Whether you’re going out to a themed party or want to get ready for Halloween (which is just around the corner), glow-in-the-dark tie dye can be a fun twist to a DIY classic.
Now, thanks to the availability of tie-dye kits, you’ll be able to turn any plain t-shirt into a fun and unique design.
What are the best glow-in-the-dark tie dye kits? There are plenty of choices, especially from specialty brands. However, you should be able to tell the difference between fluorescent and phosphorescent types of glow and whether to use fabric dyes or paints for your creation.
In this article, let’s learn more about glow-in-the-dark tie dye and how to find the best tie-dye kit for your creation.
Buying Guide
Before we get into the option, let’s take a look at what you should consider when buying a tie-dye kit.
Tie-Dye Kit Content
In a traditional tie-dye kit, you will get all the tools that you need to complete a tie-dye project, including all the fabric dyes already packaged in a squeeze bottle, plus some gloves and rubber bands for your project.
However, since the options for glow-in-the-dark tie-dye are quite limited, we’re also recommending some fabric paint sets that you can use.
You will need to prepare gloves and rubber bands or string, but there are definitely more color options if you’re opting for fabric paints instead of traditional tie-dye kits.
Fluorescent Vs. Phosphorescent
Many people don’t realize that there are two different types of glow-in-the-dark properties: fluorescent and phosphorescent.
Fluorescent means that your design will show up well under UV light and black light. Even some of the fluorescent details will show up during the daylight. However, if it’s completely dark, your fluorescent design won’t show up at all.
On the other hand, phosphorescent fabric dyes or paint contain phosphorous, which is an element that can be charged with light.
After the phosphorous is charged, it will glow when all the lights are turned off. A little bit of charge can make the phosphorous glow for up to 12 hours. However, your tie-dye will look just like a regular tie-dye shirt in regular lighting.
You should also know that phosphorous won’t be able to form a permanent bond with fabrics, so whether you’re using a fabric dye or a fabric paint, the phosphorous will eventually be washed off, and your tie-dye will no longer glow.
But rest assured, because it will take about 100 trips through the washer for the phosphorous to completely disappear, you’ll still get plenty of uses for your glow-in-the-dark tie-dye.
Fabric Paint Vs. Dye
Most tie-dye kits use an all-purpose dye that can be directly sprayed onto the fabric and doesn’t need to be heat-set.
With glow-in-the-dark tie-dye, you can also use water-based fabric paint. Fabric paint is quite similar to all-purpose dye in that it will soak into the fabric and become permanent without having to heat-set the colors.
Fabric paints can also be thinned with water and sprayed directly onto the fabric, which means it’s also a great candidate for tie-dyeing. Once dry, the paint will become permanent while still maintaining the fabric’s softness and flexibility.
That’s why if you want your tie-dye to glow in the dark, you can look for both a tie-dye kit using regular all-purpose dye as well as glow-in-the-dark fabric paints, which can be applied using the same tie-dye technique.
Best Glow In The Dark Tie Dye Kits
If you are interested in making your own glow-in-the-dark tie-dye, let’s take a look at some great options for tie-dye kits and glow-in-the-dark fabric paint sets below.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit | Set of 5 phosphorescent fabric dyes |
| 2. | Tulip Dimensional Metallic Fabric Paint | Set of 6 fluorescent fabric paints |
| 3. | Tulip Fabric Neons Dye Kit | Set of 4 neon fluorescent fabric dyes |
| 4. | Individuall Fabric Paint - Glow In The Dark | Set of 8 fluorescent fabric paints |
| 5. | Neon Nights Fabric & Textile UV Paint Set | Set of 8 fluorescent fabric paints |
1. Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit
The Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit is a great way to make glow-in-the-dark tie-dye designs on fabric.
This kit is perfect for those who want to try tie dye for the first time since it includes all the materials you need to complete an entire tie-dye project.
The four dye colors included in this kit are vibrant yet subtle, and thanks to the help of the glow mixer, they will even glow in the dark!
This is a phosphorescent glow, which means the dye will glow when it’s completely dark without the help of any black light!
The dyes included are non-toxic and permanent, so they can be gently machine-washed without washing out the phosphorescent effects.
2. Tulip Dimensional Metallic Fabric Paint
This Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paint set comes with six glow-in-the-dark fabric paints that light up with fun; you can make all kinds of projects stand out in the dark.
The paints have a non-toxic, water-based formula that makes them super easy to use. They come in a squeeze bottle, and you can thin the paint with water and use them just as how you use regular dyes to tie-dye a shirt.
The paints will dry to become permanent and won’t crack or peel. Plus, they’re even machine washable.
The easy-squeeze bottles make them perfect for tie-dyeing or other creative projects where you want to use a lot of paint at once. These are fluorescent paints, so they will glow under UV and black light, making them perfect for themed parties.
This set of glow-in-the-dark fabric paints is available in 6 different colors. Each color has its own unique glow-in-the-dark properties that will make them shine like little stars at night time or even during daytime.
3. Tulip Fabric Neons Dye Kit
If you’re looking for the most vibrant, eye-catching tie-dye kit on the market, Tulip Fabric Neons is your best bet. This set features four neon-colored fabric dyes in bold shades of neon pink, orange, yellow, and green.
The colors work on both synthetic and natural fabrics, so you can use them for any project you have in mind. The colors are black light reactive (fluorescent), which glow under black light—perfect for parties!
This is a complete tie-dye kit that comes with everything you need to create a tie-dye creation. The colors are even premixed, so you can apply them directly to your fabric without any extra steps!
Once you’re ready to go, you can just apply the dye to create your tie-dye design, similar to other tie-dye projects. The dyes are permanent and machine washable, so they’ll last for years!
4. Individuall Fabric Paint – Glow In The Dark
This set of Glow-In-The-Dark fabric paints from Individuall is a new way to express your creativity with fluorescent colors. The set comes with 8 brilliant fluorescent colors.
This paint glows brightly even during daylight, but it also can be seen in the dark under black light or UV light.
Although this paint has a thicker consistency when it comes out of the bottle, it can be thinned with water to spray on your fabric, similar to using dye.
It will work on any fabric or material, including natural materials like cotton and even synthetic fabrics.
The paints will dry to become permanent on your fabric, and it can even be machine washed without fading.
This paint can be used to create unique tie-dye fabrics for clothing, accessories, and home decor. It is also perfect for Halloween costumes, party decorations, and even stage props.
5. Neon Nights Fabric & Textile UV Paint Set
The Neon Fluorescent Fabric Paints are a set of 8 high-quality and non-toxic paints that are perfect for any fabric.
These powerful paints can survive several wash cycles and will not fade or lose their color vibrancy.
These paints are perfect for anyone who wants to decorate their clothing with bright and beautiful designs. They stand out under UV light and blacklights, but the fluorescent properties are also easy to spot even during the daytime.
Similar to other types of fabric paints, this type of paint can easily be thinned with distilled water to make it suitable for tie-dye.
The 8 color options are neon colors that can definitely make a statement at a themed party, and you can express your creativity with these neon fluorescent fabric paints!
How To Turn Any Fabric Dye Into Glow-In-The-Dark Dye
The options for glow-in-the-dark tie-dye kits can be limited, but fortunately, there’s a way that you can create the glow-in-the-dark effects yourself!
We know that the glow-in-the-dark effect is created by the phosphorous content that is mixed with the dye. So if you want the paint to glow, simply add some phosphor to the mix to make it glow in the dark!
You can buy glow-in-the-dark pigment powder and add it to any all-purpose fabric dye to turn it into a glow-in-the-dark dye. When you look for a glow-in-the-dark powder, make sure that the water can be mixed with a water-based medium (because your dye is water-based).
It’s also important that you get very fine glow-in-the-dark powder so that it can be mixed evenly with the dye pigment and bond to the fabric. Some glow-in-the-dark powders are formulated for resin arts or nail arts, so the grains are very defined – you definitely don’t want this in your fabric dye!
Then, simply add 1 part of the powder to 10 parts of fabric dye, and get to work! A little bit of powder can go a long way, so you definitely don’t need a lot of powder. You’ll be able to see the magic after you dye your shirt!
Related Articles
The Best Fabric For Tie Dye – The Ultimate Guide
Best Fabrics That Glow In The Dark
Tie Dye String – The Ultimate Guide
