Curative Lye Soap

Woodash and Commercial Lye

Homemade Lye Soap: How it was Done

Finding Lye for Lye Soap Making

Testing Colorants For Homemade Lye Soap

Testing Colorants For Lye Soap

The tests consist of three parts: testing the color in the lye, the oil, and in a little batch of soap. All three tests are performed to observe the reaction of the color with the other ingredients. For the lye test stir a tablespoon of lye into one half cup of water. The lye has to be dissolved totally. This mix must cool down before continuing.

Next, add about a quarter of a teaspoon if using powdered colorant or if you have fresh, put in a small amount of leaves. The best way to save your findings is to take notes on the reaction. Write down the colorant used, if powered or fresh. Make note of the color produced. Wait several hours and see what color it is. Make a note. After that, look at it again after twenty-four hours has passed and make a note. The next test is the oil test. Naturally, oil is part of the soap making process so knowing how the colorant reacts to the oil is important too. You’ll need around four ounces of heated oil. If you use lard or coconut oil they won’t add any color to the mix.

That way you can tell just what the color your plan to use is doing. Remember your notes. Put the color in and let it set awhile and check it. Then recheck in a couple of hours and in twenty-four. The results of the first two tests are important as determinants that let you know when in your homemade lye soap making process to add your colorant.

You can now add it as a trace or it may work better steeped in your lye water. To determine what amount of colorant to add to your soap you’ll need to experiment. It depends on the shade you like. To do your third test, add the colorant to a little batch of soap. Add it by the method that you determined worked best from doing your first two experiments.