how to color HP soap, how to do designs??

[huffychick]

what should i use to color HP soap? can i use crafter's choice pigment powder? i have some for water and for water. what about the powder oxide pigments? also, I know it's a weird consistency with HP but what are some ways to do designs or swirls? I can also do embeds, right? I've never done HP or CP before, so sorry for the silly questions.

 

[Stakie]

Have you been able to do a batch yet? Colouring a batch can be a little tricky. In all honesty, I would just start with fragrances. Do a few batches to get the hang of it. I like using the liquid dyes in my HP soap. It seems easier imho! But, it's all a learning process.

 

[sistrum]

Here's one of my HP soaps from 2009 colored with oxids f

Marbling is easier than swirls

 

[huffychick]

Have you been able to do a batch yet? Colouring a batch can be a little tricky. In all honesty, I would just start with fragrances. Do a few batches to get the hang of it. I like using the liquid dyes in my HP soap. It seems easier imho! But, it's all a learning process.

i haven't made a batch yet. I'm doing all the research i possibly can BEFORE making one so I make the least mistakes possible. i have some liquid color droppers that i use when i do MP, can i use the same for HP?

 

[huffychick]

Here's one of my HP soaps from 2009 colored with oxidsView attachment 3598f

Marbling is easier than swirls

I like that!! i've been watching some videos on youtube and they have put liquid color in "pockets" or corners of the batch and they kind of swirl it or mix it up some. would i do the same thing with my oxides/powder pigment colors?? i'm just trying to think of every possible outcome BEFORE trying a batch. I'm doing this to sell for my business and I know a lot of people recommend doing batch before batch before selling, but I'm sure my customers would buy it anyway haha. i mean, as long as it fully saponifies, how bad could it turn out?? thanks for the picture!! i like the marbling effect.

 

[Obsidian]

The liquid colors you use in HP start out as powders. You have to mix them with water or oil before adding it to the soap, your powders should say what to mix them with. All my colors are water soluble and I add just enough water to dissolve the powder.
I've only done HP three times, the last time I did a in the pot swirl and it was harder then I though it would be. You might be better off doing one color. If you want to do pretty soaps, why don't you try CP? HP really only cuts a couple weeks off cure time.

 

[lpstephy85]

what should i use to color HP soap? can i use crafter's choice pigment powder? i have some for water and for water. what about the powder oxide pigments? also, I know it's a weird consistency with HP but what are some ways to do designs or swirls? I can also do embeds, right? I've never done HP or CP before, so sorry for the silly questions.

The good thing about HP is colors don't morph as easily (or at all). I had a mica that was blue and in CP it turned purple, but in my HP batches it stayed the nice shimmering blue (first two in the pic). If you add sodium lactate at 1tsp per pound of oils, should help keep it fluid. You just have to be ready to work quickly before it starts to dry/harden. I wouldn't try anything too fancy at first until you can figure out the consistency you will have after a couple of batches.


Sent from my iPhone using Soap Making

 

[savonierre]

You can also do 4 or 6 colors in different bowls with the HP and plop them into the mold randomly. Layers work well too in HP.

 

[sistrum]

"I'm doing this to sell for my business and I know a lot of people recommend doing batch before batch before selling, but I'm sure my customers would buy it anyway haha."

Great way to treat your customers and the people here that are trying to help you that have invested a lot of their time and money to be responsible soap makers and promote a quality product for the public and the reputation of handmade soap in general.​

 

[FOhoarder]

I'm doing this to sell for my business and I know a lot of people recommend doing batch before batch before selling, but I'm sure my customers would buy it anyway haha. i mean, as long as it fully saponifies, how bad could it turn out?? thanks for the picture!! .

Wow! Scary! I've been making soap for over 3 years and I still have a ton to learn. I would seriously rethink your plans about selling your very first batch of soap.

 

[Obsidian]

I mean, as long as it fully saponifies, how bad could it turn out??

It could turn out very bad. Too much lye, too drying, going rancid, morphing scents or colors. Lye soap is so much different from the M & P you are used to, you really do need to learn and experiment at least for a bit before selling.

Another option is to buy unscented, uncolored CP soap in bulk, grate it up and rebatch adding the colors and scents you want.

 

[dagmar88]

i mean, as long as it fully saponifies, how bad could it turn out??

It could go perfectly fine, or you could hurt someone.
Without being able to guarantee not only safety, but a quality product that holds up over time, I wouldn't want to attach my name to it.
It could do your business much more harm than good.

 

[huffychick]

okay, maybe I worded it wrong. Yes, I am creating this for my business. OBVIOUSLY if my batches don't turn out, I'm not selling them to anyone, or probably even GIVING them away. This is why I am doing ALL the research I can BEFORE making any batches. My customers have loved the products that I have sold already. I have had mishaps already making soap and I did NOT sell what I didn't think was of quality. Nowhere did I say I knew everything about soap making or even anything similar to it, I learn cool new things every time I make new soap. That, is why I am on here asking questions. I'm sure a lot of people have asked some questions and then just DID it and had mishaps. I am trying to prevent that as much as I can. And is it not true that as long as the saponification process is COMPLETE, it is still soap? if something happened to that batch, even if it turned completely to soap, if I didn't feel it was good enough to try to sell, I wouldn't. I'm not trying to discredit anyone or "scare" of offend anyone either.

 

[huffychick]

and couldn't i use phenolphthalein to help determine whether or not my batch would be safe?

so, the actual post was supposed to be about coloring the soap. so, more recommendations of getting a liquid color versus the powders that i have?

how close is CP to HP anyway? I'm not sure if I stated this, but I am not performing this solely on my experience with MP and "research". I have a family friend who has years of experience with CP. My intent wasn't to offend anyone or come off like I know everything. This is why I am on here, asking people who have ALREADY done this for advice and opinions.

 

[dagmar88]

if something happened to that batch, even if it turned completely to soap, if I didn't feel it was good enough to try to sell, I wouldn't.

How would you know without experience, testing over a length of time and a lot of feedback? The whole batch might form DOS after a while or loose the scent. It might just not be up to expectation.

and couldn't i use phenolphthalein to help determine whether or not my batch would be safe?

No.
I wouldn't consider to sell anything that is just 'safe' anyway.
Before I sell anything, I want to be able to stand behind my product 100%.
To know it inside and out, perfect the recipe, to be able to determine the correct shelf life and to be able to answer any question.
People aren't just buying a piece of reasonably allright soap, they're buying a bit of craftsmanship.

 

[huffychick]

How would you know without experience, testing over a length of time and a lot of feedback? The whole batch might form DOS after a while or loose the scent. It might just not be up to expectation.



No.
I wouldn't consider to sell anything that is just 'safe' anyway.
Before I sell anything, I want to be able to stand behind my product 100%.
To know it inside and out, perfect the recipe, to be able to determine the correct shelf life and to be able to answer any question.
People aren't just buying a piece of reasonably allright soap, they're buying a bit of craftsmanship.

all of those things you just said, were implied.

 

[huffychick]

okay, and now is where all of you will say that all the stuff i have already made is ****ty. i have personally tried every type of soap i have already made, and i like it. and all the customers i have that continue to buy it, tell me they like it. so i suppose my customers and i like "mediocre" soap. thank you for your support.

 

[CaraCara]

There is nothing wrong with your soaps. One can never go wrong with trying to learn as much info as possible but you really need to get a few batches of both methods under your belt because each one has its challenges. There are so many variables that contribute to the success or failure of a batch that it's necessary to flop (IMO) on a few to figure out why and what to do/not to do moving forward. If you haven't tried either yet, give them a go.

 

[Stakie]

i haven't made a batch yet. I'm doing all the research i possibly can BEFORE making one so I make the least mistakes possible. i have some liquid color droppers that i use when i do MP, can i use the same for HP?

I'de still say try a batch just to get the hang of it. You might be able to, but look at the directions. If it says only use with M&P, than no. If it doesn't say anything about CP soap than probably not. Just get as much information on the product you have as you can.

 

[huffychick]

There is nothing wrong with your soaps. One can never go wrong with trying to learn as much info as possible but you really need to get a few batches of both methods under your belt because each one has its challenges. There are so many variables that contribute to the success or failure of a batch that it's necessary to flop (IMO) on a few to figure out why and what to do/not to do moving forward. If you haven't tried either yet, give them a go.

i absolutely agree with you! I should have more experience with the different methods, but if my first batch ends up turning out great, I'm going to sell it. if not, i guess i've got a ton of my own stocked in my bathroom or it goes in the trash. this is why i am doing all of my research first. when i start these batches, i want to know everything that could go wrong or right so i can TRY to create the best product. i would never put my name on something i didn't feel is quality. THANK YOU for not being rude! also, i will do CP batches as well. i have so many ideas, but i want to make sure my ideas are realistic before throwing lye around. i dont expect this to be an easy process, but i will try my best to MAKE it easy.