Priya Kapoor
Kool-Aid is a cheap, safe, and non-damaging way to dye your hair fun and unnatural colours. It's also a great way to dip-dye your hair. The colour shows up best on blonde or light brown hair, but if you have darker hair, you can use more Kool-Aid packets to get a subtle tint. To dye your hair with Kool-Aid, you can either make a creamy paste with hot water and conditioner or a dye bath with hot water. You can then apply the dye with your fingers, a brush, or by dipping the ends of your hair into the dye bath.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cheap, smells good, can be drunk, washes out if you dislike it, non-damaging |
| Cons | May not work on dark hair, may attract bees |
| Ingredients | Kool-Aid, hot water, hair conditioner |
| Tools | Dye brush, gloves, elastics, shower cap, bowl, spoon, microwave, plastic wrap or foil, hair tie |
| Steps | Mix Kool-Aid powder with hot water and conditioner, apply to hair, let sit for several hours or overnight, rinse |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a colour
Kool-Aid comes in a variety of colours and there are several corresponding Kool-Aid colour charts designed for those looking to dye things with Kool-Aid. The colour shows up best on blonde hair, lighter brown hair, and hair that has previously been bleached or lifted to a lighter shade. The darker your hair, the more Kool-Aid mix you'll need. For dark hair, red is the most vivid colour. For a vibrant red, try mixing black cherry with strawberry, or for a red-violet shade, mix strawberry and grape. You could also try blue raspberry and lemon-lime to create turquoise. If your hair is naturally blonde, one packet of tropical punch Kool-Aid will give you a bright red/pink colour. Cherry Kool-Aid will give you a nice tint, albeit subtle.
If you're not sure how your hair will take to the dye, start with just one packet and see how it goes. You can always follow up with another dye session using a few more packets to build up the colour. If you're mixing colours, stir together two packets. For example, if you're creating highlights, try picking up and painting a few thin strands on the same piece of foil.
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Preparing the dye
Another method is to create a paste by mixing the Kool-Aid powder with a small amount of hot water and conditioner. Squirt a few spoonfuls of conditioner into a mug and microwave it for 20 to 30 seconds. Then, stir in your desired Kool-Aid powders until you have a dark, ominous paste. You can add more conditioner to the concoction until it reaches the desired volume for covering the amount of hair you want to dye. Remember that hair will absorb more of the conditioner mixture when it's dry, so don't wet your hair before applying this type of dye.
You can also mix and match colours to create custom shades. For example, try mixing black cherry with strawberry for a vibrant red, or strawberry and grape for red-violet. You could also experiment with blue raspberry and lemon-lime to create turquoise. If you're not sure how your hair will take to the dye, it's best to start with just one packet and see how it goes.
Regardless of the method you choose, it's important to section off your hair if you're only dyeing particular areas. Use a highlighting brush, gloved hands, or a hair dye brush to apply the dye paste to your hair, working from the roots to the tips. Make sure your hair is completely coated and saturated for the best results.
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$6.94 $8.49
Applying the dye
Before you begin, put on some old clothes that you're fine with getting stained. You might also want to wear disposable gloves to protect your hands from staining.
If you're mixing colours, start by stirring your chosen Kool-Aid powders together in a bowl. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of hot water to the bowl and stir until the powder is completely dissolved and you're left with a dark, ominous paste. If you're creating a dye bath, add 3 to 4 unsweetened Kool-Aid packets to 2 cups of hot water and stir until dissolved.
Next, add a few spoonfuls of conditioner to the mixture and stir. Keep adding conditioner until you have enough dye to cover the amount of hair you want to colour.
If you're not bleaching your hair first, it's best to start with just one packet of Kool-Aid to see how your hair takes to the dye. You can always build up the colour with additional dye sessions.
Now it's time to start applying the dye. Using either a dye brush or your fingers, apply the Kool-Aid conditioner paste to the desired areas, making sure that your hair is completely coated and saturated. If you're creating streaks or highlights, use a highlighting brush to paint 1-inch sections of hair, working from the roots to the tips. To prevent the dye from getting onto other parts of your hair, wrap each dyed strand in saran wrap or foil.
If you're dip-dyeing your hair, part your hair down the middle to create two pigtail sections. Then, dip the ends of your hair into the dye bath and leave them to soak for around 5 to 7 minutes.
Once you're happy with your application, gather your hair and place something plastic, like a shower cap, over your head to prevent staining. If you've only dyed small sections of your hair, you can use sandwich bags secured with hair ties to create mini shower caps for the ends of ponytails, pigtails, or braids.
For the most vibrant, longest-lasting colour, leave the formula to sit for around eight hours. If you're happy with your stain-proofing abilities, you can even sleep with the Kool-Aid in your hair overnight. If you'd prefer a more subtle tint, reduce the time to around 2 to 3 hours.
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Letting the dye set
Once you've applied the Kool-Aid mixture to your hair, it's time to let the dye set. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for this crucial step in the process of colouring your hair with Kool-Aid:
Start by covering your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap. This step is important because it helps to trap the heat, which will intensify and activate the dye. The heat will allow the hair cuticles to open and absorb the colour more effectively. You can use a hairdryer to apply gentle heat to your hair before covering it to kickstart the process.
The amount of time you should keep the dye in your hair varies depending on the intensity of colour you desire. For a more subtle tint, 30 minutes may be sufficient. However, if you're aiming for a bolder and brighter shade, you can leave the dye on for up to two hours. Keep in mind that the longer you leave the dye in, the more vibrant and long-lasting the colour is likely to be.
During the processing time, you can apply gentle heat to your hair periodically to help the dye set better. Use a hairdryer on a low setting to avoid overheating, and continuously move the dryer back and forth to avoid concentrating the heat in one area for too long. Alternatively, you can sit in the sun or use a hair styling steamer to maintain a gentle flow of heat.
After you've waited for the desired amount of time, remove the shower cap or plastic wrap. Carefully rinse your hair with warm water to remove any excess Kool-Aid mixture. Make sure the water is not too hot, as this can cause the dye to bleed and fade. Avoid shampooing at this stage, as shampoo can strip the colour from your hair.
If you're satisfied with the colour intensity, proceed to condition your hair. Use a colour-safe conditioner and leave it in your hair for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Conditioning is crucial because the dyeing process can be drying for your hair.
For more dramatic or vibrant results, you can repeat the entire process, ensuring that your hair is thoroughly rinsed and conditioned between each application. Remember that Kool-Aid hair dye is temporary, and the colour will gradually fade over time, especially with frequent washing.
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Rinsing the dye
When you are ready to rinse out the dye, unwrap each strand with gloved hands and discard the pieces of plastic wrap or foil. Then, use cool running water to rinse out your strands until the water runs clear. Avoid using warm or hot water, as this may wash out some of the pigment from your newly dyed strands.
Rinse your hair thoroughly under cool water to remove all of the dye. Without using any shampoo, continue rinsing your hair until the water runs clear or just a pale tint is left. It may take between 10 and 20 minutes to get the water to run clear.
If you want to preserve the colour in your hair, rinse quickly and only in cold water. If you don't rinse enough, you may stain your towels and clothes later on. But if you rinse too much, you may wash away most of the colour. The more you wash your hair, the quicker the colour will fade. So, if you want the colour to last a long time, make sure to wash your hair only when necessary and only in cold water.
After rinsing, some people suggest shampooing well. However, others advise against using shampoo or conditioner unless you immediately want to tone it all down.
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Frequently asked questions
The easiest way to apply Kool-Aid to your hair is to mix the Kool-Aid powder with conditioner to form a paste. This can then be applied to the hair with a brush or your fingers, ensuring the hair is completely coated.
For the most vibrant and long-lasting colour, it is recommended to leave the Kool-Aid in your hair for around eight hours. If you would prefer a more subtle tint, you can reduce this time to 2-3 hours.
Kool-Aid comes in a variety of unnatural colours, including pink, green, cherry, grape, blue raspberry, lemon-lime, strawberry, and tropical punch. The colour shows up best on blonde or light brown hair, and you may need to use more Kool-Aid if your hair is darker.
Kool-Aid is a safe, non-damaging, inexpensive, and easy way to temporarily dye your hair. It smells better than traditional hair dye and can be washed out if you don't like the colour. However, it may be difficult to apply, especially to hair at the back of your head, and it may attract bees if you use it outside during the summer months.
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