A fun tie dye craft for kids, these Homemade Tie Dye Bath Bombs add an explosion of color to your bath!

DIY Tie Dye Bath Bombs Craft

Tie Dye is coming back in a big way, and while I’m not about to go and tie dye my shower curtain or bathroom towels, these simple and fun tie dye bath bombs are a fun way to add a tie dye touch to your bathroom!

They also make an awesome homemade gift for any tie dye-obsessed person in your life.

You can also call them unicorn bath bombs.

Customize the colors and scents to your personal preference. We used a coconut lime epsom salt and a bit of lime essential oil to give our tie dye bath bombs a tropical, summer scent. 

Typically, a store-bought bath bomb will run you $5+ and buying all of the ingredients for bath bombs will initially cost probably about $25 if you have none of the ingredients on hands. However, that $25 is enough to make easily 100+ bath bombs – and you can use many of these materials in different ways:

• Epsom salts can be used to make custom bath soaks, or just sprinkle it as-is in the bath after a work out or stressful day
• Citric Acid is a food additive that can be used in DIY cleaners, canning food, or you can make your own fizzy sherbet with it (it’s also used in home brewing!)
• Corn Starch is a great thickener used for sauces like gravy or with mac and cheese, or you can make oobleck with it (a fun sensory play material)
• Baking Soda is great for cleaning, is used often in baking, and you can make fun fizzy science experiments with it
• Coconut Oil is an awesome substitute for butter or oil in baking/cooking, and there are lots of holistic ways it can be used (I used to actually massage and wash my face with it when I had  some post-partum pimples and we often add it to our homemade sugar scrubs)

Check out our quick video for how to make glow in the dark bath bombs (which follows the same process as these tie dye bath bombs – just with different mica powders), and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe:

Tie Dye Bath Bomb Ingredients

• Citric acid – if not ordering online, citric acid can be found at pharmacies, but we got the best deal ordering ours through a home brewery store — it is a food additive, nothing to be worried about. Citric acids serves to neutralize the baking soda in bath bombs and helps your skin absorb the benefits of the other ingredients
• Corn starch – corn starch slows down the reaction time of the bath bomb and helps them retain their scent
• Epsom salts – be sure to purchase quality epsom salts that are 100% magnesium sulfate. Cheaper epsom salts may contain unnecessary additives (we used this Coconut Lime scented Epsom Salt for this recipe)
• Baking soda – this is the essential ingredient for those fizzy reactions. It also helps exfoliate and is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
• Cream of Tartar
• Water – helps bind the bath bomb
• Coconut oil – reduces the amount of water needed to bind the bath bomb. Any quality/edible oil can substitute
• Essential oils* – optional, pick them for either their scent or suggested benefits
• Polysorbate 80 – since we’re using a bit more dye than normal, this will help it not stick to your bath tub
• Mica Coloring or Soap Coloring

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: these bath bombs can be left overnight to harden after being removed from the molds, before being store in a cute mason jar to prevent moisture from damaging them and reducing their scent.

Tools You May Find Helpful

• Stainless steel bath bomb molds
• Mini muffin tin (optional)
• Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 6 small bowls
• Whisk

How to Make Tie Dye Bath Bombs

In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda, citric acid, cream of tartar and Epsom salts and whisk together.

Add the coconut oil. This binds all the ingredients together, so you bath bombs don’t crumble when you touch them! Add polysorbate 80, which helps disperse the colorant and helps it not stick to the tub. [*The polysorbate 80 is mixed in with the coconut oil in the supplies picture.]

Add in essential oil, if using.

Mix everything together thoroughly. You may need to use your hands to break down any lumps and make sure everything is mixed in. The mixture is perfect when it holds together when you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.

Separate mixture into 6 small bowls (or as many bowls as colors you are using).

Add 1 tablespoon of each mica powder into each small bowl. Mix in thoroughly. If you want a darker color, add in an additional tablespoon of color.

Fill both sides of the mold with the mixture, until slightly overflowing. If mixture gets dry while making your bath bombs, mix in a spritz or two of the rubbing alcohol.

Press molds together and grind to remove excess mixture.

Gently tap each side of the mold to release the bombs. To avoid the bombs breaking during the drying phase, I put them in a mini muffin tin. They fit perfectly! Allow to dry a minimum of 24 hours. If your climate is wet or cold, allow an additional 24 hours. My rule of thumb is that when it is hard to the touch, they are ready for the tub! Store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Pin this Easy Tie Dye Bath Bomb recipe:

Grab your free printable instructions for our easy tie dye bath bombs recipe:

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Yield: 6 bath bombs

DIY Tie Dye Bath Bombs (with Video)

Print

A colorful tie dye-inspired bath bomb recipe with a tropical coconut lime scent perfect for summer.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Medium

Estimated Cost $5

Materials

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup citric acid
• 1/4 cup cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons Coconut Lime Epsom salts
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon polysorbate 80
• 10 drops lime essential oil, optional
• 1 tablespoon each of 6 colored mica powder

Tools

• Stainless steel bath bomb molds
• Mini muffin tin (optional)
• Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 6 small bowls

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the baking soda, citric acid, cream of tartar and Epsom salts and whisk together.
2. Add the coconut oil. This binds all the ingredients together, so you bath bombs don’t crumble when you touch them! Add polysorbate 80, which helps disperse the colorant and helps it not stick to the tub. [*The polysorbate 80 is mixed in with the coconut oil in the supplies picture.]
3. Add in essential oil, if using.
4. Mix everything together thoroughly. You may need to use your hands to break down any lumps and make sure everything is mixed in. The mixture is perfect when it holds together when you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.
5. Separate mixture into 6 small bowls (or as many bowls as colors you are using).
6. Add 1 tablespoon of each mica powder into each small bowl. Mix in thoroughly. If you want a darker color, add in an additional tablespoon of color.
7. Fill both sides of the mold with the mixture, until slightly overflowing. If mixture gets dry while making your bath bombs, mix in a spritz or two of the rubbing alcohol.
8. Press molds together and grind to remove excess mixture.
9. Gently tap each side of the mold to release the bombs. To avoid the bombs breaking during the drying phase, I put them in a mini muffin tin. They fit perfectly! Allow to dry a minimum of 24 hours. If your climate is wet or cold, allow an additional 24 hours. My rule of thumb is that when it is hard to the touch, they are ready for the tub! Store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Dr Teal's Epsom Salt Soaking Solution, Pre & Post Workout, 3lbs Pack of 2
• 
  ARGO Corn Starch, 35 Oz
• 
  16 Colors Bath Bomb Soap Dye-Food Grade Skin Safe Bath Bomb Colorant,Vegan, Gluten-Free - Liquid Bath Bombs Colorant Set with Bonus Best Soap Making Supplies
• 
  100% POLYSORBATE 80 by Velona | Solubilizer, Food & Cosmetic Grade | All Natural for Cooking, Skin Care and Bath Bombs| Size: 4 oz
• 
  Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Ounce
• 
  Milliard Citric Acid 2 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade NON-GMO Project VERIFIED (2 Pound)
• 
  Cream of Tartar, 2 Cups by Unpretentious Baker, Highest Quality USP & Food Grade, Better than Restaurant Quality, Non-GMO, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, Slotted Cap Spice Shaker

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These tie dye bath bombs are a fun and colorful homemade gift for the tween or teen in your life.

Check out some of our other DIY Bath Bomb recipes: