What is “Blooming” and Could it Benefit You?

Find out more about this highly effective technique for bath bomb creators

You might have heard the phrase “blooming” before, either in our group or among your peers. But what exactly is it and should you incorporate it into your crafting process? Here’s a guide to help you decide.

What Is Blooming? 🤔

Blooming is the process of colouring your bicarbonate of soda (bicarb) in advance, ensuring the dye is evenly distributed and ready for use when you need it. 

This involves mixing water-soluble dye with water and blending it thoroughly with bicarb until the colour is fully incorporated. Afterward, the mixture is left to dry completely before being stored or used. 

Once prepared, bloomed bicarb is used just like regular uncoloured bicarb in bath bomb recipes.

Why Bloom? 💭

Blooming offers a range of advantages, especially for specific colours like red and black, which can be tricky to work with on the spot. When you bloom these colours, they come out vibrant and consistent rather than spotty or dull. 

By pre-preparing your coloured bicarb, you also save valuable time during the crafting process which is ideal for busy makers working on tight schedules.

Benefits of Blooming ⭐

• Consistency: Achieve rich, even colours, particularly with challenging shades like red and black.
• Efficiency: Shave minutes off your crafting time by having pre-coloured bicarb ready to go.
• Ease of Use: Ideal for mixing in bulk using a mixer, ensuring uniform colouring.

Are There Any Downsides? 📉

Blooming does have its challenges. For example, the drying process takes time and space which means that you’ll need sufficient storage for the coloured bicarb. This can be inconvenient if you’re working with limited room or making a wide variety of colours.

Many creators find blooming unnecessary for every colour, reserving it for troublesome shades like red and black. This tailored approach helps balance the benefits of blooming with its storage and drying demands.

Should You Bloom? ⚖️

Blooming isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s about finding what works for your process. 

If you frequently work with colours that tend to spot or fade, pre-blooming can elevate the quality of your bath bombs. However, if space or time for drying is limited, consider blooming only for the colours that truly benefit from the process.

Join the Conversation 📲

What’s your take on blooming? Do you bloom all your colours, stick to the tricky ones, or avoid it altogether? Share your experiences and tips with the Soak Rochford community in our Facebook Support Group, we’d love to hear from you!