Brightly colored soaps can make washing fun for children and adults alike, so it’s a great idea to add some coloring to your homemade soaps.
We tested a range of different soap dyes to find out what this soap coloring has to offer. We also take a closer look at what you need to keep in mind when shopping for soap making dyes.
Best Soap Making Dyes
When you start looking around for coloring options for your homemade craft soaps, then you will quickly notice that the choice is just overwhelming.
So many different types of soap colorings and dyes. Here are our top soap making dyes that you can create to make vibrant looking soaps.
Mica powder is extracted from natural stain mineral which is ground into extremely fine powder that has glitter pigments.
Rolio offers a vast range of different colors of this glitter powder, so you can choose the right color that matches your soap.
These glittery colors in form of mica powder are so versatile that you can use them for plenty of other art projects. The colors are vibrant and make your soap stand out.
Pros:
Safe to use in soap - As mica powder is made from natural minerals, you can safely use mica powder to add a colorful glitter to your soaps.
Long lasting - Mica powder is quite resilient, so it lasts for a long time in your soap making your soap look vibrant for longer.
Versatile - Mica powder cannot only be used for soap making but you can use it also in many other craft projects where you might want to add a little sparkle, including make up, candle making and scrapbooking.
Cons:
Glittery - Mica powder is great if you want to add a glitter effect to your soap but it doesn’t create solid colors.
Dyes for soaps need to be safe to use for any skin type, and this bath bomb dye contains only food-grade ingredients making it safe even for sensitive skin.
The colorants in this bath soap dye are highly concentrated which means you will only need a small amount to get a vibrant soap color.
Thanks to the handy little bottles, you can also measure the dye easier and you can create different color shades in your soap.
As this is a liquid soap colorant, it doesn’t require any preparation, such as with mica powder. You’ll get all the instructions and some recipes with this dye.
Pros:
Child-friendly - As this specifically formulated dye only contains food-grade ingredients, it’s safe to use with children. This means you can have a fun time making soaps with your kids.
Easy to use - Unlike with mica powder, this liquid soap dye doesn’t require any preparation. You simply add the right amount of liquid dye to your soap. Plus, you also get a color indication to see how many drops you use.
Cons:
Requires a large amount for vibrant colors - Customers found that you need a relatively large amount of this dye to create strong and bold colors in your soap.
Stains skin - It’s important to be aware that this soap dye stains clothes and skin. While it can be washed out, it takes a lot of scrubbing.
This dye set for soap making contains a range of colors, from sunset yellow and red to pink, blue and green.
Each bottle of the dye has a small plastic tip, so you can get the right amount added to your soap creating the perfect shade.
This food-grade soap dye is ideal for a range of bath products, including body scrubs, bath salts, lotions and soap.
Pros:
Small amount for vibrant colors - Many customers loved this soap dye because you don’t need a very large amount to create vibrant colors in your soap.
Smooth coloring - Unlike powder dye where you run the risk of color clumps in your soap, this liquid soap dye creates a smooth color without lumps in your soap.
Ideal for clear soaps - Buyers of this handy dye set found that the liquid dye works best in clear glycerine soaps.
Cons:
Small bottles - Compared to some other liquid dyes, the bottles of this soap dye set are relatively small. However, this shouldn’t be a big issue as you will only need a small amount to achieve some bold colors in your soap.
If you are looking for more color variety, then this large soap dye set of mica powder comes with 50 different colors and shades.
The shimmering pearl epoxy pigments are ideal for making soaps, bath bombs and even epoxy crafts.
They don’t bleed into the soap, so you can create even different color layer effects in your soap with this set.
Pros:
Large color selection - The large variety of color options with this set ensures that you always have the right color at hand for your soap making project.
Versatile - Mica powder is so popular because it’s incredibly versatile. You can use this soap powder in your soaps, candles, balm, blush, eye shadow and even lipstick.
Safe to use as makeup - This FDA-approved mica dye is also ideal for using in makeup. It doesn’t irritate the skin and it doesn’t cause rashes.
Cons:
Requires preparation - As mica is a powdered dye, you will need to mix it before adding it into your soap. Take a look at the instructions before you get started.
If you want to make a natural soap with fully organic ingredients, then it’s a good idea to explore some natural dyes.
Alkanet root is one of these natural colorants that can help you dye your soap quickly and easily.
Pros:
Natural ingredients - This powdered soap dye doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, so you don’t have to worry about skin irritation.
Suitable for soap and fabrics - Alkanet root is an ideal natural colorant for textiles as well as soaps.
Easy to use - Just mix the finely ground powder with your soap and you’ll notice the color change. Make sure to check out the instructions first for any further details.
Cons:
Single color - As alkanet root is just dying your soap purple, there is no color choice but you can vary the shade of the purple.
Can stain - Alkanet stains when it comes into contact with clothes or your skin, so it’s a good idea to wear gloves when you work with this dye.
Best Soap Dye For Homemade Crafts Buyer's Guide
How To Choose The Right Soap Dye
When you are looking for soap dye, you’ll notice that there is a large variety of colors and even types of dyes available.
You can find natural soap colorants and liquid soap dye that contains chemicals. How and when you color your soap will depend on what type of soap making process you use.
A cold soap process requires a different timing and mixture to a melt-and-pour soap.
It’s good to keep in mind that you should do a test run with each new dye that you are trying out (unless you are following a specific soap recipe).
It’s best to start with a small soap batch first, and once this has been successful, you can make a larger batch with the same soap dye.
Here are a few of the essential things that you need to look out for when buying soap making dyes.
Color Options
The first thing you need to look for when shopping for soap dye is the different color options. Typically, soap dye comes in sets with a range of different colors.
Depending on what type of soap you want to make and how many colors you need, you may be fine with some of the basic rainbow colors.
If you want to make a batch of soap with many different colors, then make sure that your soap dye kit includes all the colors you need.
You may also be able to mix some colors. However, this never usually produces the same results as when you use exactly the same colors you want.
In addition, you will also need to check the color pigmentation. Mica powder, for example, achieves a glitter effect in your soap and it doesn’t create more matte, vibrant colors.
In comparison, liquid soap dye can color your soap in a bright color which looks lively and strong.
With all soap making dyes, you can vary the shading of the color and you can even create layers or swirls in your soap.
Ease Of Use
Ideally, you don’t want to spend too much time preparing your soap dye before adding it into your soap mix.
Many powdered dyes require a specific blending process, so you will need to spend a couple of minutes blending your dye before you can put it into your soap.
In comparison, liquid soap dyes don’t require any preparation. You just squeeze it out of its tube, straight into the soap mix.
However, it’s a good idea to make sure that you check the instructions for any soap dye that you want to use. They will give you detailed advice on how to use the dye.
Another point to consider when it comes to choosing a soap dye that is easy to use is how easy it is to get out of its tube or bag.
Powdered soap dye tends to spill a little easier if you are not careful. You will have to scoop it out of its bag without spilling it.
On the other hand, you just squeeze some of the liquid soap dye straight into your soap mix.
However, you will also have to be careful with this dye to ensure that it doesn’t end up on your skin or clothes as it could stain.
Ingredients
Depending on the type of soap dye, there are a range of natural and chemical ingredients that go into colorants for soap making.
In natural soap colors, you will usually not find any chemicals and some soap dyes even contain only plant-based ingredients making them vegan.
Saying this, all soap dyes should adhere to certain safety standards, and many soap dye brands clearly mark their products when they are specifically food-safe or suitable for sensitive skin.
However, it’s still a good idea to handle soap dyes with care and wear gloves when you are working with chemicals.
Staining
Soap dyes are naturally made to stain your soap but they shouldn’t stain your hands or your clothes.
Some brands clearly indicate when their soap colorants might be staining. But it’s best to read through product reviews before buying to find out whether your soap dye might cause possible stains.
Storage
Different types of soap dye require different ways to store them. Liquid soap dyes typically come in some tubes or bottles, so you will need to find a cool, dark space to store the bottles.
In comparison, mica powder or finely ground soap dye usually comes in bags which are much smaller than bottles saving you some space.
Versatility
Soap dyes aren’t always just useful for turning your soap into a color bar of joy but many dyes also color other arts and crafts projects.
You will find that soap dyes are also suitable for epoxy art, candle making, make up and other skin care products, such as balm and lotions.
Many natural dyes, such as alkanet root or turmeric, also stain fabrics and textiles very well which is ideal for creating your own shirts.
If you are also working on some other homemade crafts, then you can use soap dye across your projects saving you some money by buying in larger quantities.
Price
Depending on the quality of the soap dye, you may have to spend a little more cash on a dye that creates vibrant colors in your soap.
Saying this, generally soap dye is relatively inexpensive and you shouldn’t need too much of it to get the color you want.
Soap Type
Not all soap types work with all types of soap dye. Make sure that you check out your soap recipe to see what possible colorants you can use.
As a rule of thumb, most soap dyes work very well with clear soap as the color will be able to penetrate the soap much easier than with other colors, such as in white soap.
This is important to bear in mind as the type of soap that you are using will also have an impact on what the color will look like in the end result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liquid Or Powder Color Better For Soap Making?
You can use both liquid soap dye as well as powder color for your soap making. However, it’s essential that you combine the powder colorant with a liquid before you add it into your soap mix.
It’s good to keep in mind that oxides and pigments won’t dissolve fully which means that you will always have a slightly speckled look in your soap when you use powder color.
What Is The Best Type Of Dye For Soap Making?
You can get the most vibrant colors in your soap when you are using mica colorants. This powdered soap dye is ideal for melt and pour soap.
Saying this, mica pigments in soap create a slight shimmer, so it won’t have a matte color.
Can You Use Food Coloring For Soap?
This depends on what type of soap you are making. Food coloring isn’t suitable for cold-process soap as the color will just blend in.
In addition, food coloring also isn’t very strong so it won’t create a bold color in your soap.
There may be some soap dyes that contain ingredients which might also be added during the candle making process.
What Can You Use Instead Of Soap Dye?
If you don’t want to use any chemical soap dye, then you can choose from a large variety of natural soap colors.
For example, if you want to make yellow soap, then just use some carrot purée, turmeric or pumpkin.
What Happens If You Put Too Much Mica In Soap?
If you put too much mica powder into your soap, then you might end up with too much color that will eventually come out in your washcloth or as colored lather.
This is because mica pigments don’t bleed into each other.
Final Thoughts
Soap dyes come in a couple of different varieties, from powder to liquid form. Whatever soap dye you use, make sure that you check the instructions before adding it to your soap mix.
This will ensure that you get a beautifully colored bar of soap.
Crafts are some of life’s little pleasures, aren’t they? They have the power to transport you to another world for a few hours – it’s just you and the craft.
Hi, my name is Annabel Buser and I love crafts (could you tell?). From knitting to painting, embroidery to weaving, I love trying new crafts out.
What’s not to like? You gain a few hours of peace and self-care, and at the end of it, you’ll have made something gorgeous. My house is covered in my own crafts – and so are my friends and family’s houses!
