MsDammit

Cream soap will, no doubt, be next on my list when I get this done. Anyone have any guide lines on how to calculate a recipe for it? What water to lye ratio to start out with? I have looked at a number of recipes; KOH to NaOH seems to vary between 1/9 to 1/4 parts. It’s all very confusing when I can’t find anything about why the disparity.

I dunno squat about calculating a recipe, but I do know there's a great cream soap group on Yahoo that has a wealth of info (I'm still reading it) as well as recipes, tutorials, pics, etc. All very nice members too. For some reason I am still dragging my feet with the cream soap-maybe when/if the snowy, cold weather starts & I'm stuck at home, lol.

Yanno, the more I think about it, I think part of my problem is that I've never seen nor used cream soap, so I have no idea what it's supposed to look/feel like (besides seeing pictures). Hibiscus, do you sell cream soap? I may be interested in trying some out.

I've tried both methods as well and prefer hpls. I'm glad I'm not the only one that was a scaredy cat when it came to KOH. I procrastinated big time when it came to trying LS but now I think KOH is easier to work with then NaOH- the flakes are bigger with no static and it doesn't get as hot or as stinky IMO. That being said I still have to master the dilution stage(I've lost track of how many failed batches but have made one successful one, lol)and I really, really want to try cream soap someday.

I don't have directions, but a few years ago at an outside festival there was a booth and that is what they were doing, you'd pick the colors you wanted and dip your hands into warm wax. Was pretty kewl, I still have mine-and they were making a killing.

Congrats and good luck, the dilution stage is where I panic and goof up, lol.

I have very fine hair and find that using soap makes my hair nice the first day or two but then I start shedding bad with a lot of breakage, just like if I have a perm. You must have great hair to not have problems washing it with soap.

Ditto that! I have stopped using a blowdryer, try as much as possible to finger comb, go as many days as I can stand between washes- so far I can go 4 days, and sleep in a braid or bun. I am planning on starting to use conditioner only, so far I think my hair is liking it.

But as much as I hate to admit it, shampoo bars just don't work for me.

Yup, sucks even more if ya only need a color or two.

I have been using OCM also, and while my face loves it it still feels kinda icky slathering on the oils. I love the way my sugar scrub feels although it is too harsh for my face and I can't use it everyday. So I was thinking of making some scrub without the sugar for my face only.

ETA: I should mention that I make an emulsified scrub.

Sounds like a plan, I'll test it out in the shower, I'm sure other parts aren't as tough skinned as my hands, LOL.

Ummm I tried out a sliver of the soap-can't see or feel the luffa.

it also weakens the FO's or EO's a bit going through the onset of saponification at first combining oils/lye solution.

Paul....

Tell that to my kids that are still bellyaching about the stinky kitchen, apparently they too hate the smell of lavender LOL.

Answered your PM.

I'm not an expert but I add 1tsp per pound of oils. As for when to add it, I always add the FO to the melted oils, mix, then add the lye water, mix then add coloring/additives. HTH.

I know this doesn't help you but I just have to share-these were so kewl looking- it was an individual serving of ice cream in a coconut shell.

Thanks Meridith, I went with 1 1/2 tsp.

"We recommend a soap test batch of 1 lb of fat with 1 to 2 tsp of finely ground luffa". I am confused about the fat part-does that mean oils? I've never used this stuff before & 2tsp for a 2lb batch doesn't seem like enough. Don't have enough time to do a search, I am right in the middle of soaping.

Thanks for the post, they have great prices for coconut & palm.

the Soap savers?? I can't remember who wanted it but I happened to find a copy that I printed out.

PM'd ya.

Tulle was downright painful:( ............

Hmmm I just may try the tulle, thanks!!

WSP might have everything except for the olive oil which you can purchase at your local grocery store.

Ditto that!

Not sure if this is the right place to post.... Anyways, what would be a good fabric to use to for a soap saver pouch? Muslin, hemp? Would you work up a lather like you do with the nylon bath poofs?

Hmmm, the pple that sell soap bases sell just that-BASES. Would you have to get permission from Wal-mart, aren't they selling it as a finished product?

Oooh that looks good! I'll be glad to test it for ya, lol.

I think it looks great!

Can someone explain how exactly this "class" thing works? How do I sit in one of these classes?

DUh me, I figured it out, go to tutorials and there's a thread.