Silk soaps are where some natural fibres are added into the soap recipe, and they feel amazing on your skin and are definitely in the luxury realm of soap making. In this article, you will learn what types of silk fibres are, the benefits of adding them to soap and how to incorporate them into your recipe.

What Are Silk Soaps, and why are they special?

Silk soaps are made by adding natural animal or plant fibres to the soap. The lye solution dissolves the fibres, making the soap feel amazing on the skin. Silk soaps are unique in that they are very mild on the skin and are usually suitable for sensitive skin types or people who enjoy a less drying soap.

What are the different types of silks?

There is no singular perfect fibre. All of the fibres listed below have unique properties that can be beneficial, and you can easily find them on Etsy or Amazon*. You usually cannot use just any old fibre. If it is animal fibre, you will need to search for specific baby roving; it must be delicate and able to be dissolved in the lye solution. For example, I know a local soap maker who makes silk soaps with the first shearing of their baby alpacas.

Different silk types can also colour your soap, usually light creams through to dark browns. This can give the soap an earthy-looking quality. Most silks can be divided into two categories: Animal Fibres and Plant Fibres.

*A note on Animal Fibres: You must ensure you buy from a humane farmer who doesn't exploit the animals or keep them in poor conditions. The best way to do this is to buy locally and visit the farmers. Still, you want to know more. In that case, CareElite breaks down the different organizations in Germany and worldwide that support animal welfare.

If you want to make Vegan soaps, stick with the plant silks because silkworms are “farmed” for their cocoons and are usually killed when harvested. If left alone, the silkworms would have developed into moths. The moths are not allowed to leave the cocoons because that would cut the fibres and compromise the strength of the silk.

It is also possible to add liquid silk to your soaps. This is usually created from the spent cocoon of the silkworm and will be called Hydrolyzed silk. It is made by hydrolyzing the silk proteins, producing amino acids. It helps to condition skin and hair, giving a smooth feel.

How to add silk to your soap recipe

You have to experiment, but for your first time, try this:

1. 1/4 teaspoon for every 150g or 5.5 oz of your chosen recipe.
2. Add it to the lye solution and make sure it is completely dissolved. The best way to do this is to add lye to your oils through a filter. Then, you catch any fibres that didn't dissolve properly.

Below is a list highlighting the various features of Plant and Animal silk products.

Essential tips when adding any fibre to your soap

• Always strain the lye solution, even if the fibre looks dissolved. Unstrained solutions can leave yellow spots in the soap.
• Be careful of allergens; always label and disclose if you use animal fibre in soap. People can be allergic to wool and silk.
• Most fibres will act like a dye, so keep that in mind when mixing your recipe.

It's a silken wrap

Adding silk to soaps is a luxurious addition to any soap and an exciting path to explore, but be careful when searching for silk to put into your soap as sometimes it is not ethically produced. Find someone who is kind to their animals and concerned about producing cruelty-free products. I get my alpaca wool from a farm near me; I've seen the animals and know the farm, so I feel comfortable using their products in my soap.

Head over to my shop to see all kinds of exciting soaps!