The Distract Yourself Initiative: Dip Dye

In stores like Urban Outfitters, Hollister, Nike and J Crew,

dip dyed shirts and shorts are becoming a huge trend and the stores are profiting off otherwise plain shirts- big time.

I’m talking regular-shirt-is-7.00-the-same-shirt-dip-dyed-is-30.00. I like the dip dye style but I don’t like spending 30 bucks on a T Shirt, so I figured if I made my own shirt, I could find the look for less. I found the look for way, way less, totaling 6.00 for the shirt and dye and about 2 hours of my day.

Here’s what you need:

• fabric softener
• RIT Fabric Dye (powdered)
• A plain shirt
• Salt
• a measuring cup
• a glass or disposable container able to hold at least a gallon of water
• a clip hangar
• rubber gloves

Fold the part of your shirt you want to keep white and clip it with your hangar. Start with soaking the area of the shirt you want dyed with water, then wring it out so it’s damp, not soaking.

Pour the entire packet of your dye into your container and measure one cup of salt to mix in with the dye. The less water you add, the darker your shirt will come out.

Pour in one tablespoon of laundry detergent and stir your mix again.

Once you have your solution, grab a paper towel and clean off the inside edges of your container- this is to make sure you have no random dyed spots on your shirt.

Holding the shirt by the hangar, slowly dip in the part of your shirt you want dyed into your solution. The longer you leave it in, the darker it will be. Holding the shirt by the hangar, slowly dip in the part of your shirt you want dyed into your solution. The longer you leave it in, the darker it will be.

After 60-90 minutes, remove your shirt from the dye and wring all the excess dye out. Clean your gloves and rinse out the dyed part of your shirt until the water runs clear.

I CANNOT STRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE DYE IS RINSED OFF.

YOU WILL STAIN YOUR WASHING MACHINE IF YOU DO NOT.

YOUR MOTHER WILL NOT LIKE A STAINED WASHING MACHINE.

Clean off your gloves again and hang up the shirt to dry.

Throw your shirt in the washer or wear it right after it dries- either way you’ll have a dip dyed look for way way less.

*If your shirt comes out looking like garbage or if you’re not satisfied with the result, throw the whole shirt in the dye.

There’s no shame in rockin’ a stylish home dyed shirt.