Curing time and dryness

[Luv2Soap]

On Saturday I u molded my first soap. I was very excited and cut them all as quickly as I could. But, I couldn't help but save myself a little piece in order to try it out. So, after washing my hands and seeing the bubbly latter that sprung up, I noticed that my have felt. Drier than I really wanted them to.

My question is this, Will the dryness get better as it cures or will it remain the same as it is now? I have a feeling I need to change my recipe up so that it's more moisturizing, but before I do I want to make sure that it's not going to change over time.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

It most certainly WILL change over time. You made CP? Feel free to post the recipe but I can assure you that every week you'll notice a change in the soap. I often say that soap CAN be used when it doesn't zap, but that by no means indicates that it is READY to use.

 

[shunt2011]

Give it time. Soap gets so much better after a good cure. I cure my soap at the very least 4 weeks. If you take your sample piece and try it every week or so just to see how it changes in the lather and feel you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Seawolfe]

Did you think the cure time was just to harden the soap? It also improves the quality - every fresh made soap I've tried has been harsh.

Now, a harsh recipe will be harsh before and after a proper cure. But if the recipe was good, it should improve dramatically over 4-8 weeks. Try a bit every week and see.

 

[Luv2Soap]

Wow...I feel like a goof I totally believed that once the soap passed the zap test that it was good to go and that cure time was only to harden it. LOL. I used the recipe Susie suggested:

55% lard
20% olive oil
20% coconut oil
5% castor oil
Superfat: 8%
Water: 38%

This is why I'm so thankful to have you guys answering questions. I'm such a newbie!!!

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Looks like a top notch recipe - I would give it time.

I don't often make CP and I find that HP is more like the final soap one it is cut (or even before) but that is still a long way away from being good enough. I made a CP soap for the EU swap recently and used a snippet after a few days and was really worried that I was sending everyone a dud Turns out that CP just really needs more time to calm itself a little and play nicely.

 

[Seawolfe]

Oh that will be a lovely soap. Do yourself a favor and try it every few days or so - its a lot of fun to see how much better it gets

 

[TRBeck]

Yes, that will be a very fine soap in a few more weeks.

Save some back for a few months or years, too. I used a two-year-old bar of soap - the first HP bath soap I ever made - in the shower this morning, and I had incredibly good lather from what is now a very mild soap. For soaps you sell, turnaround time is important, but for personal use, the longer the cure, the better IME.

 

[Susie]

That's a good recipe, just give that soap time to grow up. Much more than water loss takes place during cure.

 

[biarine]

Looks like a top notch recipe - I would give it time.

I don't often make CP and I find that HP is more like the final soap one it is cut (or even before) but that is still a long way away from being good enough. I made a CP soap for the EU swap recently and used a snippet after a few days and was really worried that I was sending everyone a dud Turns out that CP just really needs more time to calm itself a little and play nicely.

I really admire for a man who engage in soap making, it's very impressive

 

[Susie]

;-)We have several very impressive male soap makers on our forum.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Thank you, bia.

As Susie says, there are a few of us around here. We mainly gather around the shaving soap threads - they're like barbecues for us

 

[biarine]

Thank you, bia.

As Susie says, there are a few of us around here. We mainly gather around the shaving soap threads - they're like barbecues for us

You're welcome and nice to know that not only women who good crafters but also men.