Tips for colorants

[Former_Member]

Does anyone have some good tips about how to add natural colorants to cp soap that results in the color actually staying?

A friend was asking me because her soap always just ends up tan.

Thanks!

Karly

[Former_Member]

The most reliable way to make sure your color stays is to re-batch a plain batch of soap and add the colorant then. However I've had some good results with some ground spices and Kelp without doing that, so I guess it depends on what she's using.
I've read that with natural colorants you have to always expect SOME variation. I think it adds to the interest and fun! =)

[Former_Member]

Thanks... she has her own recipe for making goat milk soap (as she has a barn full of goats!) so no re-batching....

Which spices have you used?

[Former_Member]

I've used cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Cinnamon was def. my favorite. Even if you use your own recipe, re-batching is possible at least with some formulations. I've done it. Some recipes won't melt right, and some will. Anyway, hope that helped! =)

[Former_Member]

i have infusded some sorrel to give a pink colour. i got this idea from Nakins blog. i will let you know how it turns out

http://sapuhusid.blogspot.com

[Former_Member]

Spices like paprika and turmeric are great. Turmeric gives it a yellow color,while paprika gives a light pink color.

[Former_Member]

google some natural colorant supply stores. I've had more luck with natural colors than PH colorants. They are just too unpredictable in CP. :)

[Former_Member]

How to make a purple using natural spices or something natural?

[Former_Member]

Here is a website with some natural colorants and the colors they give:

http://www.the-soap-dish.com/natural-soap-colorants.htm

And another:

http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapmakingbasics/a/natcolors.htm

And this one actually tells you more about how to use them and stuff. =)

http://www.mullerslanefarm.com/soapcolors.html

Hope that helps! It helped me. =)

[Former_Member]

CraftedbyErin - alkanet root will make purple.

[Former_Member]

Here is another helpful link: http://southernsoapers.com/tools/nat/Natural_Colorants.pdf

[Former_Member]

Here's another one: http://crafty.dyskolus.com/coloring/coloring.html

[Former_Member]

Wow thanks for all the links! =) I love trying out new colorants!

[Former_Member]

Something else I just thought of... If the color isn't staying in your soap, you might need to use more of it, or the particular colorant you are using might not be able to hold up to the lye and you should try something else.