Everything is Beige. Striving for Deep Pink.

[northernsoap]

I can't complain really - it's the substance that counts, right? My initial batches these past months have all had good texture, good shape - I'm not complaining - but the color. Very light - very beige.

I'm sticking to my regime of all natural and I'm experimenting. Been using spices and herbs - turmeric, rose petals, seeds - and still manage to wind up with the same pale, pale, pale - beige.

I just want to get to a nice ROSY color. That's what I've been aiming for. Maybe in the next few patches to move into some blues/lavenders - but I sure would like to get a handle on the pinks first. Naturally of course. The deeper, the better. No morroccan red clay please. I just don't want to start dealing with clays just yet.

Your thoughts on the variants of red through nature and if you've tried alkanet how did that work for you?

 

[la-rene]

Try some madder root. I just used it for a great deep red, but it will do pink too. 1 tbsp per lb of oils for a medium tone (or so the directions say... I used significantly more, though the soap may be a little scratchy) Make sure you use enough colorant and add it at the right time. FYI: it may not look red at first, but when it gels, it will form its correct color.

 

[Saswede]

I also use only natural / herbal coloring, and tried many different methods to achieve a pink soap - without much success. Then on a whim one day I bought a small amount of rose clay with my order of soap supplies, and LOVED the soap I made with it! It's a moderately cleansing clay, and is usually a blend of red and white clay (kaolin). And you can vary the shade and the intensity of the color through using more or less of the clay in each batch.

Since this positive experience, I've bought a number of other types of clay, and use them regularly - but the rose clay (argiletz) is still my favorite.

I have also used alkanet (and still do use it), and found that the color is quite difficult to reproduce and that it fades over time. I use the pieces of dried root, and infuse it in OO for at least 3 or 4 weeks before using the oil You do need an intense color at the start to end up with any color later ...... And the color continues to fade to a greyish mauve (at least that's been my experience).

BTW I think that achieving blue soap with natural colorants is difficult, if not impossible. So if you manage to achieve it please let me know how!


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[ahutchins9]

I use pink Kaolin clay. It makes a nice pink

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[lsg]

Rose clay will also give you a muted pink.

 

[paillo]

Rose and pink clays for sure! I'm still infusing madder root and will be curious to see how the color holds up. Have had the same experience with alkanet root, it fades badly over time to a blue-ish gray, very disappointing. Woad faded to a very faint gray, and I haven't yet tried the indigo I have. I've pretty much given up and use mica for swirl portions when I want a true color that sticks.

I've just received Brambleberry's Brazilian purple and yellow clays and will soap with them this week, optimistic about their sticking, here's hoping!

 

[Saswede]

I never heard of a purple clay ...... Will look for some immediately!! I also just ordered some Rhassoul clay because I've heard good things about it (not necessarily for the color, though).


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[judymoody]

I have used both madder and rose clay with good results but the madder will fade over time.

I have been able to get alkanet to stick but not indigo. For either, store in a dark place; sunlight exposure will accelerate fading of botanicals.

 

[HorseCreek]

Clays aren't anything to be afraid of They make really awesome soap. In fact my clay soap sells better than any other soap I make.

 

[soap_rat]

I use rhubarb root powder for my pink. My oldest extant soap made with it is over a year old, and little or no fading. I just add the powder to traced soap and it has not been scratchy. I bought the powder off amazon. I have bought madder root powder, but haven't tried it yet.

With alkanet, it seems like in order to get the darkness one wants, one has to make it look about twice as dark at the time of soaping. I've never gotten a rosy or pink hue with alkanet, just greyish lavender. I have 2-year old soap that is still a medium lavender.

Turmeric should have worked for changing the color of your soap, although it is less intense after cure so you do have to go a little darker.

Rose petals turn brown. Every petal I have tried in the red/pink/purple/blue range turned brown. Calendula stays yellow!

 

[northernsoap]

Good suggestions - maybe I'll try some madder I have on hand right now.

I use rhubarb root powder for my pink. My oldest extant soap made with it is over a year old, and little or no fading. I just add the powder to traced soap and it has not been scratchy. I bought the powder off amazon. I have bought madder root powder, but haven't tried it yet.

With alkanet, it seems like in order to get the darkness one wants, one has to make it look about twice as dark at the time of soaping. I've never gotten a rosy or pink hue with alkanet, just greyish lavender. I have 2-year old soap that is still a medium lavender.

Turmeric should have worked for changing the color of your soap, although it is less intense after cure so you do have to go a little darker.

Rose petals turn brown. Every petal I have tried in the red/pink/purple/blue range turned brown. Calendula stays yellow!

 

[Delynnr]

I used a small amount of activated charcoal in a salt bar - it is a light purple color. I am not sure how - was going for grey! Maybe the combo of EO and the charcoal - but I love it.

I second the clay idea - they are super easy to use, easy to find, and make my soap feel fabulous!

 

[kazmi]

I lover madder root. I go for a deep burgandy color but you could always add a little td to get a pinkish color. I posted pictures of my first madder root soap. If you do a search in the pictures for madder root you will be able to see how pretty it came out. I do it by infusing it in OO for a couple of weeks then use that OO as 35% of my oils. I keep it out of sun and hasn't faded yet.