Thread: How to make your own shaving soap?

Hi there!

I was browsing throuh some of the threads looking for a way to make your own shaving soap, but I guess I can't find anything on the topic.
I read on other threads that some of you gentlemen make your own shaving soaps and creams. Therefore I was wondering if any of you might like to share a recepie for home made shaving soap.
I looked around on the web and, despite the fact that I found dozens of ways to make soap, none of them was specifically shaving soap. I did find what seemed to be shaving cream... but I couldn't trust it because it was said to be "shaving foam" (in brazilian portuguese... looks like Brazil is a haven for many strange and ecological things...).
So, if you care to help I will be much obliged and will report back to you.

There is a handful of members here who make soap, unfortunately, most of them sell soap...
Anybody who has worked on a shave soap recipe, and gotten it right has most likely spent a significant amount of time on it, and just isn't going to give that away.

Sure! It figures... people spend time on it, I get it...
But I sure wasn't asking for a very special recepie... As I said, I surfed around on the web and found a lot of soap making methods. But none were shaving soaps.
So... let me rephrase my question (and thanks for pointing ir out for me...): what do I need to add to a "normal" soap recepie so it can be "shaving soap"? The rest of it I can figure it out... I ain't lazy!

Thanks for the hint...

Stick a brush into the soap, lather it up, and smear it on your face.
If it shaves well, you have shaving soap.

I googled "shave soap" and came up with this - I make no claims to its veracity:
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/so...vingrecipe.htm
It's my understanding that clay is what makes it slicker than regular soap.

Originally Posted by clrobert60

I googled "shave soap" and came up with this - I make no claims to its veracity:
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/so...vingrecipe.htm
It's my understanding that clay is what makes it slicker than regular soap.

Thanks! I read through the thing and I will give it a try. When I do, I'll report back!
One thing that makes me confident is that, apparently, there is no animal fat involved... that's what freacked me out on other soap recepies: the use of lard! I don't want to put lard on my face!
Now it's time to try and find the ingredients... and that's the hard part, I guess...

And on the "put the brush into it" thing... well... I guess I'll also give it a go. Nest time I go shopping I'll get me a cake of glycerin soap and see what happens. Not too confident, though... Do you have positive experiences on that "go for it... and if it shaves..." method?

jockeys made some soap. here's the link: http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=18864

I made some soap simular to jockeys, but used shea butter, clear olive oil, and white glycerin soaps combo.
Link: http://www.soapplace.com/our-products.html

Add bentonite clay and fragrance, extra glycerin and your done. Works great. Bought the melt and pour soaps at Michaels craft store. $10.00 per 2 pound brick. Look for 40% off coupon in Sunday sale paper. Good Luck.

My wife makes lye soap. I use it all the time for shaving. IMHO it works a lot better than that melt and pour stuff. The lather is a lot denser, slicker and more protective without drying.

As far as being freaked out by lard: when you mix it with the lye it saponifies it so it's not just a blob of fat anymore. You can use any oil really.

My wife uses Jojoba and shea butter and avocado and a few other things I can't recall.

I think the clay doesn't really make much difference though, having used soaps with/without for several months. As long as the lather is good, it's good for shaving!!

If you guys really want a recipe that works well, I can post the base ingredients, and the total quantity of essential oils for fragrance/feel per pound of soap.

Just reply here or PM me or whatever you want to get my attention.

If you guys really want a recipe that works well, I can post the base ingredients, and the total quantity of essential oils for fragrance/feel per pound of soap.

Just reply here or PM me or whatever you want to get my attention.

Please, do! I am very interested in making my own soap. I already make my own strops so... I figure it's a natural step!

Thanks! And thank your wife for me... I take it that it's her own recepie. By the way... can I get my hands on one of your home-made-by-wife soaps? I'll pay for it and also pay for the shipping costs half-way around the globe... PM me if you are willing to send one out for me. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by fpessanha

If you guys really want a recipe that works well, I can post the base ingredients, and the total quantity of essential oils for fragrance/feel per pound of soap.

Just reply here or PM me or whatever you want to get my attention.

Please, do! I am very interested in making my own soap. I already make my own strops so... I figure it's a natural step!

Thanks! And thank your wife for me... I take it that it's her own recepie. By the way... can I get my hands on one of your home-made-by-wife soaps? I'll pay for it and also pay for the shipping costs half-way around the globe... PM me if you are willing to send one out for me. Thanks again!

I just talked to my wife and she would sell you a bar; cost depends on what you want scent-wise and base ingredients-wise. She estimates initial cost at about 5-6 dollars "american" per bar. The bar I have been using contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, but she makes an all natural bar for a little more cost. To me, the one with hydrogenated oils lathers just as well, so I would go for the cheap stuff I wonder if we could send it via USPS??? We have never shipped any soap, and we have definitely never shipped anything out of country! Sorry to be so vague, but there are a lot of variables when it comes to cost, and you customize it any way you want! Also, I can send a copy of the recipe that works pretty well, that part is free of course. Heck, I think I may just scan it in and post it here in this thread.