Soap is an important part of our everyday lives as we use it for cleaning almost everything that we have. It is made from two basic ingredients, fatty acids and lye. When these two are combined, they undergo a process called saponification. After this mixture has hardened, the finished product is a soap that can be used for different cleaning purposes.
As you can see, soap making takes a fairly easy process to make. This is why some people take this up as a hobby. You will be able to design soaps similar to what you see in bathrooms of expensive hotels. You will be able to experiment with different shapes, colors and fragrances that you can combine to come up with very nice designs. You won’t have to spend a lot of money on specially made soaps. You can design soaps they way you like it, and combine it with your favorite fragrances and put them on display at your own bathroom.
Soap Making DVD Series
There are two methods in soap making, a hot process and a cold process. The hot process requires heating of the fats before mixing it with lye and water solution. This is then continuously heated for a few hours before it becomes ready to be molded. The cold process is almost the same but heating of the fats is done without. Mixing of the fats and lye solution is immediately done and allowed to cool. Both of the mixtures in these processes can then be poured into molds so fix their shape. Dyes and fragrances can also be added while in this state.
Glycerin soap on the other hand is already a ready-made mixture that will need no mixing of fats and lye. All you will need to do is melt the glycerin soap and these can be poured into molds and mixed with other ingredients to obtain the final product that you desire. This method is better recommended for children as it is a much safer way than having to use lye to saponify your soap.
When doing the longer way of soap making, meaning you will go through the hot or cold process, you have to keep in mind that different types of oil will yield the basic properties of soap. Coconut oil is good for making soap that produces a good amount of lather. Vegetable oil makes a softer kind of soap while using olive oil results in a softer and milder soap perfect for sensitive skin.
Using a combination of molds, dyes, fragrances and lotions will help you make different variations of soap. You can even design soap that looks like animals, food or any other thing that you may desire. It takes some practice to come up with nice designs so make sure to allot some time for this hobby and you be making perfectly crafted soaps in no time.
Keep in mind that making soap is a dangerous process due to the lye involved. Be sure to wear protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and face masks to avoid getting injured from the corrosive effects of lye. When children are making soap, be sure that adult supervision is always present.
At first, soap making will be very hard and you might not be able to make the soap that you had in mind. But with a lot of practice, you will be able to get the hang of the different techniques needed in making soap and you can start designing your bathroom similar to seen in expensive hotels.
Jen Hopkins has worked in the skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about how do you make soap, and cold process soap recipes. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.
