activated charcoal mistake

[hmpriv]

help! i made face soap with activated charcoal and clay, and the charcoal half - well, it's not exactly a charcoal color. it's more of a weird, stormy gray color. my soap looks really awesome, but it's not what i wanted. any ideas on where i went wrong? i used 3 t. of charcoal and mixed with roughly 3 T. water. the grey color seems speckled with black dots. perhaps i didn't mix it enough? i have carpal tunnel, but i got my big, strong mechanic husband to mix the hell out of it! I'm just disappointed, but i guess this is how us soapers learn..

my recipe...

16.34 oz water
5.849 oz lye
12 oz olive oil
9 oz coconut oil
8 oz avocado oil
5 oz crisco w/ palm
3 oz castor
3 oz sunflower
2 oz cocoa butter
1 oz beeswax

do i need more charcoal? am i mixing it with the wrong solvent? instead of water, maybe veg. glycerin?

please and thanks

 

[hmpriv]

oh...also, i hot processed in the crock and added the charcoal after cook, before mold

 

[Seawolfe]

Could you post pics? My HP shampoo bars didnt color evenly, even though I used infused oils. They came out pretty mottled, see?

 

[hmpriv]

<a href=http://s1367.photobucket.com/albums/r792/Hmpriv/?action=view&current=IMG_20140304_100041_805_zps7fd22ab6.jpg target=_blank><img src=http://i1367.photobucket.com/albums/r792/Hmpriv/IMG_20140304_100041_805_zps7fd22ab6.jpg border=0 alt=></a>

 

[hmpriv]

 

[hmpriv]

 

[hmpriv]

@seawolfe I've been there too! one batch i did using lavender&calendula infused olive oil came out slightly muddled. i wonder if it's related to hot process, with the rustic texture...no sure
maybe someone else can chime in?

 

[new12soap]

Your bars look great, but I see what you mean. Where did you get the charcoal? It looks to me like it may be a bit more chunky and not as fine as you would generally use with soap.

I always mix in oil, but it does take a LOT to get black and not just grey, and if you use enough for black you will get grey lather. You may want to try using both charcoal and a bit of black mica.

I think yours looks like granite.

 

[shunt2011]

I agree, it looks like chunkier charcoal that perhaps won't dissolve. Mine is really fine. You may want to disburse it in oil and then strain it when adding to your soap to a fine mesh strainer.

 

[hmpriv]

thanks guys, i appreciate all the input! unfortunately, I'm using charcoal from capsules..i think the brand is Solarray. I waiting for my shipment from natures garden to come in, i ordered an oz of powdered charcoal from them. i may also get some micas and try that. I've never used mica before, but what a great excuse to make more soap!!

 

[Seawolfe]

Those soaps totally rock the granite look! Id guess the charcoal clumped or had chunks, but what do I know? That is an interesting look.
Ill be watching your experiments closely - activated charcoal is on my list of things to play with.

 

[seven]

I've used diarrhea capsules before called norit, it was a bit hard to mix. Now i'm using a different charcoal which is very fine in texture, and dissolves right into the soap batter.

That said, coloring hp can be challenging sometimes due to its texture. Might wanba try sodium lactate next time to have a more fluid batter.

I think yer soap looks real nice with the mottled look!

 

[hmpriv]

thanks seawolfe! i definitely think the charcoal clumped, i'm hoping my next batch using the new charcoal and/or mica will turn out a bit different. i love the idea of calling it 'granite'

seven, I've looked into sodium lactate, and I'm very interested in the benefits...I'm happy to hear that you found great results using different charcoal. it gives me hope!

 

[cmzaha]

My experience with charcoal in hp never will get a true black, plus it is hard to mix in hp. Of course I am not one that loves to hp so have not perfected the process. If you cold process, you can add the charcoal powder directly in the batter, just stir gently before stick blending in or you will get a plume of charcoal dust. I always make cp for my charcoal facial bars and you can get a very nice dark charcoal. I do not recommend pure black facial bars as they can stain (temporary tattoo effect), especially dry aged skin. I do make nice shiny black charcoal swirls in soaps.

 

[JusDin]

Wow that soap is beautiful...LOVE the granite look. I'm sitting here wondering how I could duplicate that lol!

 

[MzMolly65]

I don't know about anyone else but I also mix using very little liquid so I'm making more of a paste and can get all the particles mixed in. Then when it's really well mixed I add a bit more liquid and mix again before adding to the main batch.

 

[Seawolfe]

I've used diarrhea capsules ...

:Kitten Love: Im sorry, Im still kinda hung up on this...

 

[seven]

yep, it's called norit, and it's nothing but activated charcoal inside. i used the capsule variety coz i can't be bothered crushing the tablets.

 

[hmpriv]

seawolfe LMAO you made smile today, thanks

jusdin, I'm very flattered you want to duplicate my mistake thank you

 

[hmpriv]

mzmolly, thanks for that, I'm going to try your method once i get my new activated charcoal

cmzaha, i was scared to use too much for that reason..i once bought an 'african black soap' and the bubbles were so black, it stained my washcloth