Why does using bar soap when washing my hands and/or body give it a very grippy feeling after using it, while liquid soap doesn’t?
In: Chemistry
One thing that people probably haven’t mentioned yet is that many bar soaps don’t undergo a full curing process. This is due to economic considerations for the soapmaking business (it’s cheaper, you have better turnover rates, and your soap is softer and faster to dissolve).
One of the things that commercial bar soaps do is add waxes to increase the soap bar’s hardness and to slow the process of dissolving somewhat (freshly made bars of soap can virtually vanish in water so some resistance is necessary).
This will cause waxy buildups on your shower cubicle (and you can see the difference when switching to liquid soap) and you’ll probably feel it on your skin.
Of course homemade soaps typically do not contain waxes and, from my own personal experience, do not cause a waxy buildup in the shower or on your skin.
Doesn’t bar soap contain fat?
Jesus. No one knows what the fuck they are talking about. You get the grippy feeling because soap is a surfactant. It removes grease. No grease = no slick feeling, hence the “grippy” feeling. Everyone telling you to use Dove is basically saying – “hey, I’ve been conditioned to think that feeling is bad and the result of scientific black magic and ‘ChEMiCAls!'” Dove is a fucking bar of grease and perfume.
Edit – whatever liquid “soap” you are using isn’t soap.
Latest Answers