Colours (was re:lotion)

[Guest guest]

" better " is too subjective a term, Janine.

Personally, I wouldn't use a pigment in a lotion or other aqueous

product, because it doesn't dissolve, it disperses (and thus, can

settle). I use both pigments and dyes in my soap depending on the

effect I want. Dyes give a 'clearer' colour, while pigments tend to

be more 'muddy'. (Jen, I'm sure I'm stealing terms from your " Colours

Discussion " , so I'm giving you credit now! *g*). Heck, in some

soaps,

I use both at the same time!

Dyes certainly give you more colour options - pigments are pretty

limiting and don't always blend well depending on the media they are

in. I also find that they are less likely to colour the lather or

rub

off onto a washcloth than pigments. In my experience, dyes are also

a

little less susceptible to the base colour of your soap, although

some

people disagree, so don't take that as gospel! *g*

Dyes can fade. The other objection many soapmakers have to dyes is

that they are much more pH sensitive than pigments (although the

ultramarines can be pretty stinky in acidic media *g*). Blue #1, for

example, turns a lovely bright purple in cold process soap (and may

mutate over time in hot process as well). I've never found it a

problem, as I did my research on colour changes long before I added

the dye to the pot, but some people freak out over it!

Note - while the dyes don't generally mutate in MP, they can mutate

in

handmade transparent, which usually has a higher pH.

Oh, and the dyes in their 'raw' state (i.e. before they're added to

the product) will stain like mad...and if you spill the dry dye,

don't

try to clean it up with lots of water - that just makes MORE dye to

spread around! Messy, messy, messy...makes those easter egg dyeing

kits from our childhood look neat and tidy!

And a personal note...give it up about the humour, please? Just

because the listowner doesn't want a day of rampant silliness a week

doesn't mean that the list members are devoid of humour, 'kay?

(just my own request before it goes too far and wastes up even more

space in the archives)

Jules in Vancouver