Natural colorants

[Gigio]

Are there any general rules about achieving different results with natural colorants, or does each behave uniquely? For example, if I want to see flecks of color, not just a smooth tone, should I add my spirulina to the lye solution or to the warm oils, or with the essential oils at trace? Are there any general consistencies that you can count on?

 

[penelopejane]

You can count on the fact that there are very few natural colours that last in soap. Spirulina lasts about a month before it fades to fawn whether you add it to the lye or to the oils.

Search the forum for natural colour threads.

 

[cmzaha]

^^^^what penelpejane says above. Tumeric and Paprika seem to hold okay. Spirulina just gets plain ugly after a month or so. Madder root I would always get an ugly gray so no help there. I do add sandalwood powder to a soap but mix it with red. I gave up a long time ago using botanicals for coloring other than tumeric for that I use Tumeric EO now, and coco powder for brown.

 

[SoapAddict415]

I've always wondered about natural colorants. Do the colored clays fade too? Amazon has 5 pack sets that I've been considering but they seem a little pricey.

 

[penelopejane]

I've always wondered about natural colorants. Do the colored clays fade too? Amazon has 5 pack sets that I've been considering but they seem a little pricey.

Clays stick and are generally used at 1 tsp ppo but some require a LOT of clay to make a colour in a soap. Bentonite is one of those. They do effect the feel of the soap, a bit.

Make sure you get cosmetic grade clay as that is the only way you can ensure there are no heavy metals in a clay. Clay for soap is not the same as clay for pottery.

Don't mix directly in with the batter. It is best to mix with a bit of the water from the recipe and let it rest for a while before you then mix it into the batter.

 

[SunRiseArts]

I have used spirulina, and my soaps still looks pretty, and it has been almost a year. I did use HP, and not CP. Not sure if that would make a difference.

 

[SaltedFig]

I have used spirulina, and my soaps still looks pretty, and it has been almost a year. I did use HP, and not CP. Not sure if that would make a difference.

Did you add it before or after the cook? (wondering if that would make the difference)

 

[ibct1969]

I have used indigo with mixed results. Some really cool, like when it turned by soap a pretty pink, and some really ugly gray. I have had good results with rose clay and the Brazilian clay sampler pack from BB. I have also used Alkanet which turned out to be a beautiful light pink.

 

[SunRiseArts]

Did you add it before or after the cook? (wondering if that would make the difference)

I added it to the oils, so before the cook. I think I still have a couple of pieces in a box. I am going to check and take a picture.

 

[lsg]

Naturally colored clays do not fade in my experience. They produce beautiful muted colors. Artificially colored clays may indeed fade. I have posted this link several times, here goes again.
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com/soapcolors.html

 

[earlene]

If you do a little research on how to prepare the natural colorants you will find that some perform differently depending on how you prepare them and add them to the soap. There are 3 fairly common methods of which I am aware: add to the lye solution; infuse in oil (usually a fairly longish infusion time); add directly to oils or batter.

Here is a link with some info: https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/join-jo-coloring-soap-naturally/

Here's one on using indigo: https://www.greatcakessoapworks.com...how-to-use-indigo-to-color-cold-process-soap/

A simple Google search will pull up several links, although you may need to change your search perameters a bit.

 

[penelopejane]

Infusing oils can be sped up by gently heating them over simmering water on the stove for 1 - 2 hours or so.
This way you can strain the oil and get the colour without the specks for things like paprika and turmeric both of which hold to some degree.