Learn how to add color to the slime with various options that we have provided in this article. The article also has natural food color recipes for those who are cautious about chemicals!
Slimes are extremely fun to play with and are beneficial for improving mindfulness among kids. Useful for calming and relieving stress, it is a unique sensory experience that can be enhanced using various add-ons. Among the available options, colors are the most common accessory added to slime. Commercial slimes come in a whole range of colors. Still, since many people prefer to make slime at home to avoid the harmful effects of chemicals added to them, such as borax, we have listed below the numerous ways you can add the same vibrant effect to homemade slime. You can add color after making the slime or while you are making it. Learn how to add color to slime by reading further.
How to Add Color to Slime
You can choose to use readily available colors or DIY homemade natural colors to add to your slime. Either way, the method of adding color to slime is somewhat the same and easy, which you can do with kids as well to make it a fun activity. Learn how to add color to slime with food colors, paints, eyeshadow/pigments, markers, and natural colors below.
1. Food Coloring
Adding food dyes is considered the most feasible and safe option for coloring slime. A few drops of slime while making it or even after is enough for coloring a whole batch of slime. While it is safe and there is no significant evidence of food dyes causing allergic reactions, people with extremely sensitive skin can show some allergic reactions.
2. Paint
You can use watercolors/ acrylic paints/ poster colors for adding color to the slime. Add 3-4 drops of the color before you start kneading the slime. This can also be used to add color to a pre-made slime.
3. Eyeshadow Powder/Pigment Powder
You can use a teaspoon of eyeshadow powder to add color to the slime. Eyeshadow powders come in all colors, and glittery ones can be used to make a sparkling slime. Any other pigment powder used for scrapbooks etc. can also be used in the same way.
4. Markers
Markers usually have a strong pigmentation which is enough for coloring slimes. If you have already made the slime, flatten it out on a table and scribble on it with a washable marker. Knead the slime until the color spreads throughout and the color distributes evenly.
If you are making slime from scratch, take any marker and remove its end cap. Now push the felt cartridge out or pull it out using a paper clip. Add 1-2 drops of the color to the slime mixture (glue and water) and stir it. Follow the rest of the recipe and knead the slime. You can mix two colors or just use one for this purpose. You can store the remaining cartridge in plastic for future use or throw it out. However. note that the marker is not usable anymore.
Note
- Adding colors can be messy and it can stain clothes, furniture during the preparation phase. It is essential to be mindful of this if you do not want to spoil your clothes.
- These ways of coloring are generally considered safe but you must not let your kids ingest it at any cost.
Natural Coloring Options
You can also make natural food colors and use them for pigmenting the slime. Synthetic colors can sometimes cause allergic reactions, so you can try using natural homemade coloring instead. The process of adding these colors to the slime is the same as adding any paint or food coloring. Here are some natural homemade food dye recipes:
1. Pink Food Coloring
Blend 1/4th cup of beets with two tablespoons of beet juice. It gives a lovely pink shade. You can increase or decrease the amount of the food color to get the right shade of pink.
2. Yellow Food Coloring
In 1/4th cup of water, add a teaspoon of turmeric and boil for about 3-5 minutes. Let it cool and use it for coloring. If you want a strong yellow hue, increase the amount of turmeric till you get the desired shade.
3. Purple Food Coloring
To get a wonderful purple hue in your slime, blueberries are the perfect source. Blend 1/4th cup of blueberries with two spoons of water and strain the mixture to get the food dye.
4. Green Food Coloring
Boil the spinach for about 5 minutes in water. Discard the water and blend the spinach till it becomes smooth. Take a pea-size amount of the spinach and add it to the slime mixture to get a green shade. You can adjust the quantity of spinach to get the desired shade of green.
These food coloring can be stored for up to two weeks in a refrigerator. It is preferable to store these colors in air-tight containers. Apart from adding them to the slime, you can use these colors as a natural food color to ditch the chemical-filled commercial food colors.
Homemade Slime Recipe
Ingredients
- Glue
- Water
- Liquid Starch
- Color (of your choice)
- Essential Oil (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
Steps
Start with mixing 1/2 a cup each of glue and water. You can add any coloring from the list mentioned above. Additionally, you can bring a nice scent to your slime with your favorite essential oil and a shine with glitter. However, these two ingredients are optional. Now, mix 1/2 cup of liquid starch to get the slime consistency. Once the mixture starts hardening, take it out on a clean platform and knead till you get the right slimy consistency. Your slime shouldn’t be too hard as it will start breaking and not too runny as it will be hard to play with.
