What are Soap Curls?
Soap curls are slivers of soap that have been shaved off of a bigger block, then rolled into a curly shape. Although any type of bar soap, so long as it is moist enough to curl without cracking, will work, we highly recommend using one of our Melt & Pour Soaps for best results.
Why are Soap Curls Popular?
Soap curl have long been used as embeds to create patterns within a loaf of soap. The curls reveal themselves as you cut into bars. They are also placed on top of loafs, as a decorative element.
But lately, the fascination with soap curls has been fueled by the staggering popularity of soap themed ASMR YouTube videos, Instagram, and Pinterest posts. ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, is
“a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound. ASMR is triggered by things like whispering voices, paper tearing, and scalp massage. ”
…and, apparently, also by watching people crunch up soap curls!
How Do You Make Soap Curls?
There are many techniques for making soap curls, whether to embed into your soaps, or to use in ASMR. The two methods we prefer are: shaving blocks of prepared soap with a vegetable peeler and pouring thin layers into a flat long mold.
With either method, you can use the finished curls to decorate your Melt & Pour Soap Loafs in several different ways, either by embedding them in the bar or laying them vertically in the loaf. These methods can also work with Cold Process Soap.
For use in ASMR, the most important thing is to allow for proper drying and ventilation during storage to get the most satisfying crunch possible!
What Soap Do You Use to Make Soap Curls?
Our Melt & Pour Soap Bases are the best to use to make your soap curls. They are soft enough to curl easily, which is great when using for decoration in your soap loaves, and dries quickly if given enough ventilation, to get nice and crunchy to use in your ASMR project.
How Long Does it Take for Soap Curls to Dry?
If being used as an embed for decorating your soap loaves, your curls are ready to be used immediately. For ASMR projects, it is best to dry your soap curls in a dry, ventilated place to cure for about 5 weeks.
Best soap for Embeds
A Moist Glycerin Soap or an Artisinal Soap.
Best Soap for ASMR
Aged Artisanal Soap (Some moisture evaporated/dried over time)
Vegetable Peeler Method
I found this method quick, easy and makes really nice curls. What you need to do is find a good sharp vegetable peeler or single blade cheese grater. Adding fragrance to the soap curls is not needed since it will be surrounded with scented soap. However, adding color to the curls depends on your design.
Soap Curl Tools (Peeler Method):
- Vegetable Peeler or Heavy-Duty Cheese Slicer
- Heat source (microwave or double boiler)
- Long rectangular silicone mold
- Soap Cutter or Knife
Soap Curl Ingredients (Peeler Method):
- Melt and Pour Glycerin Soap
- Fragrance Oil *Optional*
- Soap Colorant *Optional*
Soap Curl Steps:
- Begin by cutting your soap into manageable chunks to make the melting faster.
- Measure and heat up enough soap chunks to fill your entire soap mold.
- Once the soap is completely melted add fragrance and colorant if desired.
- Mix until your additives are incorporated into the soap.
- Pour into your soap mold.
- Let the soap cool for at least 3 hours then remove it from the mold.
- Once your block is cooled: simply peel the soap in long smooth strokes.
Holding the block with a paper towel while you peel helps with grip. Use caution when carving your soap curls!
A good thing to keep in mind with the vegetable peeler method is to use a soap that is not too soft or not too hard. If the soap is too soft it will be mushy, and if it is too hard, the soap won’t curl well.
You can also use a cheese grater to grate soap to look like shredded bits of coconut. Or you can use it to embed into loaves for an interesting twist on texture.
Pour Thin Method
Unless you have a long wide long mold or a lot of time on your hands, this may not be the best method for you. You can add up to 3% glycerin so the curls do not crack or break when you curl them. However, this will allow you to make really tight curls, great if you want to make a lollipop soap. Simply melt the soap and add the glycerin. Then pour in some of the soap just enough to cover the bottom. Wait for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how thick the pour was. Carefully remove the thin layer of soap and roll it up.
Soap Curl Tools (Pour Thin Method):
- Long or wide silicone loaf soap mold
- Heat source (microwave or double boiler)
Soap Curl Ingredients (Pour Thin Method) :
- Melt & Pour Glycerin Soap (white or clear)
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Colorant *Optional*
- Fragrance Oil *Optional*
Pouring Method Steps
- Melt the soap using a microwave or double boiler.
- While the soap is warm, add 1% glycerin, and colorant if you so wish.
- Then pour in soap just enough to cover the bottom.
- Wait for about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how thick the pour was.
- Carefully remove the thin layer of soap and roll it up. If you are using a wide loaf mold, cut the soap into slivers before curling them
- Let them set out for a day before adding them to your soap design.
Cold Process Soap Curls
For cold process soap, the same techniques can be used, however, there are some things to consider. Cold Process Soap is much more demanding to work with as it can set very quickly. This makes the Pour Thin Method very tricky to use and not recommended by us.
Using the Vegetable Peeler Method is a much safer bet when using Cold Process Soaps. Just be sure to let your soap loaf set for about a day before you start to peel and shape your soap curls. Also keep in mind the usual rules when working with Cold Process Soaps, Use gloves, eye protection, and all utensils, bowls, spatulas, and your peeler should all be marked and used only for cold process soaps, do not mix with your other supplies and materials!
Ingredients:
- A freshly made loaf of cold process soap.
- Gloves (the soap will be too harsh to touch with bare hands)
- Vegetable peeler (make this a soap only peeler)
Cold Process Soap Curls Directions
- Using gloved hands, remove the loaf from the mold.
- While still wearing gloves, firmly hold the soap. Use the vegetable peeler to shave the soap.
- Once all of the soap curls are made, set them in a dry place to cure. It will take about 5 weeks.
- After your curls are cured for the appropriate time, they are ready to use.
For a Soap Curl Lollipop:
- First, make enough soap curls to fit your cylinder mold.
- Chill soap curls in refrigerator, to lessen the chance of curls melting as you pour in melted second soap.
- Once the soap curls are chilled, place them in the cylinder molds.
- Melt clear soap and add a color of your choice with fragrance.
- Gently pour melted soap over the curls, being careful not to disturb or melt soap curls.
How to Dry Your Soap Curls
Crunching ASMR soap is very popular trend. For those who do not know what it is, it is the act of crunching up dried out soap for therapeutic purposes. So to make crunchy soap, simply make thin shavings and let the soap dry out in a dark dry area for a long time (few months). You can even scent the soap with essential oils for extra relaxing effects. To dry out the soap curls set them out somewhere dry in a thin layer. And here you can purchase 20-pound blocks for all the crunchy soap your heart desires.
