Tips for making salt bars?

[AshleyR]

I've tried making salt bars in the past and they turned out to be a super hard, crumbly mess. :cry:

I recently received a really awesome salt bar (DEDA!!! It rocks!) and I would love to learn how to make NICE salt bars.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[southernvtsoap]

I am no expert on salt bars, but the best advice I ever got was to make sure to cut them while they are still hot - almost too hot to the touch. That almost always prevents the crumblies.

 

[mamaT]

Ashley, I did some research and found that some use 80% salt to oils and others less. I wanted mine to lather well so I opted to use 50% salt to oils and it seems to be just right. Loads of lather and can be cut in about 2 hours, I made the mistake of waiting about 3.5 hours and could barely cut them. My daugher loves this bar. Me too.

 

[AshleyR]

Thanks guys! I am making it in a couple of minutes. 80% coconut, 20% castor, and superfatting with shea butter. We'll see how it goes! I'll let you know!

 

[AshleyR]

Okie doke... all went well, so far! Looked like "soap" when I poured it into the mold. Let's hope it sets up and that I cut it at the right time. Someone else said 2 hours... any other suggestions? It looks like it will be a really nice soap - I just have a feeling I'm going to ruin it by cutting it too soon or too late. Help???

 

[mamaT]

Have you cut it yet, don't wait or you will have concrete.

 

[AshleyR]

I just cut it! About an hour and 40 minutes after pouring. It is PERFECT!!! I'm so excited! I can see myself making a lot of salt bars... almost instant gratification. I just love cutting soap!

I probably could have left it a tad bit longer before cutting - it was pretty soft (I only used about 60% salt), but I really didn't want it to harden up on me too fast.

I really expected my first try at salt bars to be a flop, but I'm so excited that they turned out. I could jump for joy right now!

Pics tomorrow! Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[ChrissyB]

Good on you Ash. You will love your salt soap when it has cured, it reminds me of a stone, it gets so smooth and lovely. Can't wait for the pics??

 

[AshleyR]

Thanks Chrissy!

I just tested a piece this morning and the lather sucked. I've heard that about salt bars so I didn't use as much salt as other people have (I used between 50-60%). It is 80% coconut oil + 20% castor oil + 10% shea butter superfat. Hardly any bubbles at all.

Does it get more lathery the longer it cures?

 

[jcandleattic]

Does it get more lathery the longer it cures?

Just like all soap, yes, it will get a better lather and be a better soap once it cures. Salt bars still have to go through the sapoification process and also cure just as long as CP does. Just because it gets cut sooner doesn't mean it's done sooner...

 

[MikeInPdx]

Mine too had really crappy lather at first.....but that changes.

I make mine between 80-100% of the total oils and there's plenty of lather....once they've cured a bit. They will give you a foam explosion with a nylon poof.