maryann Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Help please!I'd like to hear opinions on adding Citric Acid to lower the pH in shampoo bars. I found this thread which was helpful http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55383&highlight=adding+citric+acid+to+soapI'm wondering if adding a citric acid/water mixture (I thought about holding back 1oz of water from the lye/water to dissolve the CA) at trace will cut down on neutralizing the lye. Or am I better off using the max amount of water that the recipe calls for, let it sit 2 weeks to saponified but still being soft for an easier rebatch adding the CA then?Thank you :smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 anybody ?? :undecided any ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 never tried it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I would like to know about also. I find shampoo bars to be too harsh for my hair (even with a vinegar rinse) and have been looking for a way to lower the pH.Digit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanle Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hi, I normally just lurk but have played around with citric acid. I was also warned that it won't work as it will neutralize the lye. I made some soap about four months ago with a recipe that is normally extremely hard and added some dissolved citric acid at trace (can't remember how much exactly, but quite a lot). The soap was extremely soft and gel looking when I unmolded and I put it aside with great disappointment. I had a look at it this week and it has become rock-hard, it sudses like crazy and feels very gentle. It definitely turned into soap. I don't have a PH meter, but wish I did.I have also been told that you can add some dissolved citric acid to your lye water, but have been so busy I have not tried that yet. I always listen with interest to people's opinion on what will happen when you do something out of the ordinary, but I then like to go and try it out myself (I guess I have a trust issue ). I wish other people will play around with this to and report their results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryann Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 I would like to know about also. I find shampoo bars to be too harsh for my hair (even with a vinegar rinse) and have been looking for a way to lower the pH.DigitThis is my problem too :undecided hanle thank you for your experience. I need to just try it as well in a small batch. :smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 The soap was extremely soft and gel looking when I unmolded and I put it aside with great disappointment. I had a look at it this week and it has become rock-hard, it sudses like crazy and feels very gentle. Don't you just love surprises like that? I am so glad it worked out for you. Thank you for posting your experience! Maybe I will give it a go this weekend.Did you subtract the liquid used to dissolve the citric acid in, from your lye liquid?Digit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanle Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Yes, I did. As I said, I did this quite a while ago and didn't take notes. After reading this thread, I tried it as shampoo without a vinegar rinse and it did feel better than my other soaps. Subjective observation, but my hair seems to have more of a shine than normal.The soap was really weird-looking when I first unmolded. It had a harder crust and almost gel-like inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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