For the last year or two, there's been a constant stream of tie-dye in my Instagram feed, and the 90s kid in me is A-okay with that. More time at home = more people looking to try that new bread recipe or DIY craft they never got around to, so the trend won't be disappearing anytime soon.
Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and loads of other A-listers have been papped in the psychedelic print. People started documenting their WFH outfits, and the matching tie-dye sweatsuit became (and stayed) a regular guest star. And with many socialising opportunities off the table for now, it seems like everyone I follow is DIY-ing their own rainbow socks in their kitchen. If you've not yet succumbed to the siren song of hand-dyeing, never fear - this trend is a year-rounder.
Of course, you can buy pre-made tie-dye items on the high street, but let's be honest, it's way cooler to make your own. And more sustainable, especially if you're giving new life to a ratty old t-shirt. Plus, it's a fun (and cheap) way to spend a Saturday that doesn't involve another walk around the park.
You can dye bed sheets, underwear, socks, hoodies - almost anything really, with these techniques. Note: it is recommended to dye natural fabrics like cotton or linen, as synthetic fabrics like polyester may not take the dye as well. Once you start, you might find yourself hunting for all your white items to dye, if you're anything like us.
Here's everything you need to know about how to tie-dye your clothes at home.
You’ll Need:
- A selection of coloured fabric dyes - we suggest DYLON Hand Dyes. (The following instructions reflect DYLON instructions. If using another brand of dye, follow the instructions on the package)
- A clean white cotton or linen shirt (could be any white item, but synthetic fabrics like polyester may not "take" dye as well as natural fabrics)
- 250g of ordinary salt
- Measuring jug (glass won't stain)
- Large rubber bands (hair elastics work fine too, in a pinch)
- Rubber gloves
- Recycled plastic bottles (ideally one for each dye colour - squeeze spouts give you more control when applying the dye)
- Bin bags to protect your surfaces
shop tie dye supplies
Just stationery Just Stationery Assorted Size Original Elastic Band, Brown
Getting started
- Wet the clean shirt, squeeze out excess water, and leave damp
- Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands (and manicure) from staining. Protect your surfaces with an old towel or plastic bags
- Choose colours carefully. (Different shades of the same colour always work well– like Dylon’s Vintage Blue and Paradise Blue. Or, try complementary colours, like Intense Violet and Passion Pink.)
- Dissolve the dye in 500ml of warm water in the measuring jug
- Mix in 250g (4tbsp) of salt and stir well
- Pour the mixture into a plastic bottle for easy dye application
- Repeat the dye and salt mixture if adding additional colours
- Choose your pattern technique: bullseye, swirl, or stripe. This is where it gets fun.
Bullseye pattern
The name "bullseye" comes from a dart board, with a target in the center surrounded by concentric circles.
Gather a two-inch section of the shirt, and tie off tightly with a rubber band. Then, add another rubber band a couple of inches further down.
You can place a single bullseye in the center of the shirt, adding bands periodically, or do a couple at random, off-center, like I did above. The tighter you tie the rubber band around the shirt, the cleaner your white spaces will look.
Pour a different colour of dye onto each section of the shirt. I chose to make both of my bullseyes pink, and then the concentric rings shades of blue and purple.
Swirl pattern
Pinch the middle of your shirt and twist the fabric in a clockwise motion. Keep going until the shirt looks kind of like a flat cinnamon bun - the fabric will "swirl" up in a circle.
Put rubber bands across the width of the shirt. I applied three rubber bands equal distances apart, creating six triangle "wedges," kind of like pizza slices. Lots of food references here.
Then, pour a different colour of dye onto each "slice" of the shirt.
If you want a rainbow swirl, apply them in this order for best results: red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. The colours will blend best this way, and you'll avoid too much muddy brown when they overlap.
Stripe pattern
This is probably the easiest technique out there. Simply scrunch your shirt into a straight line, and tie rubber bands across it at various intervals.
The tighter the band is, the more clear the white line will be. The more you saturate the shirt with dye, the less white space you will end up with.
I dyed my whole shirt pink, but you could try rainbow stripes, or different shades of violet - this technique is hard to mess up!
Final steps
9. Rinse the measuring jug clean, and rest the bound shirt in it
10. Leave shirt to sit for a minimum of one hour to allow the dye to seep into the fabric
11. Without untying fabric, rinse in cold water until the water runs clear, then untie and wash in warm water
12. Hang to dry - make sure it is away from direct sunlight
Et voila! Now you can enjoy wearing your one-of-a-kind creation. Be prepared for lots of compliments, and for everyone to ask you if you can teach them how to do it. And with that, we'll leave you with some handy dandy styling inspiration:
Mrs. Bieber is wearing her tie-dye trackies as a bikini cover-up, which we are v on board with.
This stylist proves that tie-dye is a year-round thing, not just for hot weather. We're digging her tonal blue layered look.
Susie Bubble shows us how to do chic party tie-dye, when paired with sparkly shoes and a miniskirt. PS, proceeds from the brand behind Susie's smock go to charity.
Dye your hair, dye your sweatshirt...we're into Dua Lipa's grungy technicolour style.
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Maddy Alford is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, covering fashion content online and in print. Maddy specialises in shopping galleries and first-person reviews of the best fashion buys, from jeans and jewellery to wedding dresses, gymwear, and winter coats. She also writes op-eds on on pop culture, viral fashion moments, travel journalism, fitness, and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with style. Maddy is also a fashion stylist who has worked on over 100 photoshoots at Hearst, including those starring Raye, Niall Horan, and Lena Dunham. Previously, she has worked in fashion PR and e-commerce, including stints at ELLE US and UK, Net-a-Porter, InStyle, and Time Out New York. Maddy has ten years of experience in the fashion industry in both London and New York City, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is passionate about second-hand shopping, inclusive fashion, running on Regent's Canal, and finding London's cosiest pubs.
