How To Make Soap At Home With Your Own Hands: Making Solid, Liquid, From A Soap Base And Not Only, Master Classes With Photos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

How to make soap at home: a selection of master classes

It would seem that the need to make soap at home has disappeared thanks to the huge selection of this cosmetic product in stores. But soap making is gaining more and more popularity. Soap-makers show off their own masterpieces to one another, invent new recipes, hold master classes and even earn good money from their hobby. There are also special departments and shops for soap making, which once again proves the growing need for soap making. Is it so easy to make your own soap?

Content

• 1 Why is homemade soap better than purchased

• 2 What ingredients are used

  • 2.1 Ingredients for soap base

    2.1.1 Tools and devices

  • 2.2 What ingredients are used to make soap "from scratch"

    2.2.1 Supporting tools

  • 2.3 Ingredients for different types of soaps: for face, hands and body

    2.3.1 Table: Recommended ingredients for making soap according to its use

• 3 Making bar soap at home

  • 3.1 From a soap base

  • 3.2 Recommended amount of components per 100 g base

    3.2.1 Video: How to make soap from a finished soap base

  • 3.3 Hot and cold manufacturing from scratch

    • 3.3.1 Safety rules for working with alkali
    • 3.3.2 Cold method
    • 3.3.3 Video: Soap from scratch in the cold way
    • 3.3.4 Hot method
    • 3.3.5 Video: Hot soap from scratch

  • 3.4 Recipes for making soap

    • 3.4.1 Baby
    • 3.4.2 Tar
    • 3.4.3 Two-layer colored soap with honey

  • 3.5 Using remnants

    3.5.1 Video: How to make solid soap from remnants

• 4 How to make liquid soap

  • 4.1 From the remnants

    4.1.1 Video: how to make liquid soap from remnants

  • 4.2 Liquid laundry soap
  • 4.3 Photo gallery: beautiful handmade soap
  • 4.4 Video: how to beautifully pack soap

Why is homemade soap better than purchased

Soap, which is sold in regular household chemical stores and supermarkets, does not contain natural ingredients. It is, in fact, difficult to call it soap, since soap is saponified vegetable fats, and not processed petroleum products. A store product often dries the skin and can cause allergic reactions.

When making at home, you can only use natural ingredients that are suitable for your skin type. And if now it is just a hobby, then later it can become a profitable business.

Handmade soap can be of different colors, with beautiful streaks and inclusions of scrubbing elements

What ingredients are used

You can prepare both soap "from scratch" and from a ready-made commercial base. You can also use natural, fragrance-free baby soap as the latter. And for the thrifty, there are ways to digest remnants and turn "waste" into a fragrant soap.

It is much easier to work with a ready-made framework. It comes in transparent and white. Organic bases for making natural soaps are also commercially available. You can buy them in soap shops. It is not difficult to work with the base, but some skills are still required. As for making soap "from scratch", in this case knowledge in the field of chemistry will also be required, since you will have to work with alkali. Before you start making soap, be sure to familiarize yourself with safety precautions when working with alkali.

The amount of ingredients will depend on how the soap is made and the recipe. Let's consider a list of required components for each case.

Ingredients for soap base

All basic ingredients can be bought at a specialty store, while additional ones can be found at your regular supermarket. Some will surely be found in your home. You will need:

• ready-made base;
• base vegetable oils;
• dyes;
• flavors;
• essential oils;
• herbs, petals, honey, ground coffee - optional;
• medical alcohol.

Bases from different manufacturers differ in price, hardness, solidification rate and other characteristics. There are organic bases that are used to make all-natural soaps.

A transparent soap is prepared from a transparent base

Base oils are used to fortify soaps, giving them the benefits of moisturizing, nourishing and softening. Without them, the product dries the skin, and also quickly "dries out", cracks and exfoliates. For the same purpose, you can add cream or body milk, cream or pasteurized milk.

Dyes are available in liquid and dry form. It is most convenient to use liquid drops, since it is very easy to measure out the required number of drops. Dry dyes are pre-mixed with oils or liquid and only then are added to the finished mass. Try not to overdo it with dyes, as this will make the foam colored when lathering. To get started, it will be enough to purchase three basic colors: red, yellow and blue. By mixing them, you can achieve almost any shade.

In addition to purchased artificial colors, natural ones can also be used. It can be spices (turmeric, curry), the same base oils (sea buckthorn, pumpkin), different fillers (colored clays, ground coffee, cocoa, strong herbal decoctions). Of course, with their help it will not be possible to achieve bright, saturated colors, but the soap will be as environmentally friendly and natural as possible.

You can also use pearlescent pigments, glitters and various decor for decoration.

With the help of special dyes, you can give the soap any shade

Flavors are responsible for a beautiful aroma. You can use confectionery fragrances, or you can look for special fragrances for home cosmetics. Essential oils, honey, chocolate, coffee, dried peel, herbs, flowers and petals are used instead of artificial aromas. The disadvantage of essential oils is that they fade faster. They are usually given at the very end.

You can add a decoction of medicinal herbs, dried chamomile flowers and natural essential oils to homemade soap.

In order for the soap to acquire such properties as scrubbing, anti-cellulite effect, smoothing of wrinkles, etc., various fillers are added to it. This is ground coffee, powder from nut shells, clay, oat flour, crushed sea salt and much more. All these are additional caring elements that will give the soap the desired beneficial properties.

Instruments and devices

You will also need:

• enameled or stainless steel pan;
• any other pot for a water bath;
• a plastic or glass microwave container;
• the spoon;
• whisk;
• measuring cup;
• electronic kitchen scales;
• alcohol spray;
• forms for soap.

Molds can be bought in the same specialized stores or you can use silicone pastry molds. Children's plastic molds for playing with sand, containers for yogurt or sour cream, and other small containers made of flexible plastic are also suitable. Purchased forms are made of plastic or silicone. For beginners, it is best to use the latter, as they are easiest to get ready-made soap from.

Soap molds are available in plastic and silicone

As for the dishes, you cannot use aluminum pots, cast iron dishes. For these purposes, stainless steel containers with an enamel coating, as well as heat-resistant glass and plastic containers for use in a microwave oven are suitable. You will need a measuring cup and a scale for the exact amount of ingredients.

What ingredients are used to make soap "from scratch"

The soap base is prepared independently using only three components:

• alkali;
• saponification oils;
• liquid - distilled water, herbal decoction, milk.

To make bar soap, you need caustic soda (NaOH). It is sold as flakes or small crystals. Alkaline is needed for saponification of fats, namely base oils.

Caustic soda is also called caustic soda

Any vegetable oils can be used. Pork fat is added. The liquid is needed in order to pre-dissolve the alkali and prepare it to combine with fats. Using decoctions of medicinal herbs, you will give the soap useful properties, as well as a natural aroma and shade.

To improve the soap, its coloring and aromatization, the following components are used:

• plasticizers - sugar, sorbitol, fructose, honey;
• acids - lactic, succinic, stearic, citric;
• lanolin;
• glycerol;
• enrichment oils (overfat);
• dyes;
• flavors;
• various useful fillers.

The colorants, flavors and fillers are the same. Plasticizers are needed to make the soap more pliable and to improve foaming. The acids will harden the soap and give it bactericidal properties. Lanolin will soften dry and rough skin.

Using different base oils, you can give the soap caring, beneficial properties

Supporting tools

You will need:

• two pots (one can be made of heat-resistant glass);
• hand blender;
• measuring cup;
• a glass stirring rod or a regular spoon;
• capacity for working with alkali;
• forms.

When working with alkali, great attention is paid to safety measures

Ingredients for different types of soaps: face, hands and body

Appropriate ingredients are needed to give the soap different qualities. Some of them have emollient properties, others - moisturizing and nourishing, and still others - bactericidal and drying. It should be noted that it is better to use the appropriate soap for each part of the body. It is not recommended to wash your face with body or hand soap. Also, not all ingredients are suitable for every skin type.

Table: Recommended ingredients for soap making according to its use

Components	Arms	Face: skin types				Body
		Normal	Dry	Bold	Problematic
Base oils	olive cocoa palm jojoba shea (shea) walnut	olive almond cocoa avocado	castor primrose evening shea (shea) wheat germ rose hips almond avocado	sweet almonds apricot kernels peach kernels hazelnut	olive sea buckthorn	olive cocoa coconut shea (shea) almond sesame, etc.
Essential oils	any	Ylang Ylang Lavender Geranium Jasmine Chamomile	lavender palmarosa neroli ylang-ylang jasmine mint	lemon cypress geranium rosemary	Juniper fir sandalwood tea tree eucalyptus	orange grapefruit eucalyptus tea tree, etc.
Fillers, including scrubbing	lanolin glycerin beeswax	cosmetic clay ground coffee crushed herbs milk	cosmetic clay milk powder glycerin herbal decoctions chamomile extract, mint, coltsfoot, linden blossom	cosmetic clay activated carbon camphor alcohol infusions and decoctions of calendula and chamomile propolis tincture	cosmetic clay activated carbon eucalyptus leaves herbal infusions and decoctions	clay loofah honey sea salt ground coffee eucalyptus leaves tar algae

For aging skin, geranium oil is recommended as it helps smooth wrinkles. Mint will save you from dryness, and the juniper will saturate the skin with useful substances. For rough, dry skin, lanolin is recommended. Orange oil, seaweed, loofah and ground coffee have an anti-cellulite effect and make the skin firm.

Essential oils give a beautiful aroma and also "enrich" the soap with beneficial properties

Making bar soap at home

First, the base is melted in a water bath or in a microwave oven. With the first method, the base melts longer, but a uniformly melted mass is obtained. In addition, you can independently control the entire melting process. When heated in an oven, there is a risk of the base boiling. Therefore, set the power to the lowest setting and heat for 1 minute, checking the condition of the base every 5-10 seconds.

From a soap base

Having prepared all the necessary ingredients and appliances, do the following:

1. Cut the base into small cubes and place in a suitable container.

   

   The chopped soap base is placed in a glass container.

2. Melt in the microwave.

3. Add all the fillers to the melted mass.

   

   This is what the melted base looks like after adding oils.

4. Mix everything well.
5. Fill the molds with soapy mass.
6. Eliminate air bubbles by spraying with alcohol.

7. Leave the soap to harden for 24 hours.

   

   The soap should be in the molds until it hardens completely.

8. Remove the soap from the molds after one day.

9. Wrap in plastic or use immediately.

   

   Such a beautiful soap can be obtained from a ready-made base, oils and pigments

This is the standard sequence of actions. The amount of ingredients and fillers depends mainly on the recipe.

Recommended amount of components per 100 g of base

• base oils - 1/3 tsp;
• essential oils - 3-7 drops;
• flavoring agent - 3-4 drops;
• liquid dye - 1–7 drops;
• dry pigment - 1/3 tsp.

Other additives (herbs, clay, scrubbing ingredients) can be added at will, as well as in accordance with the recipe.

Video: How to make soap from a ready-made soap base

Cold and hot production from scratch

This is the real soap making. You can prepare only the base and use it in the future as a ready-made purchase.

Making soap from scratch is not the safest occupation. You have to work with alkali, and it is known to be capable of leaving burns on the body. Therefore, much attention is paid to remedies and familiarization with the properties of alkali, its reaction with water, as well as with the chemical reactions that occur during the saponification of fats and their transformation into the very soap.

Safety rules when working with alkali

• Be sure to use protective equipment: goggles, respirator, rubber gloves.
• Clothes and shoes should be as closed as possible.
• The utensils and utensils used to prepare soap are not used for cooking.
• Working with lye is best done outdoors. If this is not possible, open the windows and turn on the hood.
• Food should not be prepared in the kitchen. Children and animals should not be present either.
• Reacting with water, the alkali heats up very much, as a violent reaction occurs. Make sure that the water is as chilled as possible, and preferably with ice cubes.
• The container should be glass, ideally - a special container for working with alkali.

This is the minimum list of requirements to keep you safe while preparing a soap base. Then follow the general rules for making soap from scratch.

Another important point. An alkaline solution is poured into liquid oils and not vice versa! You also need to strain the solution to avoid introducing whole soda crystals.

To prepare the base, they use ready-made recipes or develop their own using a special soap calculator. The latter can be found on the Internet at many soap making sites. The trick is that you have to calculate the amount of oils and alkalis for the correct ratio. It is difficult for beginners to do this, so we advise you to use ready-made recipes from the Internet.

This is what an online calculator for calculating the amount of ingredients for soap looks like

Prepare a soap base in two ways:

• Cold way. Simpler, but it takes a long time for the soap to “mature”.
• Hot way. More complex at first, but the soap is ready for use within 24 hours.

Let's consider each of them.

Cold way

1. Measure out the correct amount of alkali.
2. Pour ice water into a special container.

3. Add lye slowly to water and stir immediately.

   

   Alkali is added to the liquid gradually, gently stirring

4. While the mixture is cooling, proceed with the oils.

5. Melt hard oils in a water bath or in the microwave.

   

   Solid oils are heated in a water bath until they are completely melted.

6. Mix all the oils until smooth.
7. Measure the temperature of alkali and oils - one should be approximately the same and be 37–38 ° C (use an electronic thermometer).
8. Add an alkaline solution to the oils while filtering it through a strainer.
9. Stir gently.

10. Turn on the blender and begin to beat the mixture of oils and lye. Alternate whipping and stirring in off mode.

    

    Beat the oils with an alkali solution using a hand blender

11. Once the mixture is viscous, you can start adding the various health benefits, colors, and flavors.

12. At this stage, superfat, essential oils, and other natural ingredients are added.

    

    When the soap base becomes viscous, you can start adding different fillers and benefits.

13. Pour the finished mixture into molds and leave to harden.
14. Remove soap after 24 hours and remove from mold.
15. Wrap in plastic and leave to ripen for at least 4 weeks.

A long stage of maturation is necessary for the soap to pass from the "trace" stage to the "gel" stage. In simple words, during this time it will become what it should be.

Video: Soap "from scratch" in the cold way

At the "trace" stage, when the mass begins to thicken, you can stop and leave everything as it is. The solidified mass will be the soap base, which can then be melted and made into fragrant homemade soap.

Hot way

Before the "trace" stage, soap is prepared in the same way as in the cold process. The fun begins later.

So, the viscous base is ready. We proceed to its next processing:

1. We put a container with a soapy mass in a water bath. The water level in the pot should be up to the level of the mass in the container.

2. Cook over low heat for 3-4 hours, covered.

   

   Cooking the soap base is carried out under a closed lid over low heat

3. We monitor the water level in the pan and stir every 30 minutes.
4. The mass should become gelatinous and not stick to your fingers.

5. When the base is ready, you can safely proceed to its "filling".

   

   Litmus test (pH indicator) will help to determine the alkalinity of the finished soap base

6. Add extra fat in the same way, at the very end.
7. The soap is poured into molds and allowed to thicken completely within 24 hours.
8. Your homemade, natural soap is ready to use.

Video: Hot soap from scratch

As you can see, the hot method is much more difficult, but it has the advantage that the soap can be used almost immediately after preparation.

Soap recipes

There are a huge number of recipes for preparing different types of soap, which differ in their purpose, properties, fillers and appearance. Let's look at a few recipes using a base, but if you wish, you can also apply them to making soap from scratch.

Baby

• organic base - 250 g;
• carrot juice - 1/2 tsp;
• decoction of a string and chamomile - 1 tsp;
• almond oil - 8 drops;
• mandarin oil - 1-2 drops;
• funny baby silicone molds in the form of animals.

It's very simple: melt the base, mix with the rest of the ingredients, pour into molds and leave for 24 hours to harden the soap.

These cute cubs can be made from soap base and other ingredients.

Tar

• transparent base - 100 g;
• calendula oil extract - 1/3 tsp;
• birch tar - 1.5 tsp. (sold in a pharmacy);
• peppermint essential oil - 6-8 drops.

In the melted and slightly cooled base, add the ingredients in the following sequence: oil extract, tar and finally essential oil. Mix everything thoroughly and pour into forms.

This is how tar soap from an opaque natural base will look like

Two-layer colored soap with honey

Using this recipe, you can make a beautiful decorative soap from layers of different colors.

First layer:

• transparent base - 50 g;
• yellow food dye - 3 drops;
• flavoring "Honey" - 10 drops;
• natural honey - 1 tsp;
• grape seed oil - 1/3 tsp.

Second layer:

• white base - 100 g;
• avocado oil - 1/2 tsp;
• pasteurized milk - 2 tsp;
• pearlescent pigment - 1/2 tsp;
• form in the form of honeycombs.

First, prepare the first layer from a transparent base, pour it into a mold and sprinkle with alcohol. When the layer has cooled, sprinkle it again with alcohol and pour over the prepared white base.

This yellow-white soap has a unique honey aroma

Using remnants

Agree, sometimes it is a pity to throw away the remains of soap or so-called remnants. We offer a simple way to "reanimate" remnants and make soap from them, which in the end may even surpass its "original source". Both solid and liquid soap can be made from "soapy" residues.

In addition to the remnants, you will need the following ingredients and tools:

• remnants - 200 g;
• water - 5 tbsp. l.;
• glycerin - 2 tbsp. l.;
• alcohol tincture of calendula - 2 tbsp. l.;
• essential oils and fragrances for fragrances - optional;
• grater for rubbing remnants;
• containers for a water bath;
• the spoon;
• forms.

You can use a wide variety of remnants, except, of course, the remains of laundry soap and various stain removers. You can take any fillers and fragrances. With their help, you will “enrich” the soap, give it new useful properties and aromas.

Colored remnants can be used to make wonderful soap

Glycerin is needed to obtain a more viscous consistency, it helps the components dissolve faster and retains the desired moisture. Instead of alcohol tincture of calendula, you can use rubbing alcohol.

The remnants will need to be melted in a water bath. Thus, the contents will be evenly heated and melted to the desired consistency.

So, having prepared all the necessary ingredients and tools, get to work:

1. Place a pot of water in a water bath to heat up. Reduce heat when water boils.

2. Rub the remnants with a grater.

   

   To make soap, you must first grate the remnants on a coarse grater

3. Transfer the shavings to a suitable container.
4. Pour in water, glycerin and calendula tincture.
5. Mix everything and put to heat.
6. Stir the soap and make sure it doesn't boil.
7. Remove the pan from the heat when most of the remnants are completely melted.
8. Let the mixture cool slightly.
9. Add the fillers you want.
10. Fill in the forms with the finished mass.
11. Put the soap in a cool place for 24 hours.
12. Remove the soap from the mold and let it dry for two more days.

13. The finished product is stored wrapped in plastic wrap or used immediately.

    

    From unevenly melted colored pieces, you can prepare the so-called "marble" soap

Video: How to make solid soap from remnants

How to make liquid soap

To prepare liquid soap "from scratch" use another type of alkali, namely KOH (potassium hydroxide) This type of soap is also called potash. Liquid soap can be made from the same remnants, from baby soap, from the remains of a soap base, or any solid soap. Consider the cooking process.

From the remnants

To prepare 1 liter of liquid soap you will need:

• remnants - 50 g;
• distilled water - 1 liter;
• tincture of calendula or medical alcohol - 2 tbsp. l.;
• essential oil - 3 drops;
• liquid food dye - 3 drops;
• glycerin - 4 tbsp. l.

Put a pot of water on fire and do the following:

1. Rub the remnants with a grater.

   

   To prepare liquid soap, it is better to grate the remnants on a fine grater

2. Mix with water and place in a water bath.
3. Stir vigorously to dissolve all pieces.
4. Remove container from heat and let cool slightly.
5. Add alcohol and glycerin.
6. Measure out the required amount of dye and essential oils, stir.
7. Strain the prepared soap through a sieve and pour into a bottle.

8. The soap is ready to use.

   

   Properly prepared liquid soap practically does not differ from the purchased one

Video: how to make liquid soap from remnants

Liquid laundry soap

It is used for washing linen and dishwashing. You will need one bar of laundry soap (200 g), 1 liter of water, essential oils and fragrances - optional. How to cook:

1. Rub the soap on a grater - the finer the shavings, the faster it will dissolve.
2. Pour the shavings into a stainless steel pot and add water.
3. Stir the ingredients and cook over low heat until the chips are completely dissolved.
4. At the end, strain the mass through a sieve and cool slightly.
5. Add about 20 drops of an essential oil or fragrance.
6. Pour the prepared liquid soap into a plastic bottle.
7. The concentrated wash gel is ready.

The finished product is stored in a closed container.

Photo gallery: beautiful handmade soap

Loofah soap has a scrubbing and anti-cellulite effect on the skin

Herbal soap is always a pleasure to use

Coniferous soap has extraordinary healing properties and a beautiful aroma.

The millet in the form of a jelly dessert looks very appetizing

This soap is practically indistinguishable from a natural mineral.

This soap not only looks beautiful, but also smells delicious.

The main thing is not to confuse this soap with a real cake!

Natural soap without artificial colors and additives, the most beneficial for the skin

Snowflake soap will be a great gift for the New Year

Homemade colored soap with various additives will decorate the bathroom

Handmade soap comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

Video: how to beautifully pack soap

Now you know how to make your own soap from a ready-made base and remnants, as well as how to cook soap from scratch. We hope, thanks to our tips and step-by-step instructions, you will be able to successfully brew your first soap and, thanks to the experience gained, you will have a new, exciting activity.