｜Handmade Soap Frequently Asked Questions Q&A
1. What should I do if handmade soap flows into my eyes?
Soap is weakly alkaline and will cause irritation when it comes into contact with eyes, mucous membranes and wounds. Therefore, close your eyes when washing your hair and face, and do not let soap enter your eyes. If you accidentally get it into your eyes, rinse them with plenty of water. Don’t worry. The interface activity of soap loses its effect after dilution. It is non-toxic and will not accumulate in the human body. As long as you rinse it, there will be no problem. If you still feel uncomfortable, Please seek medical advice.
2. Why does cold process handmade soap feel softer and has limited lathering in cold water?
The hardness and foaming degree of cold-process handmade soap are closely related to the type of oil used, air humidity, temperature, alkali discount rate, soap drying time, etc. There are great differences between different formulas. The cleaning and dissolving power of handmade soap in hot water is much better than that in cold water. It is recommended to use warm water when cleaning. Warm water is less irritating to the skin than hot water.
3. Why do you have to wait until the "maturity day" to use it?
Cold process handmade soap is a kind of handmade soap that uses the heat of reaction to complete saponification. A piece of handmade soap requires at least one and a half to two months of drying period to complete saponification. Before the maturity day, the saponification is incomplete and it will cause damage to the skin if used. Therefore, it can only be used safely after it matures.
4.Why do some handmade soaps smell bad?
That's not a bad smell, it's the smell of natural oils. The smell of natural oils does not meet the "good smell" standard, so people who are used to using "scented" soaps with artificial flavors may not be used to the smell of cold-processed handmade soaps. If you can't accept the smell, you can choose ones with plant essential oils added. Handmade soap, but even if it adds essential oils, it will not have a strong and long-lasting fragrance, because the essential oils evaporate quickly, so the fragrance will become weaker and weaker as time goes by.
5. Why are cold process handmade soaps not as neat as industrial soaps?
The production of cold-processed handmade soap is completely manual. The soap is cut by hand, so there will inevitably be differences. It is impossible to have a neat appearance like industrial soap pressed by a machine.
6.Why does the handmade soap change color?
Cold process handmade soap does not add any artificial coloring. The color maintained by the handmade soap is the color brought by plant pigments in nature. These natural pigments fade quickly and are unlikely to last as long as synthetic artificial pigments. Therefore, cold-processed handmade soaps slowly become uneven or discolored during use. Fading is normal. Avoid direct sunlight for better protection. Handmade soap colors.
7.Why do some handmade soaps have white powder on the surface?
The white powder shown in cold process handmade soap is the product of the reaction between caustic soda in the soap and carbon dioxide in the air. Because the handmade soap only completes 80% of the saponification when it is demoulded, the remaining saponification is completed during the soap drying period of the next 45 to 60 days. Soap powder is not dangerous, just wash it off. If white powder or crystals appear on the soap bag, similar to water and oil stains, it may be caused by the soap body contacting the air and condensing moisture in the air or the glycerin in the soap itself. Although it is not very beautiful, it is still a natural phenomenon.
8. Why do water droplets appear on the surface of some handmade soaps?
Due to the characteristics of cold process handmade soap, the vegetable glycerin, nutritional unsaponifiables and excess oil contained in it are not separated. These glycerin and moisturizing ingredients have the ability to automatically grab water molecules. Therefore, when the air humidity is high, the surface of the handmade soap will condense the moisture in the air, causing the surface to be moist. If this happens, just wipe it dry and you can use it with confidence. The best solution is to use it as soon as possible. The water does not come from the inside, but from the outside. But for industrial soap, the phenomenon of water accumulation is impossible, but it is very common for cold-made handmade soap. question.
9. Can handmade soap be used to wash face and body at the same time?
Yes, handmade soap is so gentle that even babies can use it. It's OK to use the same soap when I wash my face and take a shower. Before using handmade soap containing essential oils for sensitive skin (especially when using it on the face), although essential oils are natural plant extracts, it is still recommended to do an allergy test on the inside of your wrist first. If there is no itching, redness or swelling, you can use it with confidence. Cold process handmade soap is mainly a skin cleansing product, and you still have to do the usual maintenance work.
10. Why does my hair feel sticky after shampooing?
Using handmade hair soap will make your hair alkaline because the water contains metal ions such as calcium and magnesium. When rinsed, it will form soap salts with the soap. When the soap salts get stuck on the hair cuticles, your hair will feel dry and sticky. After washing the hair, we can use natural acidic substances to moisturize the hair, such as citric acid, vinegar, lemon juice, etc., which can improve the sticky feeling. Generally, short hair is less likely to get stuck in soap scum, so the longer the hair, the worse the hair quality. People who are in poor condition will feel more sticky. Generally, handmade soaps are anionic surfactants and will be negatively charged after washing the hair, so it will feel astringent. However, it will be improved by blow-drying the hair.
11. Why is the price of handmade soap much higher than that of commercially available soap?
Handmade soap is made of 100% natural plant raw materials, artificially stirred and processed at low temperature, which does not destroy nutrients and retains the precious glycerin produced during the saponification process. After production, it must be saponified and matured before use. Handmade soap requires a waiting time of 6 to 8 weeks or more. The manpower and expense involved cannot be compared to the mass production of low-cost chemical soaps using machines at high temperatures. The cost of raw materials for handmade soap is also much higher, so the price is relatively higher.
12. What is the shelf life of handmade soap?
Most handmade soaps can be stored for more than 2 years if they are well preserved. Handmade soaps that have not been used should be placed in a ventilated and dry place, away from the sun, preferably in an air-conditioned room. As long as it smells normal and has no serious oil spots or oil consumption smell, it can still be used normally. The characteristic of handmade soap is that the longer it is left, the milder it will be when washed. However, if essential oils are added, the smell will gradually fade. Some soap lovers will buy it and keep it. Soaps that have been made for more than 2 years are called old soaps.
13. How to use handmade soap?
When bathing, you can use a soap net, a bath towel, or rub your hands to make bubbles first and then wash it off for a better feeling. Handmade soap is usually easier to soften than ordinary commercial soap when it comes into contact with water, so handmade soap after use is best Place it in a soap net or a soap dish with better dripping properties. It is recommended to use two pieces of soap in turn to keep the soap body dry and increase the number of uses. Changing the way you use it can extend the use of handmade soap and make it more durable.
