Especially if the shirt isn't brand-new, give it a good wash in hot water before dyeing. This ensures that any potential oils, dirt, or other chemicals that may resist the dye are completely washed out.
Set up your space using a tarp or garbage bag on a hard surface. You also might want paper towels and soapy water nearby to clean up any spills
To help the dye adhere better to your shirts, soak the tied up tees in a mixture of soda ash and water for about 20 minutes before adding colors. Though you should follow the specific instructions on the soda ash, the ratio is usually about ½ cup soda ash to every gallon of water. The soda ash is optional, but it will help make your shirts a lot more vibrant.
Put on your gloves. While the shirts are soaking, start mixing together the dyes in their separate buckets.
Prepare the dyes according to the directions on each bottle.
Choose your tie-dye design:
Spiral: Starting in the middle of the tee, twist the shirt until it's tightly wrapped up into a dense spiral shape. Place 3-4 rubber bands around the wound-up shirt so they create 6–8 pie shapes of equal sizes. Add a different ink color onto each "slice" of the pie. Do this on both sides ensuring each side of the "slice" is the same dye color.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Crumple: Start at one end of your flattened shirt and slowly scrunch up the fabric. Messier is better, but try to keep it fatter and pancake-shaped—not ball-shaped. A balled up shirt makes it harder for the ink to reach the inner areas of the shirt.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Bullseye: Pinch your shirt where you want the center of the bullseye to be and pull upwards. Place a rubber band about 3–4 inches below where you're pinching. A few inches below that, add another rubber band. Continue until you run out of shirt and basically make a long, fabric tube. Within each section, add a different ink color.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Don't like rules? That's cool too! Sometimes the best designs happen just by randomly twisting, curling, or going with your gut. Sure, it could turn out like a mess, but that's part of the fun, right?
Once dry, allow any excess dye to drip off the fabric. We know you're beyond tempted to check out your creation—but seriously—DO NOT UNWRAP THAT SHIRT!
Seal up your rolled-up shirt into a plastic bag, and let it sit for about 8 hours, or overnight. Your work, for now, is done.
After 8 hours, it is finally time to see your gorgeous, new creation.
While running the shirt under warm water, fully rinse it while untying. After it's been completely unfurled, run it under cool water. Once the water runs clear, wring the shirt out and take a good look at what you made. Pretty cool, huh?
You're almost there. Stick your new tie-dye shirt into the washing machine and give it a good wash on hot with a bit of soap and BE SURE TO WASH IT ALONE!
If you wash it with anything else, expect that those other clothes will get dyed. After that first wash though, you should be good to clean it with other colored apparel items.
The last step is to let the shirt completely air dry.
That's all there is to it. How easy and super fun was that? Now go find some old tees, and start tie-dyeing every shirt you can like the expert you are.
