5% castor seems not enough

[Maythorn]

I couldn't believe going from 6 to 5% would make any real difference but it did. That same silky creaminess just isn't there in my most recent bars. Who'd have thought it? Has anyone else noticed this? I've not gone above 6% though. Not brave enough or I would need to revamp the recipe some around a higher amount. Someday I want to do 10%.

 

[vjbakke]

I made a 4 oil recipe with 7.5% Castor, it just finished curing so I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

 

[Dragonkaz]

I've used 5% up to 10% and I've returned to 5% as I love it's creaminess in my soap.

 

[Moonblossom]

I use anywhere from 5-8% in mine.

 

[honor435]

I use 9-10%, love it, wouldnt go without it.

 

[IrishLass]

I use anywhere from 8% to 23% castor depending on the formula. Twenty-three percent castor may seem pretty high, but it's in a formula that contains 65% tallow. It makes a hard, lovely bar that's almost Castile-like in performance, but it lathers better than a Castile, and it doesn't have any of the goopy colloidal suspension typical of high oleic soaps like Castile.

IrishLass

 

[soapbuddy]

I normally use about 5%. I've gone as high as 15% castor and those bars were very soft, sticky and took a long time to harden.

 

[falldowngobump]

I use 5% in my standard batch recipe, but have used up to 8%. Anything above ten gives me a sticky bar, unless it's a salt bar.

 

[Maythorn]

Thanks for all your input about this! That tallow and castor bar does sound pretty cool, Irish Lass. I love creative recipes like that and it would be an economical one, too.

From 5 to 6% is about a teaspoon in a 1 lb batch but since castor is so rich and thick I think it would make a wee little difference. I didn't use much milk, though, either and that also make the bar not very exciting.

 

[soapbuddy]

Thanks for all your input about this! That tallow and castor bar does sound pretty cool, Irish Lass. I love creative recipes like that and it would be an economical one, too.

From 5 to 6% is about a teaspoon in a 1 lb batch but since castor is so rich and thick I think it would make a wee little difference. I didn't use much milk, though, either and that also make the bar not very exciting.

Please don't go by teaspoons! Always go by weight. It's much more accurate.

 

[Fragola]

Anybody knows how would I need to compensate a recipe when increasing the castor slightly ? More hard oils, or maybe something else ?

 

[soapbuddy]

Anybody knows how would I need to compensate a recipe when increasing the castor slightly ? More hard oils, or maybe something else ?

What is your recipe?

 

[Fragola]

For example:

40% OO
25% CO
25% PO
5% Castor
5% Hemp

I am thinking to try 8% castor, and since people say every 1% makes a big difference, makes me wonder ...

 

[Maythorn]

Not to worry I don't add by teaspoons. I was only picturing how much the difference was.

I think the problem was doing 6% castor and doing 8% soybean oil, and 22% olive and the soap was just too soft. I set out a cured bar and even though it was gentle and nice it was just too mushy by the time an entire household had used it for a few days.

 

[debbism]

OK....so I know there are many who would cringe at this BUT I use up to 30% castor in my shampoo bars but counter it with an equal amount of coconut plus 2 or 3 other light oils. My result is an awesome shampoo bar. My hair never felt so good!

 

[Maythorn]

OK....so I know there are many who would cringe at this BUT I use up to 30% castor in my shampoo bars but counter it with an equal amount of coconut plus 2 or 3 other light oils. My result is an awesome shampoo bar. My hair never felt so good!

I am in awe of that recipe, whatever it is! I have so much trouble with my hair being limp and an itchy scalp that seems to happen several times a year.

 

[debbism]

One basic shampoo I like is

28% coconut
28% castor
the rest I split between high oleic sunflower, rice bran and grapeseed.

SF at 4-5% - great for my ultra fine dry hair

 

[Traceyann]

Debbism, im just curious as I too would like to use a shampoo bar, ( currently experimenting with GM on my hair ) Does having such a high CO content in your recipie, still give u a hard bar ?

 

[debbism]

They are softer at first so being careful when unmolding is key....BUT after 4 weeks of cure-time, they are nice and hard. 6 weeks...even better. So no problem with hardness.....I have a few bars that would be dangerous if thrown! lol

 

[Traceyann]

Ok great , Thanks will give it a try

lol @ thowing your soap.....now thats an Idea lol