swirling with oxides and dyes

[Ali]

hubby says play with colors, so he bought me some.
I tried, and are envious of the photos of your swirls you guys!!!

can you give me some pointers?

need a little advice in how to mix the dyes, do I do it in water first? and then add it to the soap and swirl.....that's how I'm doing now...

and the oxides.....I'm lost.

 

[Guest]

If you could tell us what kind of dyes you have that would help , there are so many out there , each with there own mixing standard.

here is a link about using oxides etc .

http://www.brambleberry.com/popupColorInst.aspx

Kitn

 

[Dixie]

You really just have to play with them. FO's and EO's can change the colors on you no matter how much you use, same with dark oils.

If I really want a pretty color, I try to use all light oils or as many as I can. I add a little Titanium Dioxide to the base. Then at trace I take out a little to mix color in and do a swirl.

Oxides mix best in oils , either a tiny bit of the base oils, or an oil you are going to SF with at trace. (Vitamin E and glycerin work fantastic!)
Lab colors dilute in water. I don't dilute all mine at once because then you have to add germil to it, so I just do it as needed.

Bramble Berry has a good detail description on how to use oxides,pigments and labcolors.

 

[Ali]

there is a soap company 2 hrs away from us and it's only open the days my store is open, the hubby goes there. The labels only say greencastle soaps. My guess is she buys in bulk and resells.

Thank you so much for the link, will check it out
oh and thank you too Dixie. both your soaps are really pretty.

 

[Val]

Can pigments be mixed with a carrier oil and stored for later use or do they have to be used right then.

Val

 

[heartsong]

Can pigments be mixed with a carrier oil and stored for later use or do they have to be used right then.

Val

i have a bunch of clear .5 oz little jars with lids that i mix my colors with castor oil into a thin paste. they store well. i use oxides and micas, but now i've got some of the premixed "neons" too.

you may like to check this site for more info, too:

www.peacockdyes.com

happy soaping!

 

[Val]

Thanks Heartsong! I have been looking at those.

I already have some pigments and they say to mix 1/2 tsp with 1 oz carrier oil and then to use drops to color. I would hate to waste a whole oz of color if I didn't have to as I have some small glass jars with lids I could use to keep them. What I have is Ultramarine Powder Pigments.

Val

 

[heartsong]

Thanks Heartsong! I have been looking at those.

I already have some pigments and they say to mix 1/2 tsp with 1 oz carrier oil and then to use drops to color. I would hate to waste a whole oz of color if I didn't have to as I have some small glass jars with lids I could use to keep them. What I have is Ultramarine Powder Pigments.

Val

by all means, follow the instructions until you are comfortable with the process! i have the ultramarine pink, purple and blue. (a little blue goes a long, longway!) i have found that the pink lightens up a great deal, especially if you force "gel". i usually get a kind of "dusty pink/rose pastel"

it's nice to have a dhubby that helps your soaping! bless his heart! i've only been coloring a few months and still learning, too. another website that i've found helpful (and cheap!) is:

www.tkbtrading.com i get a lot of my micas and pre-mixed neons there.

have fun!