashioned stuff & lard was it back in the day.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2016 14:23:25 GMT
I personally like cold process to make soap, if we ever lost electricity it doesn't take much wood to heat up the oil vs cooking it. I make lard soap b/c we have hogs, I make basic lard soap, goats milk soap, pine tar, coffee and oatmeal and cinnamon. I don't like and am allergic to many scents so I go for natural scents and colors.
|
|
|
Post by feather on Feb 7, 2016 14:30:43 GMT
I personally like cold process to make soap, if we ever lost electricity it doesn't take much wood to heat up the oil vs cooking it. I make lard soap b/c we have hogs, I make basic lard soap, goats milk soap, pine tar, coffee and oatmeal and cinnamon. I don't like and am allergic to many scents so I go for natural scents and colors. @janisr, I started making soap a long time ago, using all kinds of oils/fats. Once I started using 40-45% lard in my recipes, I was sold in using lard. It makes a hard white bar, lots of sudsing lather. I don't raise hogs (wish we did!) Lard and tallow make good soaps! I still do use other oils, and I like a good olive oil soap, for face soap but the majority of my soap is partially lard. Our barter/farmer friends are having us over a second time, to make soaps with them. Last time we did all the basics. This time we are going to add some scents and maybe colored swirls. It's always fun.
|
|