If you'd like to use an image, please be a friend and credit the photo and link back to Soap Queen. This is due to an unintended side effect, which is potential calcium buildup. To ensure the lye works properly, we recommend using it within one year of purchasing. Stay safe & wish you all Well. It may not perform as effectively as it initially would, and the formula may be unstable, … I sue my stand mixer to make soap as hand blenders are not recommended for long , constant use. Read more about saponification in the Where’s the Lye post. This can easily be addressed through the use of a clarifying shampoo to remove dull deposits and a deep conditioning treatment to add moisture back to the hair. I found that was impossible to get the temperature of my lye/milk above 76 degrees. Free Beginner’s Guide to Soapmaking: Cold Process, DIY Argan & Jojoba Beard Oil on Soap Queen TV, http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/trace/, https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/troubleshooting-lye-heavy-soap/, https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR6ttCSrLJI, Sweet Orange Swirl Soap – Claudia's Soap Kitchen, DIY Crystal Soap Gift Set (with printable! The old reg. My worry is that because the lye has chunks, the moisture may make it less potent. You’re welcome Lauri! Few other tips Stay on time!-The recommended processing times are there for … If you do the same thing with the container you’re pouring into before you pour, it will help keep things from crawling out, as well as making sure it pours cleanly and doesn’t leave anything in your measuring container. That’s awesome! I use big spatulas to stir my lye and oils from Gordon Food Store. In plastic bowls it flies everywhere! Lye or No Lye?- Check out this post to see the pros and cons of each relaxer. Answered by: RandyCandy. I had to separate incidences where after I mixed up my solution used what I needed that day, I poured the lye solution into storage containers after it cooled a little. If you have any other questions let me know. We recommend using the lye within a year of purchase. How hot the lye gets depends on a couple of factors, including the temperature of your water, the temperature of your house, etc. I was worried about it exploding if it had absorbed any moisture. The one time I have had trouble with lye was on the second soaping class I took. During the saponification process, the lye gets used up. Today, my Dr. We like to promote a positive environment on our blog, and felt it was best to remove that section. By definition, soap is a chemical reaction between oil and lye. Ingredient . I usually try doing this after each use. You can mix it with distilled water and pour it down the drain. I can see no reason to wear shoes. Because of that I think they should weigh accurately! ago. Jan. How old is your lye? Deep conditioning. Vigorol is a No-Lye Relaxer but That Does Not Make it Safe for All Hair. It helps A LOT when it comes to static. I went ahead and updated this post with that information! Expired lye doesn’t saponify properly, meaning your soap may not reach trace. Thanks Mary! This can also happen if you accidentally use potassium hydroxide lye in a solid cold process recipe. Using it within a year of purchase will help ensure the lye works well in your batch. Have you ever used expired lye in your soap before?Â, Tagged With: expired lye, lye, lye safety, potassium hydroxide lye, soaping tips and tricks, sodium hydroxide lye, tips and tricks, trace. 🙂. We’re not quite sure what those are, but to be extra careful we like to pour the lye and water through a strainer into the oils. Another thing to investigate is your lye. To remove calcium buildup, try a clarifying shampoo once a month or so to remove dulling deposits. They’re really helpful, especially for people in humid climates. We definitely recommend using a fresh batch! That sounds like a great place to store your lye. The Best Products From Cheap to Steep. Thanks! To be extra careful, we like to pour the lye through a strainer to catch the crystals in case they’re undissolved lye. The first clue is how it looks. 10 Ways to Maintain Flat-Ironed Natural Hair, How to Deal With Scab Hair as Your Natural Hair Grows Out. Will they weigh accurately? YES; But If That's All U Can Afford at tHE MOMENT tHEn go ahead and USE IT ! Next time I buy lye, I am going to try adding desiccant packets to the bottle & will also put it into a 2nd container. Lye relaxers - easier on the hair, harsher on the scalp In lye relaxers, the active ingredient in breaking down the hair bonds is called sodium hydroxide (lye). Above, the expired lye is shown on the left and the fresh lye is shown on the right. Thanks in advance! Do you have to use within a year of purchase, or within a year of opening to avoid expiration? I have been master batching my lye solution for over a year now and never had a problem until recently. Thanks so much for clarifying that! Lye relaxers can be used on wavy, curly or coily hair. i mixed some lyes last week, and ran out of “soaping” time! Before handling lye, make sure to watch this Soap Queen TV video on lye safety. For now I use silk elements olive oil in regular and I add melted shea butter, olive oil, and avosoya oil to it. Thank you so much for your feedback. Thanks so much for your comment! The sealed container prevents any evaporation. We like to put up to 200F to show how high it can potentially get. Thankfully Ive never had an issue with my lye. I make a CP lye soap for my own use from used fry oil (think turkey frying once a year) so as not to pollute, waste, or clog my drains. Both potassium and sodium hydroxide can get up to 200F! They seem really white and they have remained indoors. Let me know and we’ll figure this out. Using lye hair relaxers is a popular treatment that straightens coarse or kinky hair. If lye is past its prime, it can do some odd things in your soap. After years of soapmaking, I had an interesting experience with lye the other day. It is still like it was when I bought it and is white in color. Cool and dry areas are ideal. It may even burn the skin. 🙂, […] Safety first, see how to use lye safely. Expired lye doesn’t saponify properly, meaning your soap may not reach trace. thermometer, have never used a digital one as I would have to purchase it. Regardless, that doesn't mean that it's better to use on children or that the chemicals can't still burn you, because they can. In the meantime, I’m making laundry soap, thanks to you! relaxer Prior art date 1995-01-13 Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Working with lye requires long sleeves and pants, close-toed shoes, a well-ventilated room, gloves and eye protection. So, while the soap may trace, it can take longer, or it can separate afterward. Read more about potassium hydroxide here. Parts were still liquid but parts were all clumpy. 🙂, I’m really surprised by the low temperatures you listed…(141 F for good lye, 124 F for bad)…they seem really low. 🙂. Hair relaxers used by many black women to straighten hair aren’t associated with any increased breast cancer risk, report Boston Univ. How do you store your lye to ensure it stays fresh? Sodium hydroxide lye is used to make solid cold process soap. Thanks for reading and commenting. We have tried making our own lye in the past, but it’s pretty labor intensive! One of the major reasons someone might prefer a no-lye relaxer is if their scalp is sensitive, as the chemicals in this type of relaxer can be milder on the scalp. It gets to about 135* or so so I guess it is fine to use. An improperly formulated relaxer can have a shelf life of six months or less. 🙂. hi I made soap two weeks ago with some lye that I had there for some months now, to my surprise and for the first time my batch of soap I put it in a silicone mold and left it there for 48 hours and when I check on it ,it was soft and sticky and could not come out of the mold, so I was wondering what was the problem, was it the lye, the silicone mold or the scale because when I use the scale it was not all that accurate .the soap did not gelled properly and is still soft should I throw it away? Does this higher pH make a lye relaxer worse for your hair? Just make sure it’s clearly marked and out of reach of children. The soap is fine to use, albeit a little extra superfatted. In fact, every Dr. The bottom line is that all relaxers contain chemicals that break down the hair's natural bonds in order to straighten it, and that one relaxer doesn't fit everyone's needs. It needs to be sealed tightly and stored in a dry place. The main, active ingredient in a lye-based relaxer is sodium hydroxide. I did a quick internet search and it sounds like the lye has more static electricity when it’s humid, as it’s reacting with the water in the air. I always manage to use mine up well before it is a year old, but this post is great! 🙂. In my experiences with potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide I have noticed potassium gets a bit cooler, but that will vary! Once you find the relaxer that works for you, it's best to stick with it until or unless it stops. The expired lye on the left is more of a gray, off-white color than the lye on the right. I bought 10# at the time and probably still have at least 4-5#. 🙂. I do not add any colorants of any kind as I like to keep the price down. If the batch is taking longer than usual to trace, it may be a high amount of soft oils, like olive oil, in the recipe. Well developed formulas will work effective for up to a year and a half. In short, kinda. […], © 2021 Soap Queen • Site Design by Emily White Designs. ), When I use lye it always gets up to 200-210 F. (I live near Denver, CO where everything cooks/boils at a lower temperature due to the altitude, so I would expect a lower temperature than everyone else gets at sea level.). So I clearly was over excited about soap making and purchased too much lye but they packaged it in separate 2lb bottles that have not been opened the expiration on them says 6/20/2016 so if they aren’t open and warm up nice they are ok to use? 🙂. How can you tell if the lye is expired? I can break it with a wooden spoon or something but wanted to make sure it is safe to do that. Most relaxers, I used before this, all contained Lye, and often, left bruises or irritation, afterwards. However, you can apply a different relaxer to new growth if your current straightener isn't giving you the results you want. Don't constantly be switching relaxer types or brands, though. My hair is a lot less dry afterwards and I do not need a chelating shampoo to remove the calcium buildup a No-Lye Relaxer leaves behind. It absorbed moisture, and I discovered I had a lot of rock-hard chunks, along with the granular. ORS Olive Oil Full Application. Just want others to know it is NOT necessary to toss something because it is over 1 year old. Professionals in salons typically use this type of relaxer. If you have any questions about another vendor’s products, make sure to contact them. But still, the fact it breaks down the hair's bonds more quickly means that if you don't actually rinse it out quickly, it could break your hair. My 50 gallon container of lye was made of cardboard. Therefore, the results from a Lye Relaxer tend to be shinier and more moisturized. Smaller quantities are ok with just water, but only once in a while. Date published: 2020-06-01. For instance, if your recipe is on the softer side, it will take longer to harden. Even tightly covered, lye starts to absorb moisture and will still react by resulting in low temp mixture. But before you head to the salon for your bi-monthly touch-up, consider what that lye is doing to your hair. This reaction is called saponification. I would recommend taking the temperature of your lye each time you make it. I make mostly small batches of soap using herbs, flowers, etc., that I grow organically on my homestead. After that first disaster I put desiccant packets in the top headspace of my lye keg after I opened it and tried to seal it up tight after every use. If it’s off, it can create lye heavy soap. I sue a reg. Until the last couple years I didn’t even use a digital scales for weighing my ingredients. Lye relaxers typically come premixed in a tub and ready to use. Given that the results of most relaxers last about two months or so, you may start to notice new (curly) hairs start to come in during that time. What Can You Expect From a Dominican Blowout? One thing that can be particularly confounding is the difference between lye and no-lye relaxers.Â. In turn, the main, active ingredient in a no-lye based relaxer is calcium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that most prescription and over-the-counter medications, including muscle relaxants, have an expiration date 1. I store mine in the garage when its cool outside and in the basement in the summer. If it’s exposed to moisture in the air it won’t be as effective in your recipe, and the soap may not saponify fully. That sounds like a scary experience. Lye is actually found in most drain cleaners. If you’re worried about your drain, you can also contact your local waste management services to find out how to dispose of hazardous materials. In the Soap Queen Lab, the lye is double sealed and stored in a box that is placed on a shelf. Lye, or Sodium hydroxide, is a chemical used in industrial applications. My pride. Lye is an inorganic compound that is commonly found in drain cleaners. I wanted to let you know I removed part of your comment about the lye from another vendor. do you make your own lye at bramble berry, We do not, we get our lye from a vendor. But, when used correctly, it can leave the hair straight, moisturized and soft. 🙂. Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more, March 14, 2016 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks. I got this very interesting link from Kali B of HipHopHardBody.com.Haircare comany Design Essentials is advertising a low-lye relaxer with shea butter that purports to straighten hair while retaining its natural volume.. Here’s an excerpt from the ad “ Diane, I’ve got clients who prefer a relaxer, but they want the thickness and fullness of natural hair. I have gotten fresh soap on my arm where a little skin was peeking through and I can tell you it does not feel pleasant! No-Lye Relaxer Creme Ingredients: Aqua (Water) (Eau), Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil) (Huile Minerale), Cetearyl Alcohol, Calcium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, PEG-75 Lanolin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, … The fresh lye was about 141 ° F when it was added to the water and stirred to dissolve. It is also clumping in several spots because it has absorbed moisture from the air. Why Does My Scalp Itch and What Can I Do About It. You’re welcome Margaret, glad you like the post! For soapmaking, lye comes in two types. If you have any other questions, let me know. If the liquid is added to the lye it can cause a volcano-like reaction. You can use our Lye Calculator to find out how much lye and liquid to add to your recipe. Lye is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture. So … We like to mark all of our bottles in the Soap Lab with the date it is opened. Is this the temp your good lye gets? When troubleshooting a cold process soap recipe, there are several factors to look at. We like to promote a positive environment on our blog, and felt it was best to remove that section. The example listed referred to potassium hydroxide vs. sodium hydroxide, I don’t know if potassium hydroxide naturally has lower temps or not. I never wear shoes in the house ever anyway. To be extra careful, I would recommend making a small test batch with the lye. If you notice a large drop in that temperature, it may be expired and need to be checked. The only way to resolve this and not waste lye was to place my lye mixture in a “hot” water bath, using hot water from the faucet to bring it within 10 degrees of my oils. slightly thicker than water?…. My thoughts: This is the main reason I started considering the switch. Get more lye safety tips in this post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR6ttCSrLJI. Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is an especially potent chemical that can be deadly if ingested, warns Drugs.com. Check out the photo below. 🙂. It depends on the liquid you’re using, the lye you’re using, etc. If your lye solution does not get very hot, it may be expired. You may check your scale and calibrate it! While, my hair was still some not too straightened. The scalp is covered with a very light coat of petroleum jelly, which provides a barrier so that the cream does not penetrate the hair all at once and causes chemical burns. We have had that happen to us when we make lye the day before! Unfortunately, like with lye-based relaxers, people sometimes make the mistake of leaving a no-lye relaxer on the hair for too long. If your lye solution does not get very hot, it may be expired. What is a Low Lye relaxer? scales worked fine, but it is easier with the digital one. Thanks Soap Queen! Very confusing to talk about Lye (without stating sodium hydroxide) in one sentence and continuing the rest of the paragraph talking about potassium hydroxide (a lye that I bet most of the readers don’t use)…no wonder I got the two confused. As it sits, it can absorb moisture and become less effective in the soap. Learn more about trace here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/trace/, This post has more on causes for lye heavy soap: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/troubleshooting-lye-heavy-soap/. Make sure to always add the lye to the liquid, not the other way around. I did not know that it actually changed color like that, even though I knew to keep an eye out for clumping. The PROs: Lye relaxers are “good” or “conditioning” to the hair because they rinse cleanly from the hair without leaving behind minerals to block moisture absorption. I was told to mix it with 2 X water and let it cool and then mix with equal vinegar and let it cool before putting any large quantities down the drain. I assume that lye is fairly new/fresh when it is obtained from the source. To dispose of the lye, you can mix it with distilled water and pour it down the drain. ... No-lye relaxer creme, activator, neutralizing shampoo, and Intensive conditioning treatment. I have made many batches of soap from this and never an issue. No lye relaxers are commonly associated to dryer hair due to calcium buildup. As long as that lye is in a sealed container, it is good for a long time. remember you dont ADD glycerine to make glycerine soap, you just dont remove it… perhaps off-ish lye and (salty) turkey fat dont GEL so well and glicerine seperates from the mixture…. Below, we added 2 ounces of fresh potassium hydroxide lye to 5.3 ounces of distilled water. While no-lye relaxers contain a modified version of lye, they can be just as caustic. kegs in Hawaii (on the rainy side of Hawaii Island) I did not know at that time that lye would suck water out of the air. If you’re worried about your pipes, you can contact your local waste management services to see how to dispose of hazardous materials. Even a “bad” batch may turn out OK if you just have patience…. I used this Relaxer for many years then I went natural 5 years ago. Cider soap with thyme dried herbs is a favorite, as is cinnamon, they both only have EO’s in them. Some women burn from a lye relaxer application but don't suffer any ill effects from a no-lye product.

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