Adding Color To Homemade Soaps

If you have ever wondered how to add color to homemade soaps, you may be surprised to find that there are several ways to achieve this.
Furthermore, you can do it without resorting to using artificial dyes or other colors.
Many natural elements such as clays, dried herbs, essential oils and fruit fibers can be used to add subtle, natural color to soaps.
However, if you would like a brighter, more vivid appearance, you can try synthetic substances such as FD&C colors, iron oxides, or micas.
In either case, you provide a little extra element to your homemade creations.
For instance, you may have to experiment with essential and fragrance oils before finding the right amount that gives you the color you want.
These oils vary from manufacturers, so oil from one brand may not have the same effect as another.
Vanilla oils will give soaps a shade of brown while lilac fragrance oils may turn soap pink over time.
Fruit fibers such as blueberry, cranberry and raspberry will also turn soap various shades of pink.
Dried clays tend to give soaps a pastel color such as pale green or pale pink.
However, herbs release color when permeated with oils.
Oils trap color from herbs such as calendula, chamomile, peppermint and rosehips during cold press soap making.
Although dried herbs are effective, you can also use powdered herbs to create colors such as brown, red and yellow.
However, sometimes stirring the herbs into the soap does not capture the color, so some experimentation may be necessary.
FD&C colors and iron oxides are great for those who want to add brightness to homemade soap.
They yield the best results when used with melt and pour soaps.
Micas are used to give soap glimmer and sparkle.
These substances are usually sold in kits, so it is important to follow individual instructions to get the right color.
For example, pigments may be used in a cold press method in order to keep its color intact.
Whether you prefer natural or synthetic materials, you need to have patience and be willing to learn through trial and error.
You may look to elements such as alkanet safflower, root, comfrey leaf or annatto seeds for inspiration, but you may be unsure of how these elements will look once they are infused with your soaps.
No matter what you decide, remember to have fun coloring your soap.