When I went to the Texas Soapmakers Convention last weekend, I forgot my shaving soap. (gasp!) I had to go to the gift store and buy (double gasp) some regular shaving cream. After so many years using shaving soap, it was really weird using shaving cream. Now, I must admit...I didn't absolutely hate it. Shaving cream is lighter and fuller than the lather of shaving soaps - and it rinses a bit easier - but it's just not the same. First of all...it wasn't my own soap. It wasn't in my scent, with my clay, and my oils. Secondly, it just felt different. Like I was putting some odd chemical compound on my face...which I suppose I was. The shave was about the same, but my skin felt a bit tighter...more in need of a moisturizer...which I don't usually need after using the real soap. I was quite happy to get back home and get back to shaving with my good old soap on Monday morning. If you want to make your own shaving soap, it's not hard. You can make a Melt and Pour Shaving Soap recipe, or make your batch own from scratch. Here is a "from scratch" Shaving Soap Recipe. I've also included some great articles on "How to Get the Perfect Shave" in the links section of the recipe and be sure to check out the Guides to Wet Shaving.

I'm at the 2008 Texas Soapmakers Association annual convention. I've created a photo gallery of the convention...and will be adding to it throughout the day. The morning kicked off in a BIG way with keynote speaker Sandy Maine of the SunFeather Natural Soap Company. She set the tone of the morning when she said, "Soapmaking is not a job...it's a destiny." This pioneer of the natural soapmaking industry started small when there were no suppliers, no internet and only 80 year old women who thought she was crazy for trying to make her own soap. But in 1979, SunFeather was born and is one of the top 5 natural soap companies in the U.S. I can see why she has been so successful. Through her kind, quiet demeanor shines a super savvy business woman with decades of dedicated practical experience.