Why do we make soap?
To control the ingredients
You can custom make a soap that fits your skin type and even tailor your recipe to the season. Many people with skin conditions or sensitivities do well when using gently formulated handmade soap. Although you should never make medical claims that your soap helps those with eczema, rosacea, scaly skin or other skin conditions, many soap makers begin their soap making journey to help relieve their or family member’s skin conditions.
To get back to the basics
There is a movement of getting back to the basics. This includes raising chickens in the city, backyard farming, canning, pickling, sewing and making soap!
To be crafty or artistic
Besides making soap simply for the purpose of using it for the bath or cleaning, there are soapmakers that use soapmaking as an art medium to create outstanding and breathtaking works of art. They use color, texture and swirling techniques.
Handmade soap also makes a wonderful and thoughtful gift!
What you’ll learn:
-A brief history on soapmaking
-The basic chemistry of soapmaking
-How to choose and prepare a mold
-How to choose oils and what properties they contribute to your soap
-How to color your soap using micas, oxides/ultramarines, fd&c colorants and natural colorants including clays and botanical powders
-Lye safety and how to prepare your lye solution
-How to prepare and melt oils
-The steps to mix your soap
-How to cut, cure and store your soap
This is a hands-on lab. You’ll get to make your own 2 pound batch of soap to take home with you.
What we provide for your use during the class:
-A digital scale
-A stick blender
-Containers for melting and holding your oils
-Containers for measuring out and mixing your lye
-A container to mix your soap
-Mixing utensils
-Distilled water
-Soapmaking oils and fats
-Fragrance oils and essential oils
-Colorants
-A mold (you get to keep)
Oils we’ll be using:
Olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, rice bran oil, shea butter and sunflower oil
What you’ll need to bring:
-Safety goggles
-Apron (optional)
This class is open to students 18 years and older.
The class takes about two hours but allow for a little extra time in case we go over.
Class location:
Bowles Life Center, 2750 Graham St., Grand Prairie, TX
