This recipe is "cold process," meaning it doesn't take long to put together, but it does need to cure for five to six weeks before it's ready to use. Lye is used for a chemical reaction to saponify oils (turn them into soap) and must be handled carefully to prevent burning. Gloves and eye protection are recommended.
With a blend of oils (each serving its own purpose), lye, and a healthy dollop of bentonite clay give the foam a razor-friendly texture. Homemade shaving soap is fairly easy to make and provides a clean, clean shave with ingredients that are really good for your skin.
The oils used in this recipe provide a combination of properties that moisturize and provide the thick lather that is desired in a good shaving soap.
Combine the lye and distilled water in a Pyrex container. Stir carefully to completely dissolve the lye. The temperature will quickly rise to almost 200 degrees. Let cool to 110-120 degrees while you prepare the oils.
In a separate pot, combine palm oil, coconut oil, castor oil, shea butter, and olive oil. Heat over low heat to a temperature of 120 degrees.
Once the oil and lye are at temperatures between 110 and 120 degrees, slowly pour together to combine in a Pyrex pot or container.
Using a mixer, mix until the soap becomes opaque and, when drizzled, leaves traces on the surface of the soap (this is known as the "trace" state).
Add a heaping tablespoon of bentonite clay to the soap and mix well to combine. The color should be uniform and the texture smooth.
Shaving soap is usually poured into round molds or cut into discs to fit in the bottom of a shaving cup. Here we take a shortcut by pouring the soap directly into the bottom of some ceramic mugs we picked up at the dollar store.
Use a wooden or stainless steel spoon to fill ceramic cups one-fourth to one-third full of soap. Wipe excess soap from the bowl and smooth the surface of the soap. The soap can also be poured into soap molds or a plastic-lined box and then cut to size, if preferred.
Put the cups in a cool dry place to cure for 5-6 weeks before use.
