Redneck Shaving Soap (melt & pour)

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The following is a brief tutorial on making Jockeys' Redneck Shaving Soap. As with all of Jockeys' other Redneck projects, there is an emphasis on low cost, use of common tools and household items, and a high degree of quality and shaving-suitability.

Ingredients[edit | edit source]

All of the ingredients may be found at your local craft store (Joann's, Micheal's, etc.) and your local pharmacy (CVS, Walgreen's, etc). The containers are available at most grocery stores (Albertson's, Walmart). Total cost per bowl with about 3oz of soap is under 5 dollars depending on local prices.

  • Soap base - glycerin with shea butter is what I used, others will work but I like the shea butter as it's very moisturizing
  • Food coloring - strictly optional. I mainly dye them to tell them apart
  • Essential oil or fragrance oil - FO is more likely to cause an allergic reaction, but is far cheaper. I stick to EO
  • Bentonite clay - optional. Makes the soap more slick, I leave it out because it irritates my skin.
  • Glycerin - in liquid form

Ingredients.JPG

Equipment[edit | edit source]

  • Heat source - I used a microwave, you can use a stove but use a double boiler to keep from burning the soap
  • Cutting tool to chop up the soap - any knife will do
  • Scale - optional, only for those interested in portion control. I just eyeball it to around 3oz
  • Stirring utensil - plastic fork, in my case
  • Freezer and refrigerator - for cooling the soap
  • Container for the soap - I use ZipLoc snack pack containers, they are small and seal well for traveling

Procedure[edit | edit source]

Chop up the soap into little pieces[edit | edit source]

The smaller the pieces, the quicker it will melt, and more evenly. My pieces are 1/2" cubes.

Cutting1.jpg Cutting2.jpg

Melt the soap[edit | edit source]

If using a microwave and ziplocs you can just put the whole thing in, otherwise you will have to melt it in some other vessel and pour it in. If using a microwave, do it 15-30 seconds at a time, if it boils over it will do so really fast.

Cutandready.jpg

Add EO or FO[edit | edit source]

For 3oz of soap I use 15-25 drops from an eyedropper. You may use as much or as little as you prefer. Less than 10 drops for 3oz is basically unsmellable, more than 30 will irritate skin.

Melted.jpg

Add glycerin[edit | edit source]

I use a soap dispenser for my glycerin and do 2 healthy pumps. This equates to 25-30 drops. If you have very sensitive skin, use less.

Add food coloring if desired[edit | edit source]

More means a darker color. 10 drops will be fairly pastel.

Colorswirl.jpg

Add bentonite if desired[edit | edit source]

About 1/2 teaspoon for 3 oz.

Stir very thoroughly[edit | edit source]

Stirring.jpg

Cap and freeze[edit | edit source]

As soon as you are done stirring, cap the container and immediately put it in the freezer. This is so it will solidify before the glycerin settles out. (Glycerin is very dense, if given enough time it will pool on the bottom. Freeze for 30 minutes.

Cool in refrigerator[edit | edit source]

After 30 minutes, put soap in refrigerator to finish cooling. If you leave it in the freezer it will crack.

The next day[edit | edit source]

The next day, take the soap out of the fridge and let it set for 24 hours before using it. If you use it sooner, it will still be too cold and won't lather right.