Best Soap Swirls for Beginners + Soap Swirling Tips and Tricks | Bramble Berry

Want to create beautiful swirly cold process soap, but feeling a little intimated? These three swirl techniques are suitable for beginner soap makers. They each result in a slightly different look.
All three techniques require a basic understanding of the soap making process, and the concept of trace. Before trying swirls, we recommend getting a batch of soap that is only one color (or uncolored) to help set you up for success when swirling.
READ MORE:
bberry.studio/soapswirlsbegin...
Contents:
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Swirls Tips and Tricks
2:22 - In-the- Pot Swirl
9:25 - Drop Swirl
16:48 - Hanger Swirl
22:53 - Comparing the Swirls
24:12 - Bloopers
Want to learn more about trace? It's key to create these swirl techniques! The video below explains what trace is, and how to achieve different levels of trace in your soap.
WATCH ALL ABOUT TRACE:
• All About Trace in Col...
For each of these batches, we used the following ingredients. If you're looking for a recipe to make cold process soap instead, we have plenty on this channel and in the "Articles and Projects" section of Brambleberry.com
Ingredients Used:
10" Silicone Loaf Mold: bberry.studio/466kGvy
Swirl Quick Mix: bberry.studio/48fsNIc
Energy Fragrance Oil: bberry.studio/3ZitwEs
Queen's Purple Mica: bberry.studio/3Zhh2Ni
Sage Green Mica: bberry.studio/48iAGMY
Find cold process recipes here: bberry.studio/3EJsXtG
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Made a project with our products? Tag us with #BrambleOn so we can see your creations!
Shop Bramble Berry: bberry.studio/_ShopBrambleBerry
Recipes, Tips & Inspiration: bberry.studio/IntheStudio_Pro...
Facebook: / brambleberry
Instagram: / brambleberry
Twitter: / brambleberry
TikTok: / brambleberry
Pinterest: / brambleberry

[@bramble-berry]

Thanks for watching! Learn more about these swirl techniques here: bberry.studio/soapswirlsbeginners Once you're ready to dive into cold process swirls, find a variety of soap recipes here: bberry.studio/3EJsXtG If you have any questions, feel free to contact our customer service team at [e-mail] or 877-627-7883 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST, Monday-Friday. You can also live chat with customer service on BrambleBerry.com from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday-Friday.

[@susanravella6261]

This was an interesting video! I really enjoyed the comparison between the three, but they are all too pretty to pick one over another! I would like to chime in with the first swirling technique I ever used... the panic, plop, and pound technique that you do when it gets thick too fast! I could barely get a spatula through it to attempt a swirl! Then I pounded the mold on the countertop to release the air bubbles so hard that all the birds outside the window flew away! 😊 It was still fun, and the soap turned out nice! (The birds came back eventually, too.)

[@bramble-berry]

Ah yes, the panic, plop, and point technique! We have all been there 😂 Glad to hear you still enjoyed making it!

[@marlenellewellyn9987]

I’ve done all 3 techniques and I prefer the in the pot swirl the best.

[@bramble-berry]

It's a great technique!

[@moniquebutts8107]

In the pot was my favorite swirl by far, but all turned out very pretty. Thank you!❤

[@monicaposner1761]

Beautiful, love the pot swirl! Love the volors you picked!

[@serenajohnson7881]

Love that you show the final product! Thank you

[@dianaandreu6342]

I really like the third one Thanking you for sharing.

[@user-xi1ey6fy6f]

I really like the second AND third one. Thank you for sharing.

[@melindaduncan3073]

I love these videos it makes me motivated to make more soap.

[@nancylohr2315]

Thank you for swirl lesson.

[@Feinseiferei]

Always so inspiring to see your videos . Thank you so much Ann Marie for sharing all your experience with us ! all the best from Germany!

[@ashley-cz1sl]

Energy is my all time favorite fragrace you make!

[@MsAubrey]

My favorite look is the drop swirl, but prefer creating the in the pot… just because it’s easy. 😂 Sometimes time is a priceless commodity. 😊

[@carolp5993]

Thank you for all these wonderful swirling techniques, which are very helpful for me as a beginner in cold process. Great for M&P too.

[@KapasiaPackagingHaatLtdKphl]

Nicely presented

[@avalonasigurari8452]

Very preety pattern.tks for sharing with us🙏

[@cindyjones1786]

I like the in the pot Swirl. It's really a tie between the in the pot and the drop Swirl. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have not tried the cold press yet. But, I'll get there.

[@user-qf1fu6lt6r]

Great video. I loved the hanger swirls the most

[@karenurbanski5004]

Me too

[@nicoleschiarizzi3014]

drop swirl is my favorite!

[@monicaposner1761]

Actually I love all of them!😂Thank you, as always great lesson!

[@kingdomchild03]

I love all 3 swirling techniques. I am hooked and inspired by your videos.

[@bramble-berry]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@reginabond1660]

Loved the swirl video. I'm going to try the in the pot 1st. Need to get more pitchers! Thanks

[@kimnarveson5190]

Thank you!

[@mirianugochi8518]

Love them all. Im a beginner, i'll try the swirl in the pot first before the hanger swirl.

[@jorunnhoney721]

The drop swirl❤

[@angelacarter532]

I'll try them all. I am a beginner with about 80 bars under my belt. I am just beginning to experiment with the Swirls. Thanks for these easy techniques.

[@hyperphantasla]

I know this is about soaps, but, your skin is divine!!!! 😮❤😊

[@aliyashehzad4792]

In the pot is my favorite but all turned out great

[@christiegibson7834]

Your soap making great. Pls what's your hydrometer reading?

[@BitofColorRanch]

The first one!

[@CandyBredwell]

In the pot is my favorite

[@Tracey-zr5do]

Loving the swirls. Thank you for your knowledge/tips. Are your fragrance oils synthetic? How are they made?

[@bramble-berry]

Fragrance oils are synthetic, though that's one of the things that keep it predictable in soapmaking!

[@muratsultanov]

Hi! Thanks for the video. Can you tell what was the volume of the pyrex measuring flask? The big one and the smaller one. And what was the mass of the soap product at the end. Thanks!

[@bramble-berry]

The large glass measuring container holds 64 oz, the smaller easy pour containers hold about 30 oz. The last soap is based on the Pumpkin Sandalwood Soap Project and yields about 3lbs of soap.

[@katietgpj2574]

Thanks for this. Link to the glass container by any chance?

[@bramble-berry]

That would be our 2 Quart Glass Mixing Bowl, here's the link: www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/tools-and-accessories/containers/2-quart-glass-mixing-bowl/V000035.html

[@user-fw9hh7ep2x]

Me too❤

[@elizg2965]

Hi Anne Marie, which blender is suitable for this purpose? A 400W blender is ok? Also, if we use water colors instead of mica, do they work? Thanks so much for your video ❤

[@bramble-berry]

A 400W blender is perfectly acceptable. You can use water soluble colors for your soaps, they work just as well as micas!

[@NeverlandBeyond4]

What is the exact basic recipe used for this project? It's so pretty I want to try it. I'm still new to soap-making and I'm looking for a list of the exact measurements. Thanks

[@bramble-berry]

They're adapted from these 3 swirl recipes: Rose Quartz Cold Process Soap Project, Lime Swirl Soap Project and Pumpkin Sandalwood Soap Project. They're linked in this article here: www.brambleberry.com/how-to/soap/art0337-3-great-soap-swirl-techniques-for-beginners.html

[@firdowskruger9896]

Hi Anne-Marie😊 What did you mix you micas with? Water or oil? Love from Pretoria, South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤️

[@bramble-berry]

For melt and pour you will want to mix with alcohol. Cold process you mix with oil!

[@elfi5394]

❤❤❤❤

[@swirlsbox]

Did you use normal color?

[@user-nb5jl2ju4s]

What is the temperature of your oils that you are working with? When you mix the colors with oil. Do you need to count for the weight of the oils? Thanks

[@bramble-berry]

Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), you can add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. After they're blended, you can add your colors.

[@malwinapolska9122]

Bramble Berry, do you ship to UK??🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@bramble-berry]

We do ship to the UK! You can find our international shipping policies here: www.brambleberry.com/international-shipping-policies.html

[@dannysaavedra3980]

Hello, do you have a website where you get all your soap ingredients wholesale? Thanks

[@bramble-berry]

Our ingredients can all be purchased through our website, www.brambleberry.com.

[@luisaporto1434]

Hi, I am Luisa Porto from Colombia. I would like to know you mix the colors, in oil, glicerine, water?

[@bramble-berry]

Hi Luisa! The recipes these swirls are inspired by are available in this article: www.brambleberry.com/how-to/soap/art0337-3-great-soap-swirl-techniques-for-beginners.html

[@Karma__Reptiles]

Hi I’m unable to access your link for the labcolor dyes. I’m wanting to color my lotion. Is there another link I can purchase them from?

[@bramble-berry]

The lab colors have been discontinued but for lotions you can use our liquid crystal dyes instead. www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/ingredients/colorants/liquid-crystal-dyes

[@Karma__Reptiles]

@@bramble-berry Many thanks !

[@user-ij6gp2yt8v]

Hello do you cover the soap? İsn.t there a gel phase how many days should I wait

[@bramble-berry]

You can cover the soap with a cardboard dome or a towel if you want to gel it. You do not have to gel your soap batter. Gel happens within the first 8 hours of pouring your batter into your mold. We recommend waiting up to 1 week before unmolding and cutting your bars.

[@user-vy1jt5mi9l]

What did u mixed your colours with ?

[@bramble-berry]

The written instructions for each swirl technique are available here: www.brambleberry.com/how-to/soap/art0337-3-great-soap-swirl-techniques-for-beginners.html

[@TessieDobey]

This is a way off topic but I am making a turmeric soaps for acne and hyperpigmentation skin and was wondering should I superfat my soap, if so by how much?

[@bradevans7]

@TessieDobey If acne is an issue, I'd have a low to zero super fat. 5% is what is default on Bramble Berry, but I'd look at their formulations for face soaps and see what the superfat is.

[@bramble-berry]

The amount of superfat in your recipe really depends on personal preference. You may want to make a few small test batches to see which you prefer. A lower superfat will result in a slightly more cleansing bar, and may have more lather. But there isn't a wrong answer, it's all about what you like!

[@TessieDobey]

@@bradevans7 thank you, I was looking at a low super fat rate.

[@TessieDobey]

@@bramble-berry Thank you.

[@bradevans7]

@@TessieDobey Honestly, I'd follow BB's suggestion here and do 1 really low super fat tiny test batch, then one with the standard 5. That should give you a good idea about which one is best for your skin and then adjust up or down 1-2% based on what you think of it. It will be a subtle difference I think.

[@karenbrown4846]

I always soap with goats milk and i have trouble keeping it at a thin trace. Any suggestions

[@bramble-berry]

Try adding the Goat's Milk at the end, rather than as part of the lye solution. Working with cooler temperatures can definitely make it difficult to maintain a thin trace. www.brambleberry.com/how-to/soap/art0073-how-to-add-lye-to-milk.html

[@teresasmith3366]

Question... When does the lye become NOT dangerous? Kinda confusing with it being so dangerous then you can put it on the skin. This is so interesting. I'm want to give soap making a try.

[@bramble-berry]

Once the oils react with the lye, it's turned into soap and is no longer harmful for your skin. Most saponification happens within the first week after making soap!

[@natyc81]

❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@biglema23]

Can I make The Swirling with MP Soap

[@bramble-berry]

You can make swirls with melt and pour though they will not look the same as a cold process recipe swirl. This recipe gives you as close to a cold process swirl in melt and pour as you can get! www.brambleberry.com/articles-and-projects/projects/melt-and-pour/sea-clay-and-charcoal-soap-project/PS000241.html

[@gaiaspirit5313]

I have looked everywhere for the ex large size glass mixing bowl, amazon, your company, other soap companies, etsy and more, I can not the size you are using. I hope you carry every piece that you use in your tutorials, or links to them someday. I'm still gathering supplies, it's taking me over 3 months. Amazon does not carry that size, I'm almost sure, because I've looked at least 5 different times. :(

[@bramble-berry]

Hi! The biggest glass mixing bowl we use in this video is our 2 Quart Glass Mixing Bowl, here's the link: www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/tools-and-accessories/containers/2-quart-glass-mixing-bowl/V000035.html

[@reshikapatelu2668]

How your trace is staying thin for a longer time my trace gets thick so quickly

[@bramble-berry]

We have an awesome article all about trace that can be found here: www.brambleberry.com/tips-and-tricks/soap/art0114-trace.html

[@prasang2556]

Plz Hindi

[@bramble-berry]

Thank you for your suggestion!