How to Die Your Hair Permanently with Kool-Aid

Bright, vibrant colors can come from one little packet of Kool-Aid.

You may know Kool-Aid as a tasty drink mix, but it's also frequently used by a certain segment of the population as a hair dye -- for example, by those who seek to color their hair magenta or electric blue. There are some benefits to using Kool-Aid over commercial chemical dyes. Aside from the sticky feeling, Kool-Aid can last as long or longer than most permanent hair dyes. The key when using Kool-Aid to dye hair is the heat of the mixture and the length of time it's left in the hair -- the hotter the mix and the longer it's left in, the brighter and longer-lasting the color.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Packets of Kool-Aid powdered drink mix (preferably unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup of water per packet of Kool-Aid used
• Sauce pan
• Stove
• Small bowl or cup
• Paper towels
• Leave-in conditioner
• Gloves
• Petroleum jelly
• Shower cap
• Plastic wrap

Highlights

1. Mix the drink mix with water in an approximately 2:1 ratio. For a brighter, bolder color, use more drink mix. You can also mix colors.

2. Cook the water and Kool-Aid mixture until it boils.

3. Pour the mixture into a cup or bowl.

4. Dip the sections of hair to be colored into the hot Kool-Aid mixture, and leave in for seven to 10 minutes.

5. Remove the hair from the mixture and wrap with paper towels until dry.

6. Rinse hair to remove excess Kool-Aid.

Entire Head

1. Mix three to six packets of Kool-Aid, depending on how much hair there is to dye, with just enough water to make a paste.

2. Add a teaspoon of leave-in conditioner and mix well. Check the consistency. Add more conditioner to make the paste more like the consistency of gravy than pudding.

3. Apply petroleum jelly around the hairline all the way around the head to allow the Kool-Aid to rinse off.

4. Use your gloved hands or a brush to apply the paste to the hair, working it through the head evenly.

5. Place the shower cap over the hair.

6. Wrap the head with plastic wrap to prevent any excess from leaking out of the shower cap.

7. Leave on overnight. Then, wash and condition the hair the next morning.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to find the unsweetened version of the color you have chosen. This will help cut down on the sticky mess.

• Regular Kool-Aid can also attract bees and other bugs because of its sugar content.

References

• Sophisticated Edge; How Long Does Kool Aid Hair Color Dye Last?; August 2011
• Miss Mixie's Remarks; How to Dye Your Hair with Kool-Aid; June 2011

Resources

• YouTube: How to Dye Your Hair With Kool Aid - The Quick Way