Shea = longer cure time for bar?

[jmixon]

I tried some unrefined shea in my most recent bar, about 20%. The rest is castor 10% coconut 40% olive 30%.

I cured them in the fridge to avoid gel, and now about 4 days later they're still zapping. Is it the shea? I've never had a bar go longer than 24-48 hours and still zap.

 

[IrishLass]

Ungelled soap can still zap after 3 or four days. I had an ungelled batch once that still zapped at day 6, but it stopped zapping and was fine at day 7.

IrishLass

 

[Fragola]

Not sure about shea, but certainly Fridge = longer cure time

If you keep them in the fridge the whole time, I wouldn't be surprised if you beat the previously mentioned 6 days record.

 

[Soapy Gurl]

Hmmmm, my 25% shea soap has cured just fine, nice and hard. It is a hard butter after all. I don't check my soap daily for zap. I also use the CPOP method, so it is very firm when I cut it in less than 24 hours.

Fragola has is right on the mark - you are slowing your curing time down.

 

[jmixon]

Hmmmm, my 25% shea soap has cured just fine, nice and hard. It is a hard butter after all. I don't check my soap daily for zap. I also use the CPOP method, so it is very firm when I cut it in less than 24 hours.

Fragola has is right on the mark - you are slowing your curing time down.

It was only in the fridge over night, and was pretty thick at set. It was hard when I removed it from the fringe, since then it's been sitting on the table exposed to air.

 

[soapbuddy]

Ungelled soap can still zap after 3 or four days. I had an ungelled batch once that still zapped at day 6, but it stopped zapping and was fine at day 7.

IrishLass

I agree. I prefer ungelled soaps.

 

[judymoody]

I have found that with a high % of shea, my ungelled soaps get a fair amount of ash. I'd love to know how to counteract that, if that's possible.

 

[carebear]

Soaps very high in hard oils tend to get copious ash unless they gel. You can try sprinting generously with rubbing alcohol once they are poured into the mold.