Hot Process Soap Making 102: Working with Color

You’ve mastered the hot process basics—now it’s time to make your soap look as good as it feels.

Hot Process Soap Making 102: Working with Color is an intermediate-level, hands-on class designed for students who have already completed Hot Process Soap Making 101 and are ready to take their soap designs to the next level.

In this class, we go deep into color theory and technique specifically for hot process soap, where timing, temperature, and fluidity all play a huge role in success. You’ll learn how different types of colorants behave in hot process soap and when to add them to avoid common issues like muddy colors, morphing, clumping, or seizing.

We’ll cover natural colorants, micas, lake dyes, and other approved soap colorants, and you’ll learn how to adjust your soap’s fluidity to allow for better blending, layering, and creative design—even in hot process.

What You’ll Learn

• How and when to add colorants during the hot process cook

• Working with natural colorants (clays, botanicals, charcoal) and preventing dull or uneven results

• Using micas and lake dyes successfully in hot process soap

• How heat and pH affect color vibrancy and stability

• Preventing common color problems like:

  • Faded or morphing colors

  • Speckling, clumping, or streaking

  • Muddy tones when colors are combined

• Techniques to improve soap fluidity for better color blending and design options

• How fragrance oils, essential oils, and additives can impact color results

• Tips for consistent color results from batch to batch

This class focuses on control and confidence—so you’re no longer guessing why your colors didn’t turn out the way you expected.

Students will complete a colored hot process soap batch and leave with practical knowledge they can immediately use in future projects.

Prerequisite: Completion of Hot Process Soap Making 101 is required.