Swirl series soap – spoon swirl

What is the swirl

Soap with swirl refers to a technique for decorating a soap using two or more colors to color a soap bar made by cold process. The effect obtained is very varied according to the type of technique used swirl, being the most common pattern is what resembles marbled

White and black spoon swirl

Black and yellow spoon swirl

White and blue spoon swirl

White and blue spoon swirl

Types of swirl

There are numerous ways to make the swirl sometimes involving the use of two or more techniques simultaneously, eg. swab and hanger. We can mention:

Spoon – as the name implies, are used spoons to get the effect
Pot – color mixing is done in the preparation of the soap container
Hanger – is a device used with a wire like to an hanger
Funnel – a funnel is used to obtain a concentric pattern
Column – uses a column profile square, round or triangular
Rainbow  – the colors are deposited in colored layers
Swap – the mold is divided into two parts for each color and then mixed
Peacock – is drawn figures reminiscent of peacock feathers
In the mold – the swirl is made in the mold in various ways

Conditions for making a swirl

It is essential to have a control on the trace. In all technical swirl is necessary that the soap mass has fluidity, the viscosity of the trace is low to medium to allow the flow, the mixing and settling of the colored masses. If the trace is too viscous, impossible to get the swirl patterns.

To have control over the trace is necessary to manage its formulation so that it is free of components that accelerate trace. The proportion of saturated fatty acids with oils / unsaturated should be kept as low as possible, should be avoided additives that can accelerate the trace as beeswax and know the behavior of essential oils, avoiding those which accelerate teh trace.

In terms of process, work in conditions that minimize the acceleration of the trace. Working with low concentration of lye, i.e. the more water, the better. The concentrations of 25% to 30% of the limits, ideal 28%. Maintain the temperature of the oils and lye low, below 30 ° C.The use of the mixer should be made with caution, must have experience and field of use.

Colorants to use in the swirl

Preferably use colorants that are especially formulated for this purpose. They are normally liquid and easily soluble in water and dispersed into the soap mass and permanent, do not fade or change color in lye and has resistance to light. The colorants are not found here, need to be imported.

An alternative would be the use of pigments and clays. Most are difficult to disperse pigments, one must first pre-mix with a little oil to break down with the risk of points and form lumps in the soap mass.
See more to soap colorants in this post:
http://www.japudo.com.br/en/2013/01/10/what-to-use-to-color-the-cold-process-soap/

Swirl techniques – Spoon swirl

Maybe this technique is the simplest and easy to make a swirl. Is typically used in two-color swirl and the steps are:

1 – preparing the soap leaving the trace light, add the fragrance and additives, if appropriate,

2 – divide the soap mass into two parts proportional or not depending on the desired effect.

3 – mix in each part the chosen coloring and mix well. If necessary use the mixer, but with caution.

4 – Use a samall tablespoon for each color and go alternately adding the previously prepared mold. Deposit every spoonful of a color leaving a space, not overlapping, and leave traces between deposition and another. Follow with another color, forming layers up to complete the mold.

5 – Tap the mold to settle the batter and eliminate voids and bubbles.

Better than reading, is to see. There are dozens of videos showing techniques swirl, just search and watch.

The formulation of the soap is very basic, only three oils that give the properties of a normal balanced soap. In the case of soap yellow and black was used crude palm oil in place of the palm to give the yellow color.

 

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