To Shave Or Not To Shave....
That is the question that my husband asks me every day. I think it's a big chore for him to shave or maybe it's more of a relief when he doesn't have to shave.
I'm a fan of a freshly shaved face, so of course I always encourage him to shave. My job as a DIY girl is to make him as many products as possible to encourage him!
Two of my latest creations are a non foaming, moisturizing shaving cream and a shaving soap. The shaving cream is really just a very intensive facial moisturizer with oils like lanolin and jojoba to give a close, clean shave. The shaving soap, on the other hand, is extremely difficult to make. It's been a 2 year process for me and I'm not sure I'm even done yet. The main ingredient is tallow, which I think is essential for making a creamy and stable lather.
I make my shaving soap using the Hot Process method since it's really the only way I can make it. I use 100% goat milk as the liquid as well as kaolin clay for slip. It's ready to use immediately, but benefits from a 2 to 4 week cure to harden up.
Here are a few pictures of the shaving cream. I've used it on my legs and I find that it's nice and slick. I left it unscented and it has a nice, pleasant natural scent.
Now onto the shaving soap! I scented this with a blend of lavender and rosemary mint. Very natural smelling. Here are some photos of the lathering process (notice the two different hands! LOL!). Enjoy!
I'm a fan of a freshly shaved face, so of course I always encourage him to shave. My job as a DIY girl is to make him as many products as possible to encourage him!
Two of my latest creations are a non foaming, moisturizing shaving cream and a shaving soap. The shaving cream is really just a very intensive facial moisturizer with oils like lanolin and jojoba to give a close, clean shave. The shaving soap, on the other hand, is extremely difficult to make. It's been a 2 year process for me and I'm not sure I'm even done yet. The main ingredient is tallow, which I think is essential for making a creamy and stable lather.
I make my shaving soap using the Hot Process method since it's really the only way I can make it. I use 100% goat milk as the liquid as well as kaolin clay for slip. It's ready to use immediately, but benefits from a 2 to 4 week cure to harden up.
Here are a few pictures of the shaving cream. I've used it on my legs and I find that it's nice and slick. I left it unscented and it has a nice, pleasant natural scent.
Now onto the shaving soap! I scented this with a blend of lavender and rosemary mint. Very natural smelling. Here are some photos of the lathering process (notice the two different hands! LOL!). Enjoy!
The shaving soap is perfection. Go you! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the lather of the shaving soap! I'm glad you finally got it just right...
ReplyDeleteWow, that is some awesome lather!
ReplyDeleteAwesome lather - are you sure your not done yet? I think it looks perfect! I haven't thought of a non-lathering shave cream and now you have my brain ticking over....lol :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks everybody! The shave soap is kind of a pain for me to make, but it's worth in the end to see the lather. I still need hubby to try the shaving cream. I'm not sure how it will work on his face yet. But...fun to make anyway!
ReplyDeleteHoly Shamoly that lather is insane!!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome work Patti :D
Wow! That lather is AMAZING!! That is because of Tallow? I may have to try tallow!!! xo Jen
ReplyDeletewow again..you hp milk based soap? as an avid milk soaper i've always cp-ed my milk soaps, never working above 27C°, so now I'm ultimately curious as to how you prevent the overheating/seizing/overflowing...?
ReplyDelete@Jennifer, yes the tallow does help a lot! I'm using 50% tallow right now. But I'm all out! I still need to tweak this as I have to work pretty hard to get a good lather.
ReplyDelete@Cocobong..I actually used goat milk powder and made a concentrated slurry to equal full goats milk. I used 6 oz water for a 1 pound batch for the cook phase (this recipe seizes), then mix up a slurry using 1 oz water and a scoop and a half of goat milk powder. I warm the water up, blend in the powder with a coffee frother, strain it through a mesh strainer, and chill it a bit so it's not warm anymore. Then add after cook. I've never had it darken. The extra water does not affect the soap hardness since the soap is so hard. I think it's in the 52 range on soapcalc.
Hi great rreading your post
ReplyDelete