Are you new to handmade soap?
Keep
in mind that the second, third and further showers will be better than the first shower with a new bar of soap...the soap
needs to reabsorb some of the water that's been cured out of it, and the corners smoothed off a bit, so the first shower
with a new bar might not be what you're expecting...but wait! It gets better and better, I promise!
One tip
for those who want to "break in" their bar quicker is to take a potato peeler or paring knife, and bevel the edges
off (just pull the peeler along each edge once). That makes the bar "roll" in your hands easier without
the square edges. Some soap makers do this to their soaps before they package them, which means an added cost
to you, but I don't. It would mean more of my time, and a little less soap for you (and I'd end up with
tons of soap shavings to figure out what to do with!). So either way you like it is fine, if you don't bevel
it'll be smoothed off in a few showers anyway. The bars can also be cut with a regular kitchen knife if you'd
like a smaller bar or want to share it with a friend.
The lather is different too. Our rich,
creamy lather is produced by the natural oils we use rather than synthetic foaming agents like sodium laurel sulfate.
SLS is used in commercial soap and produces copius amounts of lather while stripping your skin of moisture. Rich
and creamy is much better for you than ultra bubbly. Yes, you'll still get lots of bubbles, but we've been led
to believe by marketers that massive amounts of lather is good, when in fact it's usually just chemical foam.
Handmade soap has been made with great care, and you can help make your soap last longer. These
tips will help:
Open the bags so they
can breathe. The soaps have a lot of oils in them, and the air will help the bar to cure even more. Just
open the top and stick them in your closet, drawer or cupboard...you'll get a wonderful aroma every time you
open your door. Plus then you'll get to smell them before enjoying them in the bath!
Use a soap dish that drains; do NOT leave them on the side
of the tub or in a dish that can collect water. If left in a puddle of water, they will turn to a mushy gel and
disintegrate much faster. It's worth it to buy a new soap dish! I have soap dishes and soap savers available
on the "Gift Basket" page.
Don't
use super hot water in your shower - it's drying to your skin and you won't get all the great benefits of
the soap's oils. Keep the temperature of your water warm enough for comfort, but not hot enough to dry your skin.
Enjoy...you've discovered something
wonderful!
