A question about micas

[John Harris]

When using a soap colored with mica, after your shower, are there little bits of mica on the shower floor?
For that matter, do any of the colorants leave a color residue on the floor?

 

[amd]

I've only had problems with charcoal leaving a residue. Even heavily colored soaps that have colored lathered have not left color residue when used.
Keep in mind that you are dispersing a small amount of color across a soap, and a small portion of soap is being used in the shower.

 

[dibbles]

I've never had a problem with mica.

 

[lenarenee]

I haven’t. I take it you have? Who was the supplier?

 

[amd]

I think, based on other questions OP has asked in threads, it may be a bit of inexperience and learning.

 

[John Harris]

I haven’t. I take it you have? Who was the supplier?

Not sure if your questions are asked of me?
I have had very little experience with coloring. I have used titanium dioxide once or twice (successfully) and violet oxide (disastrously). My questions about micas come from inexperience and reflection.
I bought my colorants a LONG time ago at Brambleberry, A Garden Eastward (defunct), and Snow Drift Farms (also defunct), to name a couple.

 

[John Harris]

OP

I looked it up in the abbreviations section. Not there. What is OP?

 

[amd]

What is OP?

Original Poster

 

[Carly B]

Not sure if your questions are asked of me?
I have had very little experience with coloring. I have used titanium dioxide once or twice (successfully) and violet oxide (disastrously). My questions about micas come from inexperience and reflection.
I bought my colorants a LONG time ago at Brambleberry, A Garden Eastward (defunct), and Snow Drift Farms (also defunct), to name a couple.

I remember Snow Drift Farms. They were in AZ, right? No issues with micas for me. But I only use micas. I get the sense oxides are a bit different. I even made one soap where my arm bumped on something and I added too much mica, but no green bubbles or stains, even on that one.

 

[lenarenee]

Not sure if your questions are asked of me?
I have had very little experience with coloring. I have used titanium dioxide once or twice (successfully) and violet oxide (disastrously). My questions about micas come from inexperience and reflection.
I bought my colorants a LONG time ago at Brambleberry, A Garden Eastward (defunct), and Snow Drift Farms (also defunct), to name a couple.

Yes, it was. So, you haven’t used micas yet, and you’re asking about the possibility of a mess in your bathtub? Micas are used at a rate of about 1 to 3 teaspoons per pound, and suppliers give a usage rate for each color.

But, I usually just toss a spoonful into the soap and stir until it looks good. Ocassionally when I’ve used too much the lather shows some color, and more rarely will affect white washcloths, but the old porcelain tub has nary a hint of stain.

Bathbombs are different, and are known for leaving rings of color if an emulsifier wasn’t used. And those colorants are usually dyes, not so much micas. Does that answer your question?

 

[John Harris]

Does that answer your question?

Yes! Thanks!

 

[John Harris]

I remember Snow Drift Farms. They were in AZ, right?

They started in Maine and I was from Maine at the time, so I bought from them . Then they moved to AZ. Must have been Snowbirds.

 

[lmc617]

Loved snow drift farms. I remember when they closed. Sad - I just bought some mica's from Mad Micas. Can't wait to try them.

 

[CpnDouchette]

Activated charcoal tends to leave a mess in my shower, as do mica drizzles (as gorgeous as they are). I made an entirely dark red bar that also made a mess but that was because I used way too much. Poorly blended/ lumpy micas can leave a pocket of mica that will streak on your skin, but it will wash off.

 

[TheGecko]

Never had a problem with any of my colorants...micas, clays, oxides, pigments.

 

[LynetteO]

When using a soap colored with mica, after your shower, are there little bits of mica on the shower floor?
For that matter, do any of the colorants leave a color residue on the floor?

I use mica from Nurture Soap & have not seen any mica residue. I have used a bit too much dye in a soap batch & had slight color in my lather but no staining.

 

[Nona'sFarm]

I've only had problems with charcoal leaving a residue. Even heavily colored soaps that have colored lathered have not left color residue when used.
Keep in mind that you are dispersing a small amount of color across a soap, and a small portion of soap is being used in the shower.

My experience is the same. Fact is I only make one soap (aptly named Lump of Coal soap) with activated charcoal and warn folks it may be a little messy.
I do love activated charcoal in a face mask, though.

 

[violets2217]

I use activated charcoal quite a bit in my soaps for colorant and mostly just because I like it with clays in soap. I usually have a nice grey lather but I’ve never noticed it staining the bath. If I go crazy with the micas, sometimes I’ll have a very colorful bubbly lather but also no stains left behind.

 

[earlene]

I do not get residue in the bathtub, shower floor nor on my porcelain sinks from micas in soap. However, sometimes I have used too much mica and ended up with lather that was darker than intended and before rinsing out the sink, would see some slight color on the porcelain, but since I always rinse & wipe my sink after each use, there was no remaining residue left behind. Perhaps if not rinsed, it would leave residue, but I don't know as I am compulsive about leaving the sink clean after I use it. Shower water is more prolific than handwashing water, so I have never seen a residue remain after a shower either.

 

[Tara_H]

I tend to use quite saturated colours in my soap and haven't had any issues with residue. The only mica traces of any kind are from an early batch of bath bombs which I coloured with mica and also used coconut oil, they leave an unfortunate yellow greasy rim in the bathtub