How to Make Shaving Soap | Bramble Berry 

Soap Queen TV I was wondering about the constant use of palm oil in recipes since it's in their quick mix. I've always heard never to buy palm oil since it is harmful to orangutans' habitats but it's good to know you only buy it responsibly.

Thank you!

+Naomi Scott Thanks so much for the kind comment Naomi, it means a lot!

+Mya Encarnacion I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos! =)

+Soap Queen TV I love your videos with a passion

Thanks so much for this sweet comment! It means the world to me. =)

And she is worthy. [smile]

So glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you so much for watching Naomi! =)

So glad you enjoyed the video!

Yay, I'm so glad you liked this video!

I had mentioned something like that as well. Members of a Shave Soap Guild told me that they require a Shave Soap with lard or tallow and both sodium and potassium hydroxide. They also look for stearic acid in the ingredient list. I developed my recipe with that advice in mind. I have made a lot of fans with my shave soap. I have personally never made a sodium hydroxide only shave soap before. It seemed like a waste of time and effort if the biggest users won't even consider anything else. Just my two cents.

+Irena Marchu I believe this recipe is more for folks who are not yet experts like my husband....anything goes and anything bubbles, he'll use it as a shaving cream..hahaha! 40 yrs is not just an experience, i'd say that's a doctrate degree. Your comment certainly helps me understand what actually is a shaving soap.

+Girlyglo If it's just for yourself, then that's fine. The problem I see is that as soon as someone sells a product made with this recipe, any wet shaver with some experience in their art will not be happy with a soap made with this recipe. I would not want any wet shaver to be turned off by an artisan shaving soap. I have very loyal wet shaving customers and this recipe would not pass for their needs.

+Irena Marchu Hi Irena! I'm sorry you found this video misleading. You're right, the lather from this soap will not be the same consistency as your recipe (which sounds amazing!). In our tests, I found this soap suitable for shaving, but if users are used to a thicker, yogurt-like lather, you're right, this soap may not be the product they are looking for. The wonderful thing about making handmade products is you can customize the recipe to make it perfect for you, and for your customers =)

+Soap Queen TV As a wet shaver myself, I belong to quite a few wet shaving groups and forums. Dedicated wet shavers would not be happy with this recipe. As a bath/body soap yes; as a wet shaving soap no. I only use clay in one recipe now as I found clay can clog a razor from my wet shaving customers.

+Haven Moore Thanks so much!

I'm so glad! I hope you give soaping a try one day, it's lots of fun!

@@bramble-berry Aloe Vera ?

Lol

+Matthew Williams (Canada) I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos! I hope that you do give soapmaking a try one day...it's so fun! =)

+Anna Boyd That is interesting! Shaving soap with a blend of potassium and sodium hydroxide lye does make a lovely bar. But, I also like this version and find it a little more straightforward to make. That's one of the great things about making your own soap, there are so many options! =)

+luna angel Thanks so much Luna!

You could! Just run the recipe through the lye calculator to make sure you have the correct amount of lye. It may feel a little different, but I think would still work well =). Rice bran is a good substitute for olive oil.

Thanks Ellen!

You can definitely use tallow and lanolin if you like! They will help moisturize the skin nicely. You can use tallow up to 100% (we like to use it at 33% or less) and you can use lanolin around 3-4%. Learn more about tallow here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/guest-post-rendering-tallow-soaping/ Lanolin: www.brambleberry.com/Lanolin-Ultra-Refined-P6576.aspx As for the glycerin, that is naturally produced during the soapmaking process! If you'd like to add more you can, but it may cause glycerin rivers. I would recommend keeping it on the lower end, less than 5%. =) Learn more about glycerin rivers here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/river-runs-deep-explanation-glycerin-rivers/

Thank you so much, it means a lot to me!

Mckayla Strobert no. Watch her “how to make cold process soap” videos

Palm oil IS vegan.

No disrespect to bramble berry but the channels I Dream in Soap and Thermal Mermaid are good at explaining more.

Hi Aimee! Coconut oil is unique and there is no replacement for it. However, you can make castile soap! Castile is made with 100% olive oil and is great for sensitive skin. =) Learn how to make castile soap here: www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/olive-oil/ This post on soaping with allergies may be helpful for you as well: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-with-allergies-nuts-gluten-more/

thank you so much I appreciate the reply :)

its very helpful I cant wait to start making my first batch of soap :)

Natural spring water can have microbes or bits of metal that do odd things in the soap. We recommend using distilled water. You can find it at the grocery store next to the bottled water. =)

Palm oil adds some great firmness to your soap, and there is no direct replacement for it. You can add certain oils and butters to help firm your soap up though! For instance, adding a hard butter, like cocoa butter up to 15%, can harden the bars. You can also add coconut oil or tallow up to 33%. :) Read more about common oils and what properties they add to soap here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/ This post on substituting oils has some great information too: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-substitute-oil-in-cold-process-recipes/ Sodium lactate is helpful as well. It helps the bars unmold more quickly. You can add 1 tsp. of sodium lactate per pound of oils to your cooled lye water. Read more in the Sunday Night Spotlight: Sodium Lactate: www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-sodium-lactate/ Here are some links to palm-free recipes you may like: Palm Free Vertical Twist: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/palm-free-vertical-twist-tutorial/ Palm Free In The Pot Swirl: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/a-palm-free-in-the-pot-swirl/ Formulating Cold Process Recipes: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/formulating-cold-process-recipes/

+Elle Bee I hope you give it a try!

Soap Queen TV by Bramble Berry You forgot to wear a safety helmet

At first it would be more expensive buying everything you need. Then over time it’s cost effective and you adapt products the products to how you like them. It’s fun as well for some people. It is a hobby.

With whipped soap, two lyes are used to create a light, fluffy texture. We have experimented with whipped soap and haven't had great results, so I don't have a recipe for you. Instead, we like to use Foaming Bath Butter: www.brambleberry.com/Foaming-Bath-Butter-P4955.aspx

Duh, I knew you were making a shaving soap but I didn't realize it was whipped! Sorry for taking up your time but thanks for the quick reply.

You can use babassu oil to substitute for coconut oil. People use that because it has the same properties as coconut and is used in place of people that have an allergic reaction to coconut.

Thanks, I'm so glad you're enjoying them! With melt and pour, temperature and patience is key, especially with layers. I would recommend checking out the blog post below, and watch the first four beginner melt and pour videos =) www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/5-tips-layering-melt-pour/

Hi there! Handmade soap is great for cleansing the skin. Coconut oil is especially cleansing. And while it can reduce odor, it is not necessarily deodorizing. To add deodorizing properties to your soap I would recommend using deodorant additive! You can use it at 1% in cold process soap. =) Read more about deodorant additive here: www.brambleberry.com/Deodorant-Additive-P5514.aspx

+Soap Queen TV thank you for the response! I will definitely look into that additive. Just wondering if adding sea salt or baking soda would help make the CP soap deodorizing. And would adding these hurt the bubbles and lather? Thanks!

+Good Day Mate We have added salt to soap before! It helps make the bars firm and also adds exfoliating properties. However, I don't notice any change in the deodorizing properties. They definitely cleanse the body though. I'll include links below. =) Lavender and Rose Pink Salt Bars: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/lavender-and-rose-pink-salt-bars-diy/ Brine and Rose Clay Soap: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/brine-and-rose-clay-cold-process-soap-soleseife-soap/ As for baking soda, we don't recommend using it in cold process soap. In our tests we found it created clumps of undissolved lye in the mixture. You can read more about our experiments here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/soothing-oatmeal-bath-bar/

+Soap Queen TV thank you so much!

Since you are making a soap with the cocoa butter the smell doesn't tend to last after saponification so it is unnecessary to use a deodorized version.

We haven't tried this recipe with the hot process method, but I think that would work just fine! I would recommend making a small test batch just to be sure. =)

It looks like she is making a solid (hard) shaving soap. I believe that the sodium lactate helps keep the soap softer and creamier, more like shaving cream.

+tbharness86 Shaving soap with a blend of potassium and sodium hydroxide lye does make a lovely bar. But, I also like this version and find it a little more straightforward to make. You can also leave out the coconut oil if you like. We love the fluffy bubbles and cleansing properties it adds, but it is optional. =)

i am a new soap maker. do you think you can create a video for wet-shavers so that i may follow a good recipe for it? everyone is being so harsh with their comments but either way, i think you are doing a wonderful job.

Mehran Khan water discount is when you decrease the amount of water used. This will help to make a harder bar of soap that can be unmolded faster and cures faster. It also helps to prevent glycerin rivers from forming. Sodium lactate helps to harden the soap to make it faster to unmold. It also makes the bar slightly shinier. Yes you can use milk in place of water. Watch her goats milk or buttermilk soap videos. Lanolin can be incorporated just like any other oil into your recipe

Mehran Khan 3:45 she directly explains why she uses sodium lactate

Thanks

What a great idea! I think he'll love it. =)

You can find all of our bail jars here: www.brambleberry.com/Jars-C579.aspx

+tbharness86 Overtime, clay may dull the blade a little bit faster than soap without. After all...clay is basically a dirt! But, I think the benefits that it adds to the soap is worth the trade off =). Of course if you prefer, you can omit it from the recipe.

I'm totally for using clay, but nearly every shave soaper I've spoken with is vehemently against it. Simply using the blade in general will dull it. Just keep it dry and clean after use and use a sharpener.

+tbharness86 You can definitely leave it out of this recipe if you like! We love the way it feels, but it is optional. That's what I love so much about making soap - you can customize it to your personal preference. =)

That is 99% isopropyl alcohol! It helps prevent soda ash. =) Learn more about soda ash and how to prevent it here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/explaining-and-preventing-soda-ash/

+Soap Queen TV thank you, just one more think, how long should I wait until can use the soap from cold process ?

We recommend curing the soap for 4-6 weeks. Read more about how to cure and store soap here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/

You're welcome! Have fun giving this recipe a try. =)

+Elena Clark Exactly! So glad you enjoyed the tutorial =)

I haven't tried that particular combination of oils, but I think it would be just fine! Just make sure to put the recipe into the lye calculator to make sure you have the proper amount of lye =)

+Soap Queen TV thanks I will run it on the soap Calc. It's impossible to find the avocado butter and rice bran oil very difficult, too.

We sell those on BrambleBerry.com! That may be an option for you. =) Avocado butter: www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Butter-Solid-P3207.aspx Rice bran oil: www.brambleberry.com/Rice-Bran-Oil-P4971.aspx

+Soap Queen TV Anne Marie, I live in México and the shipping is very expensive, I had ordered products from you, though., to be delivered in Ferndale, WA. I just have to wait months to go to USA and bring them here. The last order was one of several fragrance because, same problem, some of the ones I get here, accelerate trace and I love yours!

+miscmccoy In our tests, we found this recipe to create suitable bubbles for shaving, but if it's not thick as you'd like, it may not be the recipe for you. I hope you still enjoyed the video! =)

Agreed

Absolutely! The recipe is very skin loving. =)

We have more videos coming soon! Keep your eyes peeled. =)

That sounds fun! Are you wanting to add tomato puree to this recipe? =)

You can use shea butter in place of the avocado butter! It is a bit more firm than avocado butter, so the recipe will be a bit more firm overall. I would recommend a small test batch to check the consistency. Also, remember to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator after any substitutions. =) Lye Calculator: www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx Shea butter: www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx This post has more information on substituting oil in cold process recipes: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-substitute-oil-in-cold-process-recipes/ And this post has more information on soaping with allergies: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-with-allergies-nuts-gluten-more/

+Carla guardado It's a shaving soap, but it does have nice creamy lather like a cream does. It feels awesome. =)

+Cassandra Plaza Thanks for watching! =)

Sodium hydroxide lye is an inorganic compound commonly found in drain cleaners. In this case, it reacts with the oils to create soap! Learn more about lye and how to handle it safely here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yR6ttCSrLJI.html

+Soap Queen TV ohhh

+Ali Hussain Yea I learned about that thanks

Never heard of such a statement before.

I'm good! Thank you for watching. =)

In place of rice bran oil, you can use olive oil or canola! They have a similar consistency. Just remember to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator after any substitutions. =) Lye Calculator: www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx Read more about substituting oils here: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-substitute-oil-in-cold-process-recipes/

Thanks for your reply!!! :) I've only watched that one video on your Channel so far, but i'm subbing!!! :) Please do more Shaving Soap / Cream Recipes!? And Aftershaves, if you do that too!? P.S You deserve way more Subs!!!

Thank you so much for subbing, it means the world to me! Also, you may like this Green Tea Shaving Cream Recipe: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/sunday-night-spotlight-foaming-bath-whip/ And this Malecon Aftershave Recipe: soapqueen.tumblr.com/post/80273451460/from-now-until-march-26th-well-showcase

I will definitely check that out!!! I am on the hunt for the ultimate perfect all Natural Shaving Soap and Cream, as well as Aftershave, which is not something you can typical "Buy", so it has to be Homemade... And you definitely got some good stuff that i would love to experiment with :) And i would love to see more recipes from you, with some really slick Shaving Foam... Oh, and a request!!! : Skin Food!? There is a lot of stuff floating around Online, as to just use a thickener to thicken Glycerine etc, but one has to keep in mind, using Glycerine in a wrong way, either using too much or at the wrong Clima, makes the opposit effect, and dries out the skin... So, do you have an amazing recipe, for some real Skin Food!? :P Kinda like: Geo F Trumper Skin Food, if you aren't familiar with that, or Myrsol! :)

Thanks for your suggestions!

At a guess, the greenish/gray color is due to the addition of the bentonite clay.

+Samara Hosein Thanks for watching!

Thanks so much for watching! =)

+Soap Queen TV no problem I'm only 12 and the videos are like a cure for my stress! Thank YOU!

I have two kids, Jamisen and Lily! You can read more about them here: www.soapqueen.com/category/personal-ramblings/

Wow u have a website for everything haha. How old r they?

Soap Queen TV they have beautiful names💕

I'm sorry about any confusion Alan! What can I help you with?

Haha, I actually don't! Lye safety is so important that I don't mind saying it over and over again if it helps prevent people from burning themselves =)