Step Up Your Shaving Game with a Homemade Magic Shaving Powder

Magic shaving powder is an effective and affordable alternative for men looking to remove facial hair. This recipe combines a few key ingredients to create a powerful and soothing shaving powder. The main idea is to create a homemade shaving powder that offers a smooth and close shave while also reducing irritation and inflammation. To make the magic shaving powder, you will need the following ingredients: - 1 cup of cornstarch - 1/4 cup of baking soda - 1/4 cup of calcium carbonate - 1 tablespoon of white willow bark powder - 1 tablespoon of lavender essential oil The first step in making the shaving powder is to combine the cornstarch, baking soda, calcium carbonate, and white willow bark powder in a clean bowl. These ingredients work together to absorb excess oil and soothe the skin, while also providing a smooth surface for the razor to glide on. Next, add the lavender essential oil to the dry mixture.

SHAVING POWDER.
Shaving powder differs from the soaps just described in being pulverized, usually adding up to 5 per cent. starch to prevent caking. Any of the above soaps, dried bone dry, with or without the addition of tallow base make a satisfactory powder for shaving. --Soap Making Manual, E G Thomssen, 1922.

Soaps for shaving made in this manner are very unsatisfactory, as they do not produce a sufficiently thick or lasting lather and discolor very materially upon ageing. You might be able to do so with your shave formula, but if I tried to do something like that my shave croap formula, I m thinking it would take an eternity for it to be dry enough for me to even be able to shred it up so that it can further dry enough to take to being pulverized in my processor.

Next, add the lavender essential oil to the dry mixture. Lavender essential oil is known for its calming and antiseptic properties, making it an ideal addition to a shaving powder. It helps to prevent razor burn and soothes any irritation that may occur during the shaving process.

Making Shaving Powder Soap

I'm looking to make shaving powder soap, like they made in the early 1900's. It was powdered shaving soap that was sprinkled on the wet brush and brushed on the clients face and it would later up. Nobody makes this, I tried grinding up a shaving soap puck, it wasn't dry enough and would not become powder. I found some shaving powder made in Japan, but with shipping it was 40.00 for a small container. I'm looking for a high quality shaving soap that's good for the skin, has great lather, and can be ground up to fine powder. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Again I'm looking to make shaving powder soap that was made in the early 1900's for single use shaving soap, not the shaving powder sold today like magic shave that dissolves hair.

IrishLass

Unfortunately, I'm not hopeful that the kind of shave soap powder of old that you are looking for can be made at home in one's kitchen. at least not according to the directions in this excerpt from the book entitled, "The Soapmaker's Handbook of Materials, Processes and Reciepts For Every Description" (printed in 1912): https://books.google.com/books?id=UQuAAAAAMAAJ&dq=shaving%20soap%20powder&pg=PA430#v=onepage&q&f=false It all actually looks quite doable until the part about drying and grinding the soap in a mill into a fine powder (a mill is a commercial piece of soap manufacturing equipment that consists of pressurized steel rollers and extruders, etc..).

From what I was able to glean on the net, William's and also Colgate used to make such shave powders back in the day. But like you said, though- the "Magic Shave' stuff is something totally different. I'd stay away from that. It's pretty much Nair in powdered form from what I read.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

shunt2011

Moderator Emeritus

Unfortunately, I'm not hopeful that the kind of shave soap powder of old that you are looking for can be made at home in one's kitchen. at least not according to the directions in this excerpt from the book entitled, "The Soapmaker's Handbook of Materials, Processes and Reciepts For Every Description" (printed in 1912): https://books.google.com/books?id=UQuAAAAAMAAJ&dq=shaving soap powder&pg=PA430#v=onepage&q&f=false It all actually looks quite doable until the part about drying and grinding the soap in a mill into a fine powder (a mill is a commercial piece of soap manufacturing equipment that consists of pressurized steel rollers and extruders, etc..).

From what I was able to glean on the net, William's and also Colgate used to make such shave powders back in the day. But like you said, though- the "Magic Shave' stuff is something totally different. I'd stay away from that. It's pretty much Nair in powdered form from what I read.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

Just wondering, it says it is mixed with starch. Would it be possible to shred the shave soap we make, shred it and let it dry for a bit then mix with some cornstarch or arrowroot and run it through the food processer?

Like we do with laundry soap/washing soda etc.?

I'm thinking the starch would really cut the lather.

Sideshow

New Member

I seen a post where someone ground up Williams shaving soap cakes in a food processor mixed with a powder.

IrishLass

Just wondering, it says it is mixed with starch. Would it be possible to shred the shave soap we make, shred it and let it dry for a bit then mix with some cornstarch or arrowroot and run it through the food processer?

Like we do with laundry soap/washing soda etc.?

I'm thinking the starch would really cut the lather.

You might be able to do so with your shave formula, but if I tried to do something like that my shave croap formula, I'm thinking it would take an eternity for it to be dry enough for me to even be able to shred it up so that it can further dry enough to take to being pulverized in my processor. LOL

I seen a post where someone ground up Williams shaving soap cakes in a food processor mixed with a powder.

Cool beans! A Williams puck sure is pretty hard and dry, dry, dry, though. It'll take a fair bit of reformulating if I were to try something like that with my own. I wonder if any of the soap-makers mentioned on the Badger and Blade link ever attempted it. Would you happen to know?

shunt2011

Moderator Emeritus

The Efficacious Gentleman

Enough people dislike the Williams puck to make it a nonstarter! But I wonder if a decent triple milled soap could be used as the base?

Obsidian

I'd think you would need to make your shave soap with NaOH so it would be a nice hard bar like Williams is. I actually like Williams but its so hard to lather, its a really pain in the backside.

DeeAnna

Well-Known Member

Powdered Soaps.
In this form very convenient kinds of cosmetics are made and used for a variety of purposes, as a dentifrice, for shaving, etc. They are made from any pure soap, which is cut into shavings and thoroughly dried, when they are ground and sieved into the finest possible powder, perfumed and colored in any way desired. They should be put up in well-stopped bottles, or they will absorb moisture and form into lumps again. --TECHNICAL TREATISE ON SOAP AND CANDLES, Richard S Cristiani, 1888.

Shaving soap powders are made as follows: First prepare a good shaving soap in the warm way from, for instance, 500 lbs. of tallow and 100 lbs. of cocoanut oil. Boil the fats with equal parts of caustic soda lye of 25 degrees B. and caustic potash lye of 25 degrees B. to a clear paste and separate the soap with brine. The settled grain is brought into frames and when cold, is cut into bars which are converted into shavings. The latter are thoroughly dried and ground to a fine powder in a mill.

This powder is mixed with starch in the proportion of 15 to 20 lbs. of the latter to 100 lbs. of the former. By the addition of starch to the soap powder, a shaving powder is obtained which gives a fine permanent lather.

Before mixing the starch with the soap powder it is perfumed, as a rule, with a mixture of lavender oil, thyme oil, caraway oil and fennel oil, an agreeable perfume being composed as follows: Starch 30 lbs., lavender oil 2^ ozs., lemon oil and thyme oil each 1\ ozs. The starch and perfume are intimately mixed and the whole is passed through a sieve which, however, should not be too fine. If the perfume is added to the powdered soap it forms small balls which in spite of all trouble cannot be entirely got rid of and finally remain behind upon the sieve.

A very fine shaving powder with a very durable and pleasant odor is obtained by a mixture of powdered soap 50 lbs., powdered orris root 8 lbs., and almond paste 4 lbs. The whole is intimately mixed and then passed through a sieve. --Soap Maker's Handbook, C Diete, 1912

SHAVING SOAPS.
The requirements of a shaving soap are somewhat different than those of other soaps. To be a good shaving soap the lather produced therefrom must be heavy, creamy, but not gummy, and remain moist when formed on the face. The soap itself should be of a soft consistency so as to readily adhere to the face when used in stick form. It should furthermore be neutral or nearly so to prevent the alkali from smarting during shaving.

Shaving soap is made in the form of a stick, and a tablet for use in the shaving mug. Some shavers prefer to have the soap as a powder or cream, which are claimed to be more convenient methods of shaving. While a liquid shaving soap is not as well known because it has not yet become popular, some soap for shaving is made in this form.

Formerly shaving soap was extensively made from a charge of about 80 parts tallow and 20 parts cocoanut oil as a boiled settled soap, but either making the strengthening change with potash lye or using potash lye in saponifying the stock and graining with salt. [In other words, the soap was made with NaOH and KOH or the soap was a KOH soap that was partly converted to sodium soap by using salt.] Soaps for shaving made in this manner are very unsatisfactory, as they do not produce a sufficiently thick or lasting lather and discolor very materially upon ageing. Potassium stearate forms an ideal lather for shaving, but readily hardens and hence needs some of the softer oils, or glycerine incorporated with it to form a satisfactory soap for shaving.

The selection of materials for making a shaving soap is important. The tallow used should be white and of high titer. Cochin cocoanut oil is to be preferred to the other kinds, and the alkalis should be the best for technical use that can be purchased. By the use of stearic acid it is a simple matter to reach the neutral point which can be carefully approximated.

SHAVING POWDER.
Shaving powder differs from the soaps just described in being pulverized, usually adding up to 5 per cent. starch to prevent caking. Any of the above soaps, dried bone dry, with or without the addition of tallow base make a satisfactory powder for shaving. --Soap Making Manual, E G Thomssen, 1922.

PS: Welcome to the forum!

Mix the ingredients together until they are well combined and form a fine powder. The texture should be similar to that of a commercial shaving powder. To use the magic shaving powder, wet your face with warm water and sprinkle a small amount of the powder onto your palm. Rub your hands together to distribute the powder and apply it to your face, focusing on areas where you want to remove hair. Massage the powder into your skin for a few minutes, allowing it to exfoliate and soften the hair. Once the powder is evenly applied, use a razor to shave as usual. The magic shaving powder will provide a smooth surface for the razor to glide on, resulting in a close and comfortable shave. After shaving, rinse your face with cool water to remove any remaining powder and soothe the skin. Pat your face dry and apply a moisturizer to hydrate and protect the freshly shaved skin. The magic shaving powder recipe is a simple and effective solution for men looking for a smooth and irritation-free shave. By using natural ingredients, this homemade shaving powder offers a cost-effective alternative to commercial products without sacrificing quality. Try this recipe and experience the magic of a close and comfortable shave!.

Reviews for "The Ultimate Magic Shaving Powder Recipe: Tried and Tested"

1. Sally - 1 star

I was really disappointed with the "Magic shaving powder recipe." First of all, the instructions were very unclear and it was difficult to understand the steps. Secondly, I followed the recipe exactly as written, but the end result was a complete disaster. The powder did not mix well, and it ended up clumping instead of becoming a smooth shaving cream. It was impossible to spread it evenly on my skin, and I ended up with a patchy shave. I would not recommend this recipe to anyone.

2. John - 2 stars

I have to admit, I was intrigued by the idea of a "magic" shaving powder, but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The main issue I had with this recipe was the strong chemical smell. It was overwhelming and made me feel like I was using a harsh cleaning product on my face. Additionally, the powder did not mix well with water and created a messy and clumpy paste. It was quite difficult to apply it smoothly, and the results were subpar. I would recommend looking for other shaving alternatives instead of wasting your time on this recipe.

3. Emily - 2 stars

I was really hoping that the "Magic shaving powder recipe" would be a game-changer for me, but unfortunately, it was a letdown. First of all, the ingredients listed were quite hard to find, and I had to visit multiple stores to gather them all. Secondly, the consistency of the powder was not ideal for shaving. It was difficult to apply evenly, and it did not provide a smooth glide like traditional shaving creams do. The whole process was messy and time-consuming. Overall, I would not recommend this recipe to anyone looking for an efficient and hassle-free shaving experience.

4. Mike - 1 star

I can confidently say that the "Magic shaving powder recipe" is anything but magic. This recipe did not work at all for me. The powder was clumpy and did not dissolve properly in water. It felt gritty on my skin, and it did not provide a close shave. I had to go over the same area multiple times, causing irritation and razor burn. I was really disappointed with the results and would not use this recipe again. Save yourself the trouble and look for better alternatives.

Say Goodbye to Chemicals with a Homemade Magic Shaving Powder