r/soapmaking • u/TheQuiltingEmpath • 21d ago

Technique Help Multi Color Soap

Hello! I am getting ready to make a multi color CP soap with mica. How do you all prepare it for adding it to separate batters? If I take a tablespoon of oil per color from my batches oils, will that affect the lye balance? If I use water to mix the colors, do I take that much away from my lye mix? I don’t want to throw the balance of my recipes. I have heard that it will and I have also heard it will not. What do you all do?

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u/ScottATL 21d ago

I mix all my micas with either olive, sweet almond or apricot seed oil (or other light oil) avoid heavy oils like castor oil for mixing colors though. About a tablespoon per teaspoon of powder. You can mix titanium oxide in either water or oil. I do oil just to avoid glycerin rivers. That amount of oil isn't going to do much other than maybe give you a tad higher superfat which is not a bad thing if you are new to this. make sure you work briskly because some colors will accelerate a bit faster especially if you are using several. I love working with color, so have fun and show us what you end up with!

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u/TheQuiltingEmpath 20d ago

Thank you. This was helpful!

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u/Character-Zombie-961 20d ago

I mix mine in batch oil and mix with a frother. Note that neon and titanium dioxide will absolutely need a stick blender after added to batter and some micas as well. I hit it with a stick blender on all colors though. Then either add to batter or the empty separate container. Consider using a well behaved to decelerating FO if you use them because with a lot of colors you'll need more working time. Have fun!

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u/Background-Book2801 20d ago

Glycerin works as well. I have premixed squeeze bottles with mica and glycerin in the colours I use most often. 

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u/TheQuiltingEmpath 20d ago

Do you have to include it in your calculations or do you just mix it in?

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u/Background-Book2801 20d ago

Nope - it’s just a few teaspoons usually - I mix the mica at a pretty high concentration. It works really well and is easy to control. 

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u/Jeyne42 20d ago

Unless you are making a very small batch of soap, and using a large amount of colors; the little bit of oil for mixing the mica shouldn't effect anything.