Thread: Homemade Shaving Soap

We made a batch of shaving soap today. I have been using our homemade tallow soap as a shaving soap for sometime, but this is the first batch that we have made specifically for shaving. The addition of Bentonite clay was the major difference between it and our regular soap. I'm curious to see how much of a difference that the clay makes. There were a couple of other minor changes as well. These were lavender scent. I hope I like them because this will last me about a year.

For those interested, I have posted the ingredients below. It is really fast and easy to make. We probably spent $5 to $10 including the bowls to make about $60 worth of soap.

Tallow (We used deer, but beef would work as well). 4.8 oz by weight
Shea butter, .8oz by weight
Coconut oil, 4oz by weight
Olive oil, 4oz by weight
Castor oil, 2 oz by weight
Avocado oil, .4 oz by weight
Lye, 2.2 oz by weight
Distilled water, 4.75oz by weight
Bentonite clay, 1 level tablespoon
Lavender essential oil (You can use any essential oil that you want), 30 drops

I'm curious to know how the shave is with the soap and if you are using a straight or de? I have purchased a few custom shaving soaps and have been disappointed with them, no good for shaving with a straight. Let us know how the performance is, I bet it is pretty good with the tallow and all the oil.

I've been using the same basic recipe without the Bentonite clay for a while and I really like it. The trick that I find is getting the right amount of water. I just get the brush wet and whip it over the soap. I do not pour water into the bowel/mug with the soap and let it soak. Not enough water and the lather dries too quickly. Too much water and it is more runny than a lather. But when you get it right, it is a nice thick lather that lasts long enough for you to shave. The razors are either a shavette or a DE. I have not tried it with a true str8 yet. Although I do have a couple of them, they both need honed.

Originally Posted by MandoRob

I'm curious to know how the shave is with the soap and if you are using a straight or de? I have purchased a few custom shaving soaps and have been disappointed with them, no good for shaving with a straight. Let us know how the performance is, I bet it is pretty good with the tallow and all the oil.

+1 here too

I'm curious as to how the soap holds up. I am always leary of such a high % of olive oil. It has some great properties, but I find can make it difficult to lather. You may want to look at sunflower oil. Very similar properties, doesn't seem to affect lather, and cheaper than olive oil Let us know how it goes!

Originally Posted by MattCB

I'm curious as to how the soap holds up. I am always leary of such a high % of olive oil. It has some great properties, but I find can make it difficult to lather. You may want to look at sunflower oil. Very similar properties, doesn't seem to affect lather, and cheaper than olive oil Let us know how it goes!

That is interesting about the sunflower oil. I have been kind of wondering about the olive oil as well. The castor oil and coconut oil help make a good lather though. I'll definitely look into the sunflower oil. Thanks!

I didn't see it posted, but how long was the cook time? I have never made soap but do want to give it a go one day.
John.

Originally Posted by jsuiters

I didn't see it posted, but how long was the cook time? I have never made soap but do want to give it a go one day.
John.

Screw that, I want to know exactly how its done from step one. I have been trying to learn for a while now but every where I find directions it seems like you already have to have some knowledge about the process or its like a crappy melt and pour recipe.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

Screw that, I want to know exactly how its done from step one. I have been trying to learn for a while now but every where I find directions it seems like you already have to have some knowledge about the process or its like a crappy melt and pour recipe.

OK sure, I can post the steps. It will be later tonight though after I get my real work done and gather up all the instructions. This is not a "melt and pour" recipe where you are simply melting soap and re-pouring it into molds. Also, there is no cook time. It is called the "cold process" method. Basically you just add the fats to the water-lye mixture at the correct temps so that it will "saponify".