Tallow shaving soap

[Louise Taylor]

Hello, I found an old thread on here where a member said that he had used mainly tallow in his shave soap, a little olive oil and castor and dual lye, he had used avocado oil for super fat. Of course, I can't find that thread now!

So I made some. I didn't have avocado oil so used some hemp oil for the extra oil using CP as I am not confident with HP. I used 40:60 mixed lye and 5% SF. It is sitting drying in some little pots. Looks nice and solid, white on top.

The leftover soap in the jug does not give any lather at all! I don't have a shaving brush so I tried it in my hands - not a bubble.

Will it be ok eventually? It is still soap I guess so should do something. Just wondering whether to scrap it or wait?

 

[Rsapienza]

Did you use stearic acid?

 

[Louise Taylor]

Did you use stearic acid?

No none. I came across that thread because I was trying to find one without stearic acid. So it is mainly tallow.

 

[Rsapienza]

No none. I came across that thread because I was trying to find one without stearic acid. So it is mainly tallow.

I believe you just have a CP soap then. Meaning I don't believe it's going to perform like a shave soap. Tallow and OO are certainly not known for their bubbles.

 

[Louise Taylor]

OK, Thanks. Maybe in a week or so it will. I wish I could find that thread though. It was quite old but if that person is still here he might be able to tell me how long before it is bubbly. It was old - maybe 2013 or 14.

 

[Rsapienza]

OK, Thanks. Maybe in a week or so it will. I wish I could find that thread though. It was quite old but if that person is still here he might be able to tell me how long before it is bubbly. It was old - maybe 2013 or 14.

If you click on watch thread at the top of whatever you're reading, it will save that particular one for you. That's what I do so I don't have to go through a gazillion pages. LOL I don't really think you're ever going to get much lather with those oils. I could be wrong. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[Louise Taylor]

I have found it!

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/thr...earic-acid-or-soy-wax-help.56748/#post-552302

Brewer George

 

[Rsapienza]

Awesome! Well, there ya go. I did notice that he said he used all NaOH, not dual lye. Not sure how different that makes it.

 

[Louise Taylor]

Awesome! Well, there ya go. I did notice that he said he used all NaOH, not dual lye. Not sure how different that makes it.

It is very early in Indianapolis, maybe he will reply when he reads this. Yeah - I should have noted the all NaOH too- it might be vital.

 

[artemis]

I have found it!
Brewer George

He comes back now and then. Maybe you should send him a private message with your question. He may have his notifications set to email him.

 

[Louise Taylor]

He comes back now and then. Maybe you should send him a private message with your question. He may have his notifications set to email him.

Thank you. I will do that.

 

[Louise Taylor]

My brushes arrived today so I gave it a try. I think it looks fine despite the low stearic.

 

[DeeAnna]

The lather is thin looking to me -- more like beaten egg whites than whipped cream. The real test is not appearance, however. It's how it works during shaving.

edit -- The reason why successful shave soaps have high stearic content is because a high-stearic lather provides the properties of lubrication (slip) and protection (cushion). And the lather is long lasting. A low-stearic lather, no matter how lovely it looks, doesn't offer those qualities.

 

[Louise Taylor]

The lather is thin looking to me -- more like beaten egg whites than whipped cream. The real test is not appearance, however. It's how it works during shaving.

When it has dried out a bit I will find someone to test it on . It feels quite creamy.

 

[Rsapienza]

I agree with DeeAnna. It looks loose. Shave soap looks just like shaving cream. You don't see bubbles as it's totally smooth. I have heard of people making a shave type bar and report people like it, although I think if you had blind tests, the one with the high stearic would win. JMO Let us know what your testers think.