Draggy soap

[Johnez]

Being I'm a somewhat novice soap maker I'm curious what could be causing a draggy soap. Basically it is not smooth against my skin during use. Wondering if it's cure time too short (4 weeks), recipe (below), or just a fact of life. I have had soaps from big artisans that are also draggy. If it's a matter of recipe, is there any FAs I should raise or lower, or attributes I should worry about? Additives that help?

This is CPed btw, and thrown in the fridge for a day. It is a tree Marie recipe (I believe!).

 

[Carly B]

I don't know why, but sometimes I find soap draggy for the first few uses, almost like it had some sort of coating on it. But after that, it's fine.

 

[mx5inpenn]

I don't like shea butter in soaps because they always feel that way to me.

 

[Johnez]

I don't know why, but sometimes I find soap draggy for the first few uses, almost like it had some sort of coating on it. But after that, it's fine.

I have noticed this too with the recipe.

I don't like shea butter in soaps because they always feel that way to me.

Hmm. I'll try lowering Shea next time.

 

[Ephemerella]

I don't like shea butter in soaps because they always feel that way to me.

I find shea butter draggy too, though I don't totally dislike it. On the advice from the incredible hive mind on this board, I now include Kaolin clay, which adds a little slip and smoothness.

 

[Catscankim]

I don't know why, but sometimes I find soap draggy for the first few uses, almost like it had some sort of coating on it. But after that, it's fine.

Same here. I have to give it a few rubs and rinses even after I have used it, but let it sit for a while. Like it developed a skin or something that prevents lathering between uses.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

With only 20% palmitic + stearic, 20% shea and almost 50% OO, I would expect the soap to need a good long cure, like at least 8 weeks and maybe even 12 weeks.

 

[Johnez]

With only 20% palmitic + stearic, 20% shea and almost 50% OO, I would expect the soap to need a good long cure, like at least 8 weeks and maybe even 12 weeks.

Thanks, I'll keep some bars untouched, maybe go 8, 12, and 16 weeks since I have 4. The perfect experiment.

 

[contrinokathy]

Being I'm a somewhat novice soap maker I'm curious what could be causing a draggy soap. Basically it is not smooth against my skin during use. Wondering if it's cure time too short (4 weeks), recipe (below), or just a fact of life. I have had soaps from big artisans that are also draggy. If it's a matter of recipe, is there any FAs I should raise or lower, or attributes I should worry about? Additives that help?

This is CPed btw, and thrown in the fridge for a day. It is a tree Marie recipe (I believe!).

If it continues to feel draggy try aloe Vera. I use powder in hot process so I’d see how to add it for cold process. Or corn silk in lye water is nice. I eat corn all summer long and dry the silk then pulverize it.

 

[Saponificarian]

Olive oil feels draggy to me. Try canola oil. I have used the normal one which is I think is mid-oleic or if you can find the high oleic one, even better.

 

[Johnez]

8 weeks cure=less draggy. Still slightly draggy, but it feels like 4 more weeks will be the sweet spot. Soap also feels harder.

 

[Georgeandstella]

If it continues to feel draggy try aloe Vera. I use powder in hot process so I’d see how to add it for cold process. Or corn silk in lye water is nice. I eat corn all summer long and dry the silk then pulverize it.

How much corn silk do you use? I’m dehydrating some now. Thank you!

 

[contrinokathy]

I use about a teaspoon for two-three pounds of oil. A little goes a long way.
I use about a tsp of aloe Vera powder ppo

 

[Georgeandstella]

I use about a teaspoon for two-three pounds of oil. A little goes a long way.
I use about a tsp of aloe Vera powder ppo

Thank you!

 

[Georgeandstella]

I use about a teaspoon for two-three pounds of oil. A little goes a long way.
I use about a tsp of aloe Vera powder ppo

I used some tonight-I added it to the water before lye. It didn’t fully dissolve, so I had to strain it out. Is this because it’s not dry enough? Should I have pulverized it in a spice grinder or pestle first? Thank you

 

[contrinokathy]

No it’s normal to strain it. Neither corn silk nor tussah silk dissolves completely

 

[Georgeandstella]

No it’s normal to strain it. Neither corn silk nor tussah silk dissolves completely

Thank you! It did look like there was something left behind from it but of course I couldn’t feel it with my hands. I’ll experiment with it and boiling water to understand the process better.

 

[Shelley D]

I guess I'm the only weirdo who uses a washcloth
Personally, I never liked the thought or feel of a soap bar on my skin. Plus, I spent most of my young life sharing a bathroom with a little brother and boys are nasty I never understood how the soap bar looked dirty after he took a shower so I always used a washcloth to pick it up and wash it off (and fully rinsed out my washcloth) before I lathered up for my washing! And thus the washcloth habit has stayed with me

 

[AliOop]

Thank you! It did look like there was something left behind from it but of course I couldn’t feel it with my hands. I’ll experiment with it and boiling water to understand the process better.

I tend to prefer tussah silk over corn silk bc tussah always dissolves completely in my hot lye masterbatch. Maybe that’s because I make large batches which therefor stay hot longer? Whatever the reason, I don’t ever have any undissolved bits of tussah, whereas I always have to strain out some undissolved corn silk.