color bleeds out of soap

[leeandsam]

Hello all
I'm pretty new to making soap, I've made about 4 batches. So far my only real successful ones have been using the hot process. My newest and biggest struggle is with colors.
I attempted a red soap using Red Iron Oxide. The soap itself turned out but the color bleeds out of it when it gets wet. It gets into the washcloth, runs down the side of the shower wall, everywhere.
What did I do wrong? Why is it doing this?
I used 1/2 tsp oxide for a batch that produced about 2 lbs of soap.
Please help!!! Thanks

 

[shunt2011]

Hello and welcome! That's not uncommon with red oxide. You may want to cut it down a bit and that might help but I find it still bleeds a bit no matter what. Fortunately, it doesn't stain anything.

 

[goji_fries]

I used a liquid red colorant based to a moroccan clay which held up good. I had to put the mold in the freezer to get the soap out and the colorant began to run out --- only when it was froze. Not entirely too bad but still, a batch not looking as good as it could.

As a side note for red or any other color for that matter. If I have to color a soap I try to color it without a colorant first, then use colorant to dial in the rest. Eg.. maybe I use a root extract or tomato sauce to stain the soap and then add a few drops of colorant to correct it a tinge.