Three Shaving Cream Experiments You Can Do Anywhere
Krystal DeVille
Updated on: January 24, 2024
The properties of shaving cream make an excellent base for a myriad of experiments.
Plus, it allows tiny hands to become very messy while learning scientific principles. From foamy explosions to endothermic reactions (safe, of course!), we show the most creative experiment with shaving cream that will keep young children amazed!
Before we get into cloud experiments, grab my free eBook with over 25 STEM experiments for kids. For all my free downloads, check out this page .
Table of Contents
Shaving Cream Experiments
Most of these experiments are very easy to use but are extremely messy. Be sure that clothes are protected, and tables are covered while making some of them. Then, be prepared for some messy fun!
Shaving Cream Alternative
Due to age, many people may not want to have young children playing with shaving cream because they could ingest it. To avoid this, you can make your own aquafaba . Aquafaba is a vegan alternative to using egg whites. It creates a foam that is like shaving cream inconsistency by using a can of chickpeas.
To make it, strain the liquid from the chickpeas and spend a few minutes beating them with a mixer. The liquid should quickly transform into a stiff foam. You can add a tiny bit of cream of tartar to the mixture to increase the stiffness.
1. Shaving Cream Rain Clouds
- Age Range: Toddler to elementary school
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy
This experiment is quick and easy. Parents can use it to demonstrate how weather works by using this simple methodology.
The shaving cream is representative of a cloud, while water is the atmosphere. When food coloring is added to the shaving cream, the weight will push through the shaving cream as rain bursts through clouds and reaches the earth.
Have fun with it and let them try different colors!
It’s probably better to do this STEM activity outside if the weather is nice. As your kids are filling up their cups with shaving cream, the cup can easily knock over.
- Food coloring (with Vibrant colors)
- Clear Jar/Container
- Shaving Cream
Instructions:
- Fill a clear container ¾ full of water.
- Shake the shaving cream to get foam.
- Place a layer of shaving cream on the top of the water to represent clouds. Ensure that you cover the surface of the water completely with shaving cream.
- Add lots of food coloring over top of the shaving cream. This will be the rain.
- Watch as the food coloring filters through the “clouds” and into the water as rain.
The Science Behind the Experiment
Clouds are formed when water vapor rises back into the air. Condensation builds in the clouds as a result of the dampness in the atmosphere. As the vapor becomes heavier, gravity eventually pulls water down from the clouds and falls from the sky. This is the rain we see on earth.
We love STEM activities at our house and finding new and interesting ways of exploring. A great way of finding something new is not to look further, but to look closer. Please join us in our Microscope Activities Guide ; we explore by seeing what we can’t see.
2. Snow Fluff
- Age Range: Toddler to Pre-K
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy (for parents)
This science experiment is simple, and children will love getting their hands dirty making this snow fluff. It will provide hours of entertainment for them as well.
- Food coloring
- 1 cup shaving cream
- 1 cup corn starch
- Pour the cornstarch into a big bowl. Using a spoon, scoop shaving cream on top of the corn starch. Place 5-10 drops of food coloring on top of the mixture. Stir the mixture until everything is perfectly blended.
- When the mix has a grated cheese appearance, squish the mix with your hands even more.
- After a while, it will form a ball that will have a dough-like texture.
- If the mix is very wet and sticky, it may require additional corn starch. If it’s crumbly, add more shaving cream.
- Now, the mixture is ready. It can now be sculpted into snow creatures.
Small bits of corn starch become mixed with the shaving cream. They suspend in the mixture to create color. The shaving cream has many minuscule bubbles. The surface tension on the top of those bubbles helps the corn starch “float” the particles when the two are combined.
3. It’s Snowing!
- Age Range: Pre-K to elementary school
This is a great fake snow experiment that is fun to do indoors during warm weather.
The best part is that it’s not as cold, and you don’t have to bundle the kids up to go outside! It illustrates an endothermic reaction.
It looks a lot like the Snow Fluff experiment that my kids did above, but the texture is different. It feels kind of dry and not slimy like the Snow Fluff.
- Foaming shaving cream
- 1 lb baking soda
This experiment makes enough fake snow for two children to use. The recipe’s proportions will have to be changed for additional kids. While the chemical reaction is on the cold side, the foam shaving cream can be placed in the refrigerator a few hours before the experiment to make it colder.
If you’d like, cover your table during the experiment. None of the ingredients are toxic or harmful. However, the powdery consistency of the baking soda can be very messy.
- Pour all the baking soda into a big bowl.
- Place half a can of shaving cream into the mixture. It should have enough shaving cream to coat the top of the baking soda three to four inches in depth.
- Stir the mixture slowly while scraping the bottom of the bowl to combine the entire box of baking soda. As they mix, powdery snow-like flakes will begin to appear. Furthermore, it is a bit cold like snow. If the shaving cream is too much for the baking soda to cling to then sprinkle more baking soda.
- Spill it out onto a table and enjoy creating things with snow.
STEM Education Guide Tip: Put your shaving cream in the refrigerator and the freezer for a little bit before starting this science experiment. That way it will feel more like snow!
To Further Enhance the Fun…
What kid doesn’t like to see an explosion? Curious children asked whether vinegar added to the mixture would cause it to explode. To do this, add white vinegar to a bowl and place the “snow” in it. This will turn the snow into a fizzy, volcanic explosion.
For more easy experiments that will fizzle and pop, please take a look at our article, Fun & Easy Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiments for Kids .
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) when mixed with sorbitol/lanolin/acid compound of the shaving cream generates a cool mixture. This is called an endothermic reaction. This is a great experiment because this is a difficult experiment to demonstrate endothermic reactions without using chemicals.
These are just a few experiments that you can conduct with shaving cream. Shaving cream provides a foamy backdrop for hours of fun teaching scientific principles to young children. In addition to the children learning, they can spend hours engaging in tactile fun.
4. Shaving Cream Color Lines
- Baking sheet
- Small painting brush
- Food coloring or paints
In this shaving cream experiment, I wanted my daughter to think of new colors when base colors are mixed. She knows a few of them like blue and red make purple, but she had to guest on other ones.
That’s why this activity is great! It will be easier for her to remember how base colors mix because she had fun learning how.
How to set Shaving Cream Color Lines Up:
On a piece of paper have your kids write out the base colors. Red plus blue equals, Yellow plus red equals, etc.
Make a few lines of shaving cream on the baking sheet with the shaving cream
Add the base paints or food coloring drops to the lines.
With a paintbrush, your kids will mix the base colors together to find out what new colors are made. On the piece of paper, they can record their findings.
Color mixing is essentially a process where a secondary color is generated by mixing the appropriate proportion of base primary colors. Mixing paints or colors together is a great opportunity for your kids’ to observe changes around them.
5. Shaving Cream Art
This shaving cream art activity goes along with the shaving cream color lines above, because you’ll already have all the material out on the table.
Since this activity is more STEAM (art) than STEM, I asked her what she wanted to draw. My daughter wanted to draw the face in the shaving cream. She started by drawing the face on a piece of paper, then adding drops of color in areas where it would need to go.
The next step was fun; she pushed and pulled the drops of color in the shaving cream with the paint brushing, making a face on the shaving cream canvas.
Wrapping Up
I like STEM experiments with shaving cream because most of them don’t need special materials. In fact, I already had everything at home that I needed.
They can be done inside or out. I didn’t find these experiments that messy so I didn’t mind doing them inside, but it’s up to you.
If you’d like some structured experiments that are easy to set up, please take a look at our Yellow Scope Chemistry review that I did with my daughter.
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Top 16 Shaving Cream Experiments: Foam-tastic Adventures
Welcome to our carefully curated list of the top shaving cream-based science experiments.
Shaving cream, a staple in many homes, is more than a grooming essential. Its fluffy texture and fascinating reaction to various substances form the basis for a range of engaging and fun science experiments.
These hands-on experiments, each showcasing the fascinating properties of shaving cream are suitable for a wide array of age groups and cover many interesting topics.
Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and entertained as we embark on this captivating science adventure! Let’s dive in and start experimenting!
1. Rain Cloud Experiment
Imagine having the power to create your very own miniature rain clouds using simple household materials. By utilizing shaving cream, food coloring, and water, we can simulate the process of cloud formation and rain.
Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain Clouds
2. Shaving Cream Play Dough
Shaving Cream Play Dough offers a blank canvas for your artistic expression. Through this experiment, you’ll have the opportunity to create various shapes, sculptures, and designs using the pliable play dough.
Learn more: Shaving Cream Play Dough
3. Shaving Cream in a Huge Vacuum Chamber
Through this experiment, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the principles of air pressure and the behavior of gases.
As the huge vacuum chamber removes air molecules, the pressure decreases, causing the trapped gas within the shaving cream to expand, creating fascinating formations.
4. Shaving Cream Marbling
This unique experiment will not only ignite your imagination but also introduce you to the wonders of color mixing and pattern creation. So, why should you give this experiment a try? Let’s find out!
5. Shaving Cream Paint
Experiment with vibrant colors, create mesmerizing textures, and let your inner artist shine. Get ready to dip your brushes and explore the endless possibilities of Shaving Cream Paint!
Learn more: Shaving Cream Paint
6. DIY Puffy Paint
Unleash Your Inner Artist with DIY Puffy Paint! IY Puffy Paint is a thrilling hands-on experiment that combines art and science. Watch as simple ingredients transform into a fluffy, textured masterpiece.
7. Frozen Inspired Sensory Play
Immerse Yourself in a Frozen Sensory Adventure with Shaving Cream and Ice! Explore the chilly textures, discover the magic of melting ice, and let your senses come alive. It’s a cool and captivating way to engage with science, imagination, and the beloved Frozen theme.
Learn more: Frozen Inspired Sensory Play
8. Shaving Cream Slime
Shaving cream slime is a mesmerizing and tactile experience that combines science and fun. Stretch it, squish it, and mold it into endless shapes.
9. DIY Snow
DIY snow with shaving cream is a magical and sensory-filled adventure. Watch as ordinary ingredients transform into a fluffy, snow-like substance.
It’s a hands-on experiment that brings the joy of winter indoors, allowing students to explore textures, engage their creativity, and spark their imagination.
10. Sand Foam
Sand foam is a fascinating sensory experiment that combines the softness of shaving cream with the grainy texture of sand. Experience the magic as these two materials blends to create a unique and moldable foam that mimics the feeling of playing with sand.
Learn More: Sand Foam
11. DIY Shaving Cream
In this hands-on activity, we’ll explore the realm of do-it-yourself shaving creams, where creativity knows no bounds.
Learn More: DIY Shaving Cream
12. Shaving Cream Balloons
The aim of this experiment is simple: to unlock the joyous and playful side of science. By putting some shaving cream into the balloon, we create a surprising and entertaining experience for all involved.
Watch in awe as the balloon fills with fluffy white clouds, transforming it into a squishy, bouncy masterpiece.
Learn more: Shaving Cream Balloons
13. Shaving Cream DIY Bathtub Paint
The concept is simple yet captivating. By mixing shaving cream with vibrant food coloring or washable paint, we create a magical concoction that can be applied directly to your body as paint. This can also be done at school and put white top on to create a colorful shirt while having fun.
Learn more: Shaving Cream DIY Bathtub Paint
14. Create Your Own Planet
Through the interaction of shaving cream and color, we will observe how different pigments intermingle and create mesmerizing swirls and patterns.
This experiment not only ignites your creativity but also provides a glimpse into the wondrous forces that shape the celestial bodies in the universe.
Learn more: Create Your Own Planet
15. Glow in the Dark Bath Paint
Calling all curious minds and adventurous students! Prepare to embark on a glowing journey of scientific exploration and creativity with “Glow in the Dark Bath Paint.”
In this experiment, we invite you to dive into the captivating world of luminescence and discover why this thrilling experience is a must-try for students.
Learn more: Glow in the Dark Bath Paint
16. Puffy Planet
In this experiment, we take the fluffy and versatile shaving cream to new heights by using it to create a puffy representation of a planet.
Prepare to embark on a journey of tactile exploration and artistic expression as you transform a two-dimensional canvas into a three-dimensional celestial marvel.
Learn more: Puffy Planet
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Science Fun
Storm in a Glass
- Shaving cream
- A large glass
- Food coloring
WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!
Instructions:
- Fill the glass 1/2 full with water
- Spray some shaving cream on top of the water to fill the glass to ¾ full.
- Use your finger or a spoon to spread the shaving cream evenly over the top of the water. The top of the shaving cream should be flat.
- Mix ½-cup water with 10 drops of food coloring in a separate container. Gently add the colored water, spoonful by spoonful, to the top of the shaving cream. When it gets too heavy, watch it storm!
How does it work?
Clouds in the sky hold onto water. They can hold millions of gallons! The layer of shaving cream is our pretend cloud in this experiment. The shaving cream layer can also hold onto water. Clouds can’t keep storing more and more water forever, eventually they get too heavy. When that happens, the water falls out (precipitates) as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Further Experiments
- Try more water and less shaving cream, or less water and more shaving cream. Which one looks more like a drizzle, and which one looks like a downpour?
EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!
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Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment
By Stephanie on March 24, 2020 | Updated December 30, 2020 | Rate Recipe
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate with other networks, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links within this post. For more information read my disclosure page here .
Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment . Using a glass, shaving cream, water, and food coloring you can explore how rain clouds work!
If you are working on learning about the water cycle and looking for an easy science experiment to show how clouds work this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment is perfect. This rain cloud science project is perfect for kids in preschool thru elementary school. It is easy to do and the kids will have fun with it and be able to learn how rain clouds actually work.
Looking for more learning activities for kids? Check these out!
- How Plants Drink Water Celery Science Experiment
- Homemade Cloud dough
- Homemade Playdoh
- DIY Forky Craft
- Homemade Air Dry Clay
- Dish Soap Slime
How do Clouds work?
Clouds are formed when water vapor rises into the air and then when the water vapor hits cold air they turn back into water droplets. Those water droplets collect together along with other particles in the air like dust to form a cloud.
Once a cloud is formed it continues to attract water droplets. Over time clouds get so full of water that they can’t hold any more and the water falls back to the ground as rain.
How to make rain Clouds with Shaving Cream
With this easy science experiment we are going to demonstrate using water, shaving cream and food coloring how a rain cloud collects water and then rains when it gets too full.
Using shaving cream and food coloring you will be able to show how rain moves through the cloud and comes out as rain. You will want to make sure you use a dark colored food dye and white shaving cream when doing this so they can actually see the process happen. My favorite shaving cream to use for this experiment is the cheap dollar store stuff or if you are needing to order from Amazon, Barbasol is my go to.
Homeschool Clouds Lesson Plan Ideas
If you are working on a weather unit for homeschooling then this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment is a great science experiment. If you are focusing on clouds and rain specifically then there are lots of other resources you can use that go along with this science experiment.
You can watch the Sid the Science kid episode on PBS kids here , or grab the Sid the Science Kid Weather DVD on Amazon .
Use the form below to snag this Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Printable that we have created for you to use along with this science experiment! This printable has a section for the kids to write their hypothesis, their observations and their conclusions while doing this experiment. Once you sign up, it will send you an email to download your free printable!
If you are doing this science experiment with preschoolers or elementary kids then you can also incorporate the Little Cloud Book by Eric Carle , and make the Rain Cloud Craft or the Cloud Shapes Preschool craft .
Paint Cloud photos using homemade puffy paint , or if you can go outside use homemade sidewalk paint to draw different cloud shapes in the driveway.
Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment Supplies
- See through container or glass
- Small cup or container
- White shaving cream
- 7 drops blue Food coloring
- 1 cup Water
Shaving Cream Rain Cloud Science Experiment Directions
Pour water into your small cup and add the drops of blue food coloring into the cup.
In your clear containers, add water so it fills up halfway.
Top that water off with shaving cream till it reaches the top of the container, set aside for about 5 minutes for the shaving cream to settle on top of the water.
With your droppers suck up the colored water and pour it over the shaving cream. Continue to fill the shaving cream cloud with the food coloring/water mixture until the shaving cream cloud can no longer hold the water.
Watch as the colored water travels through the cloud and creates rain in the water below in the glass.
You can add different colors of food coloring and water to see what happens as you keep adding more if you would like to. Just repeat the processes using the same set up you already have.
ABOUT LAUREN
Hey There! I am Lauren, a short mom (4 foot 10 to be exact!) who has a passion for helping others and always has a cup of coffee in hand. With amazing recipes to help the home cook become a home chef, along with fun family travel, fun crafts and More! Grab a cup of coffee and join me! Read more...
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With a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in baking and pastry arts, a love for tasty food and amazing photography skills Stephanie brings the amazing recipe ideas we come up with to life. Stephanie loves crafting, all things Disney and traveling whenever possible.
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Shaving Cream Rain Clouds Science Experiment
Shaving cream rain clouds are a funny and easy science project that illustrates key science concepts, such as density, mixing, and how clouds work. Once you master the basics, turn the project into a science experiment by tweaking the materials and methods.
All you need are a few basic materials from home:
- Shaving cream
- Food coloring
- Glass or jar
Let’s Make Shaving Cream Clouds!
- Fill the glass mostly full of cold water. Why use cold water? The reason is because warmer water more readily degrades the shaving cream and also disperses the food coloring.
- Dispense a “cloud” of shaving cream on top of the water. Don’t make the layer too think or else the food coloring won’t make it all the way to the water.
- Add drops of food coloring to the top of the clouds. Blue is the traditional color for rain, but you can explore color theory if you get creative.
- Watch as the food coloring “rain” falls from the shaving cream “cloud”.
The Science Behind Shaving Cream Rain Clouds
Shaving cream floats on water because it has a lower density than water. Similarly, clouds float in the atmosphere, even though the average cumulus cloud weighs over one million pounds. It hardly seems possible that a cloud doesn’t just sink to the ground! Keep two facts in mind. First, clouds are huge, so they rest on top of a gigantic air column. Second, clouds kind of do fall, when you think about it.
When a nimbus cloud (the type of cloud that produces precipitation ) holds more water than the air can support, the excess falls as rain, snow, or sometimes hail. Similarly, when you drip food coloring onto shaving cream, it is heavier than the foam and falls through the fake cloud. Eventually it enters the water (the “atmosphere” in this project).
The food coloring consists of pigment and water. It readily mixes with the water. If two different colored drops come into contact or mix together in the water, you get new colors.
Turn the Science Project Into a Science Experiment
Performing the shaving cream rain clouds project fulfills the first step of the scientific method , which is making observations. From your observations, think of things you can change about the project and make a prediction about the effect of this change. In other words, form a hypothesis and conduct an experiment that tests this hypothesis. Finally, evaluate the results of your experiment and decide whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Often, this process gives you ideas for new experiments.
Here are some ideas:
- Examine the effect of water temperature on cloud stability and “rain” formation.
- Can you replace the shaving cream with another material? Examples might include whipped cream or egg whites.
- What happens if you introduce another layer between the water and shaving cream? For example, do you get “rain” if there is a thin layer of vegetable oil on top of the water? (Hint: This is the basis for the fireworks in a glass project.)
- What happens if you use paint, colored sugar, or ink instead of food coloring?
- Does changing the size or shape of the container affect the outcome?
- Predict what happens if you replace water with another liquid, such as oil or milk.
- Burroughs, William James; Crowder, Bob (2007). Weather . San Francisco: Fog City Press. ISBN 978-1-74089-579-8.
- Freud, E.; Rosenfeld, D. (2012). “Linear relation between convective cloud drop number concentration and depth for rain initiation”. Journal of Geophysical Research . 117 (D2). doi: 10.1029/2011JD016457
- Jaramillo, A.; Mesa, O. (June 19, 2017). “On the relative density of clouds.” Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meterological Society . Vol. 144; Iss. 707, pp. 2650-2653. doi: 10.1002/qj.3099
- Young, Hugh D.; Freedman, Roger A. (2012). University Physics with Modern Physics . ISBN 978-0-321-69686-1.
COMMENTS
From foamy explosions to endothermic reactions (safe, of course!), we show the most creative experiment with shaving cream that will keep young children amazed! Before we get into cloud experiments, grab my free eBook with over 25 STEM experiments for kids.
These hands-on experiments, each showcasing the fascinating properties of shaving cream are suitable for a wide array of age groups and cover many interesting topics. Prepare to be amazed, inspired, and entertained as we embark on this captivating science adventure!
Try more water and less shaving cream, or less water and more shaving cream. Which one looks more like a drizzle, and which one looks like a downpour? EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!
With this easy science experiment we are going to demonstrate using water, shaving cream and food coloring how a rain cloud collects water and then rains when it gets too full. Using shaving cream and food coloring you will be able to show how rain moves through the cloud and comes out as rain.
Shaving cream rain clouds are a funny and easy science project that illustrates key science concepts, such as density, mixing, and how clouds work. Once you master the basics, turn the project into a science experiment by tweaking the materials and methods.
This shaving cream rain clouds experiment is a fun, easy and beautiful activity to do with kids. Watch as the "rain" falls down from the clouds!