I stopped using Kool Aid as a food product long ago. The food coloring and sugar is all around bad for health and especially the mental health of children. However, it still is a fun and super cheap product to use as a dye. Simply buy the packets that do not include sweetener and have a go at the recipes listed below, don’t forget to have fun with your kids and use surfaces and supplies that you don’t care if they get stained, like old towels and ragged clothes. Kool Aid does not work on synthetics or cotton, but human and animal hair works splendidly! So do real silks.
- Hair Dye – This is a fun one for kids as the effects are temporary and unless the hair has been lightened prior to use, the hair retains its normal color. How long the dye lasts depends on the type of hair you have and the type of application you use, boiling hot water mix cooled and applied to dry hair lasts about four months and conditioner or cold applications last about a week. Also, the color of the hair determines final results, dark hair will be tinted and light hair will be brighter. Try this Wikihow on how to dye hair with kool – aid or this video for quick results.
- Yarn or Wool Dye – This is super fun and for homesteaders with un-dyed textiles, and easy fix , though a bit unnatural. You can use this set of instructions for microwave dying wool or this one for dying other yarns. (If going for natural, try A Garden to Dye For )
- Dye Cloth – This is fun and especially for kids of all ages, dye silk scarves, t-shirts, dying other fabrics with Kool Aid, tie-dye t-shirts), and use these techniques to create paints children can use to paint their wool, cotton, or silk clothing and scarves before using the vinegar preservation method to set-in the color. Kids will love being able to add artistic expression using paint brushes!
- Create Dyed Toys – This simple tutorial creates simple sewn dolls using natural fabrics and Kool Aid as dye!
- Dye Play Dough – Homemade play dough does not keep as long as its chemical counterparts, but part of the fun is the children making it themselves with adult supervision, of course! Try out these simple recipes:
- Kool Aid Playdough
- Flubber, Goop, Silly putty, and Edible Slime
- Edible paint!
- And even MORE Recipes including Glitter Slime!
