Colour run when using soap.

[Giangxamar]

I have experimented "cosmetic pigment" from the local shop that the shop claim "non-bleeding" (believe me you hardly can find them in Moscow). After unmold and cut, and let cure for 2 weeks I try washing my hands with a small piece of soap and the color run under water so badly. After a week more, I tried again and it still do the same thing. That freaks me out so badly.

Can anyone please tell me your experience on using pigment (how much is enough, which type, when and how do you add them to your soap and etc.)?

And another problem, that I can never swirl with it because the pigment eventually bleed evenly (not 100% though).

Any help will be appreciated! Thank so much in advance!

 

[soapbuddy]

How much of the colorant did you use per kilo of soap? You might have used too much.

 

[Giangxamar]

Oh sorry for forgetting to mention about that.
My batch was 500gram and I use half spoon (of the 5ml measure spoon) for it.

 

[soapbuddy]

Oh sorry for forgetting to mention about that.
My batch was 500gram and I use half spoon (of the 5ml measure spoon) for it.

That's too much. I would have used 1/4 of a spoon, or maybe even less, depending what color it is.

 

[Giangxamar]

Can I do the swirl using that pigment ratio?
As I understand, the daker the color is , the less I need to use, right?
I will try doing as your advice for my next batch (maybe tomorrow). Thank you so much! <3

 

[soapbuddy]

Can I do the swirl using that pigment ratio?
As I understand, the daker the color is , the less I need to use, right?
I will try doing as your advice for my next batch (maybe tomorrow). Thank you so much! <3

For a swirl you would use even less. If the color is dark, I would use less also.

 

[Giangxamar]

Oh >.<
I'm sorry for my mistake, I meant I use half of the 1ml spoon one, not the 5ml one and it still bleed

 

[soapbuddy]

Oh >.<
I'm sorry for my mistake, I meant I use half of the 1ml spoon one, not the 5ml one and it still bleed

I see. Are they water or oil soluble? Try a couple of grains in either and see what the color looks like then.

 

[Giangxamar]

They are oil soluble. I tried to put them in water and oil and then mix. After a while, in the water cup, the grain was deposited.
When I added the pigment I also mixed it in oil first.

 

[fionab]

Hi there. this isuue used to bug me like hell when I started making soap. My advice would be to get some scales that measure less than a gram like jewellers scales. That way you can measure tiny amounts.

When I use oxides for every 100g of soap I use 0.4g of powder. Red Iron oxide is very potent so be careful. You may need less.

For D&C colourants start with 0.01 g of pigment per 100g of soap. They are super concentrated. The good thing is that your pigments will go a long way.

Remember this is a guideline and may vary depending on the brands that you are using etc.

Some times if you want a deep colour you may have to add a fair amount for depth but it might run a little.

It's just trial and error. See what works for you.

Hope this helps.

 

[Giangxamar]

Thanks a lot.
I will have to try experimenting then. Because I dont even know what type of colour they sell over here. All that written on label was "brown pigment", "10gr", "imported from the US". It's imported (as they claimed) from the US but there is no brand name. I tried sending the mail asking on how to use those pigment but so far I havent got any reply. And they are the biggest shop for soap supplies so it's hard to find another choice.
Again thank you for your advise!

 

[Jerry S]

mixing colorants

I’ve had the exact same problem with some pigments that I used in adding them to my soap and trying to do swirls. First you have to be absolutely sure that the pigment your using is to be mixed with oil or water. I had liquid pigments from TKB suppliers. Dyes, Pigments, Oxides. Some cosmetic and some not but all non-toxic. They all came mixed in a glycerin base. After a couple of disasters similar to what you describe about bleeding I contacted the company and was told that all their colorants have to be mixed with in any WATER phase of making my soap.

My final solution to successful use of the colors was to first mix a small amount of color in a cup with a little water. I used not much more than 5 or 6 tablespoons of water or oil if your colorants are to be mixed with oil. If the colorant didn’t mix with water, which some didn’t, I through it out.
Setting my mixed cups of colored water aside I mixed my CP soap the usual way. Then at just a light trace I poured some of my soap mixture into the cups, estimating by eye how dark I wanted the colors. I mixed these with a small café frothier. I was able to add a few drops more of color if I needed it. I then poured the colors into my (log mold) and did my swirling after all the soap was in the mold.
I’m sure others have had an easier time of coloring there soap than I did, since many use powdered pigments. Those are in my future..

Jerry S

 

[Giangxamar]

Wow these soap look adorable.
I also use the powdered pigments, and the problem is still there. And it seem like here is the only place that I can find answer for my question I checked and my pigment was oil solube but the shop said on their site that I should mix the pigment in either oil, glycerin or rubbing alcohol before use in CP or MP soapmaking.

And another question, how can you make the frost on your soap? (Sorry that I dont know exactly how it called :">)