Manly Movember DIY: Make Your Own Shaving Soap
- Pyrex container
- Saucepan
- Wooden or stainless steel spoon
- Stick blender
Materials:
- 4.5 oz lye
- 12 oz distilled water
- 11 oz palm oil
- 9.5 oz coconut oil
- 6.5 oz castor oil
- 3.25 oz shea butter
- 1.5 oz oilve oil
- 1 heaping tablespoon bentonite clay
- Ceramic mugs or plastic lined tray
I'm part of our Made + Remade Movember team, raising awareness of men's health issues this month through the art of mustache cultivation. We're a week in, and so far I've allowed my razor to gather dust, but the time has come to decide on a stylish 'stache. I'm torn between the Robert Goulet and the BJ Honeycutt (although given just a month, I may be too optimistic).
Whatever the mustache, a truly good shave begins with a thick, rich lather of shaving soap. To celebrate the occasion, I've mixed up a batch of my own. Using a blend of oils (each serving its own purpose), lye, and a healthy dollop of bentonite clay to give the lather a razor-friendly texture, homemade shaving soap is fairly easy to make and delivers a clean, close shave using ingredients that are actually good for your skin.
This recipe is a "cold process", which means it doesn't take long to put together, but must cure for 5 or 6 weeks before it's ready to use. Lye is used for a chemical reaction to saponify the oils (turn them into soap) and must be handled with care to avoid burning. Gloves and eye protection are recommended.
The soap I made last month is ready to go and my razor is poised. I wonder if I could pull off a Sam Elliott.
-By Mick Telkamp for DIYNetwork.com
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