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Shona O'Connor and Howorama Inc.

This course will teach you how to use the Cold Process method to make stunning soaps using intermediate colour techniques.

You will discover the secrets to creating successful swirling techniques in your soap

You will learn how to control trace and prevent your soap from accelerating and ruining your swirls

You will learn how to really make your colours stand out in your soaps.

You will find out how to make your soap look more professional by preventing the formation of soda ash

You will learn how to do the following swirling techniques:

Read more

This course will teach you how to use the Cold Process method to make stunning soaps using intermediate colour techniques.

You will discover the secrets to creating successful swirling techniques in your soap

You will learn how to control trace and prevent your soap from accelerating and ruining your swirls

You will learn how to really make your colours stand out in your soaps.

You will find out how to make your soap look more professional by preventing the formation of soda ash

You will learn how to do the following swirling techniques:

  • Drop Swirl

  • In the Pot Swirl in individual and loaf molds

  • Taiwan Swirl

  • Tiger Swirl

  • Funnel Swirl

  • Column Swirl

  • Peacock Swirl using traditional method and using a quick method with a swirling tool

You will get downloadable plans to my own personal swirling tools, so that you can do swirl designs quickly and effortlessly.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Easily create soaps with stunning swirl effects
  • Discover the factors that affect trace, cause your soap to accelerate and can prevent you from creating successful swirls
  • Tailor your recipes to give you more time to produce the swirled effects that you want.
  • How to bring out your colours in your soaps to create dramatic effects.
  • How to make your soap look professional by preventing soda ash

Syllabus

Introduction
How To Improve Your Course Experience
Getting The Most Out Of This Course

The best way to watch this course

Read more

Tips and tricks to create swirls in your soap successfully

Understanding trace

How to make your colours stand out in your soap using the gel method

Gel Phase

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides downloadable plans for personal swirling tools, enabling learners to create unique and professional-looking soap designs quickly and effortlessly
Explores techniques to prevent soda ash formation, which helps learners produce soaps with a more polished and professional appearance
Focuses on intermediate color techniques and advanced swirling methods, suggesting that learners should already be familiar with the cold process soap making basics
Teaches learners how to control trace and prevent soap from accelerating, which are critical skills for achieving successful and intricate swirl designs
Covers a range of swirling techniques, including drop swirl, in-the-pot swirl, Taiwan swirl, and others, offering a comprehensive guide to soap swirling
Examines how to tailor soap recipes to allow more time for producing desired swirl effects, which is useful for learners who want to experiment with complex designs

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Reviews summary

Mastering soap swirling techniques

According to learners, this course on advanced cold process soap swirling is largely positive, with all reviewed students giving it 4 or 5 stars. They praise the clear and easy-to-follow instruction and the excellent demonstrations which help them achieve successful and stunning swirl results. Reviewers found the inclusion of practical tips regarding controlling trace, preventing soda ash, and enhancing color intensity particularly valuable, leading to improved soap quality. The downloadable plans for unique swirling tools were also a popular feature, with students enjoying making and using them. It is worth noting that this course is the third in a series, and some students recommend taking the prior courses for the best experience.

Recommended after the first two courses.
"Recommend taking the first two courses."
"Great sequel course to the first two."
"This course builds on the knowledge gained from the previous courses"
Includes plans for making swirling tools.
"Loved the tools and helpful demonstrations..."
"Really enjoyed making the swirling tools based on the plan and have already made my first one."
"You will get downloadable plans to my own personal swirling tools"
Great advice on trace, ash, and color.
"Great tips on trace, soda ash and gel phase were given to improve the soaping result."
"You will learn how to control trace and prevent your soap from accelerating..."
"You will find out how to make your soap look more professional by preventing the formation of soda ash"
Easy to follow steps for stunning swirls.
"Course content very clear and concise"
"Very clear, simple and easy to follow"
"The course is very clear and easy to follow."
"The instruction is excellent and very clear, and easy to follow."
Learn techniques yielding great results.
"I learned a lot... The techniques worked well."
"Loved the tools and helpful demonstrations ... I got great results."
"You will discover the secrets to creating successful swirling techniques in your soap"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cold Process Soap making #3 - Soap Swirling Made Easy with these activities:
Review Basic Soap Making Chemistry
Reviewing the chemistry of soap making will help you understand the chemical reactions involved in cold process soap making, especially how different oils and additives affect the final product and the swirling process.
Show steps
  • Review the saponification process.
  • Study the properties of common oils and fats used in soap making.
  • Understand the role of lye (sodium hydroxide) in soap making.
Review 'The Everything Soapmaking Book'
Reading this book will provide a solid foundation in soap making basics, which is essential for understanding and mastering the swirling techniques taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on cold process soap making.
  • Pay attention to the sections on oils, additives, and lye safety.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Practice Small Batch Soaping
Practicing with small batches allows you to experiment with different colorants and additives without wasting a lot of materials, helping you refine your swirling techniques.
Show steps
  • Prepare several small batches of soap batter.
  • Experiment with different colorants and swirling techniques in each batch.
  • Document your results and observations.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Document Your Swirling Experiments
Creating a visual journal of your soap making experiments will help you track your progress, identify areas for improvement, and refine your swirling techniques.
Show steps
  • Photograph each batch of soap you make.
  • Write a brief description of the techniques used and the results achieved.
  • Organize your photos and descriptions in a journal or online document.
Design a Soap Swirl Recipe
Designing your own soap swirl recipe will help you apply the knowledge gained in the course and develop your own unique style.
Show steps
  • Research different oil combinations and their properties.
  • Choose colorants and additives that complement your desired swirl design.
  • Calculate the lye amount needed for your recipe.
  • Document your recipe and the reasoning behind your choices.
Explore Advanced Swirling Tutorials
Following advanced tutorials will expose you to new techniques and ideas, helping you expand your swirling skills beyond the basics taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials on advanced soap swirling techniques.
  • Follow the instructions in the tutorials to create new swirl designs.
  • Adapt the techniques to your own style and preferences.
Create a Swirled Soap Collection
Creating a collection of swirled soaps will allow you to showcase your skills and creativity, and provide a tangible demonstration of your mastery of the techniques taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Plan a collection of soaps with different swirl designs and color palettes.
  • Create each soap according to your plan.
  • Photograph and document your collection.

Career center

Learners who complete Cold Process Soap making #3 - Soap Swirling Made Easy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Soap Maker
A soap maker is responsible for crafting soap according to specific recipes and designs. This course provides practical knowledge on cold process soap making, with a special focus on swirling techniques, making it ideal for anyone pursuing this creative role. The course's emphasis on controlling trace, preventing soap acceleration, and enhancing color vibrancy directly translates to a soap maker's ability to produce visually appealing and high-quality products. The detailed instruction on various swirl techniques, such as drop, in-the-pot, Taiwan, tiger, funnel, column, and peacock swirls, equips individuals with the essential skills to excel as a soap maker.
Cosmetics Entrepreneur
A cosmetics entrepreneur develops and sells cosmetic products, often focusing on niche markets and handmade goods. This course on cold process soap making, especially its emphasis on creating visually stunning soaps through swirling techniques, helps build a strong foundation for a career as a cosmetics entrepreneur. Understanding how to control trace, prevent acceleration, and bring out colors dramatically are crucial for crafting appealing products. The course's coverage of different swirl techniques, coupled with tips on preventing soda ash, ensures that the cosmetics entrepreneur is equipped to deliver professional-looking and differentiated soaps to their customer base.
Handmade Soap Retailer
A handmade soap retailer curates and sells handcrafted soaps, often emphasizing unique designs and natural ingredients. This course focusing on cold process soap making and innovative swirling techniques is directly relevant. Knowledge of how to control trace and prevent acceleration issues covered in the course enables the retailer to choose high-quality, visually appealing soaps to stock. By understanding techniques on how to prevent soda ash, the retailer can ensure that the products they sell appear professional and polished, attracting more customers. The course's focus on color vibrancy also makes it ideal for those striving to sell visually striking soaps.
Bath and Body Product Developer
A bath and body product developer creates new formulations and designs for items such as soaps, lotions, and bath bombs. This course offers key insights for anyone interested in the bath and body sector, specifically regarding soap design. Learning how to create visually appealing soaps using swirling techniques is directly applicable to the role. This course provides a unique advantage by teaching methods to control trace and prevent acceleration, ensuring consistent and high-quality product development. Skills learned from this course can directly contribute to the product developer's ability to create visually stunning and marketable bath products.
Craft Fair Vendor
A craft fair vendor creates and sells handmade items at local craft fairs and markets. This course, which focuses on cold process soap making and advanced swirling techniques, equips vendors with the skills needed to produce eye-catching, high-quality soaps that stand out at craft fairs. Learning how to control trace, prevent acceleration, and make colors pop ensures visually appealing products that attract customers. Furthermore, the techniques to prevent soda ash covered in the course help vendors create soaps that look professional and polished.
Soap Making Instructor
A soap making instructor teaches others the art and science of soap making, often focusing on specific techniques. Those who wish to teach soap making will find great value in this course. Mastering techniques such as drop, in-the-pot, Taiwan, tiger, funnel, column, and peacock swirls covered in the course enables the instructor to offer comprehensive lessons. The course's focus on controlling trace and preventing acceleration issues provides a foundation for teaching others how to make beautiful and consistent soaps. This course prepares the instructor to guide students effectively through the soap making process.
Cosmetic Product Photographer
A cosmetic product photographer specializes in capturing high-quality images of beauty and personal care products for marketing purposes. This course helps the photographer understand the intricacies of creating visually appealing soaps, enabling them to better showcase these products. The course's emphasis on color vibrancy and preventing soda ash helps the photographer appreciate and capture the details that make soaps attractive. Knowledge gained can enhance the photographer's ability to highlight the unique qualities of each soap, resulting in more compelling and marketable photographs.
Home Based Business Owner
A home based business owner manages and operates a business from their residence, often focusing on crafts and handmade goods. This course could be valuable if the business involves soap or bath products. Mastering swirling techniques can lead to more visually appealing products that attract customers. Learning how to control trace and prevent acceleration issues contributes to a more efficient production process. Furthermore, the course's tips on preventing soda ash helps ensure products meet professional-looking standards.
Online Retailer
An online retailer sells products through e-commerce platforms, managing inventory, marketing, and customer service. This course may be useful for an online retailer interested in expanding inventory. The detailed instruction on creating visually stunning, swirled soap designs provides a unique selling point for the retailer's offerings. Knowledge of how to control trace and prevent common soap making issues helps ensure product quality and customer satisfaction. Learning how to make colors stand out and how to prevent soda ash can allow attract customer and make good sales.
Arts and Crafts Blogger
An arts and crafts blogger creates content related to creative projects, tutorials, and product reviews. This course may be helpful as learning artisanal soap making would be a great topic for a blog. Mastering swirling techniques can provides material for visually appealing blog posts and tutorials. The course's focus on controlling trace and preventing acceleration issues enables the blogger to offer reliable guidance. Bloggers can leverage this course to produce engaging soap related content.
Product Stylist
A product stylist creates visually appealing arrangements of products for photography and marketing purposes. This course may be useful in order to style soaps for photography. Learning swirling techniques and color combination can allow for more informed arrangement of colors and styles. Learning to prevent soda ash and troubleshooting tips is essential for someone looking to style soaps for photo shoots.
Social Media Influencer
A social media influencer creates content and engages with followers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, often promoting products or lifestyle trends. This course may be useful for creating content. Learning swirling techniques can lead to more engaging content. Demonstrating various swirling techniques allows for unique posts and content to be made.
Hobbyist
A hobbyist engages in an activity for pleasure and personal enrichment, rather than for professional or financial gain. Those interested in arts and crafts will surely find this course enjoyable! This course will teach a variety of swirling techniques that may be useful for the hobbyist. The hobbyist can use learned skills for fun and personal enrichment.
Science Communicator
A science communicator conveys scientific concepts and information to a general audience through various media. While seemingly unrelated, this course introduces the science communicator to the chemical processes involved in soap making, offering a practical understanding of saponification and related reactions. This firsthand knowledge can enrich their ability to explain chemical principles in an accessible manner. The course may be a first taste into chemistry related principles and phenomena.
Environmental Advocate
An environmental advocate promotes policies and practices that protect the environment and natural resources. This course may be useful for learning how to make more environmentally friendly products. Learning to work from scratch allows one to better control ingredients, and to work with more ecofriendly options.

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cold Process Soap making #3 - Soap Swirling Made Easy.
Is dedicated to the art of coloring soap, covering a wide range of colorants and techniques. It provides detailed information on how to use micas, pigments, oxides, and natural colorants to achieve desired colors and effects in soap. Given the course's focus on color techniques for swirling, this book provides a deeper dive into the science and art of soap coloring, making it a highly relevant and valuable resource.

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