Mix a twelve oz. of lye in 32 oz. of softened H2O in a plastic bowl. It is advisable that you work in an area that possess an exhaust fan or outside of your home. Remember to mix the lye into the H2O carefully while constantly stirring the mixture with a spoon. Place it in a safe place to cool down. The lye mixture will heat up due to the reaction of oil fats and the lye.
This process is known as "saponification". Pour twenty-four oz. of coconut oil and thirty-eight oz. of vegetable shortening in a stainless steel container. Add twenty -five oz. of olive oil and any type of fragrance oil that you want place in your soap. Allow the mixture to cool. Use Crisco to grease the mold of your soap. When the temperature of both mixtures cooled down considerably, carefully combined the lye mixture and the oil mixture.
Stir it constantly. Remember to mix in more slowly when you see some bubbles forming in it. Place the soap into the container in intervals. When it has the ability to maintain its form you can now place any add-ins that you want like herbs, coloring and others. Place the soap mixture into the mold.
Cover the soap mold with a cloth and place it in an area where it will not be disturbed for eighteen hours. The temperature of the mixture will increase then it will gradually cool down. Make sure that it has cooled down before you uncover it. Allow it to sit for twelve more hours without the cover. Carefully loosen the sides of the mold by gently shaking it over a clean cloth or space.
Use a knife to divide the soap into smaller bars. Cut square corners in the soap with the help of the miter box. Let the bars of soap cure for 3-4 hours. Remember that smaller ones have a faster curing time compared with bigger ones.
HOW TO PLACE ADDITIVES IN THE SOAP
Combine candle coloring and the oil mixture. If it is compose of wax, allow it first to melt in a couple of tbsps. of oil and then pour it to the rest of the mixture. You can also use crayons to enhance the color of the soap.
Remember to use one teaspoon of cocoa powder for color brown, one teaspoon of cayenne pepper for color pink peach, one tsp. of liquid chlorophyll for color light green, one teaspoon of turmeric for color yellow, one teaspoon of paprika for color peach and one teaspoon of titanium dioxide for color white for every pound of the soap bar.
You can also use one ounce of fragrant oil to scent a four lb. bar of soap. If you want to create a soap that will help you achieve a good skin, use 8 ounce of oatmeal. For dry skin, use half an ounce of geranium oil. If you have any kind of problem in your skin like pimples, mix tea tree oil in your bar of soap.
ADDITIONAL TIPS
Some individuals have severe allergic reaction to cinnamon so it is best to avoid it. Combine lye with H2O. Remember to pour the lye carefully since it can hurt you. Make sure that the lye and oil possess the same temperature before combining both mixtures.
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