How to Bloom Dyes for Bath Bombs
Blooming a dye means dissolving it before it goes into your bath bomb mix, so the color spreads evenly instead of speckling. Here is how it works for dyes, lakes and micas.
Dyes: Bloom in Water
- Put a small amount of dye powder in a cup.
- Add a few drops of water at a time and stir until no dry powder remains. The color in the cup looks far darker than the finished bath bomb will.
- Work the bloomed dye into your baking soda and mix until the color is even.
Lakes: No Blooming Needed
Lakes are pigments rather than water-soluble dyes, so they go in dry. Add a small scoop at a time and mix until you reach the shade you want. Lakes are concentrated and can stain hands and countertops, so wear gloves and protect your surface.
Micas: Disperse in Polysorbate 80
Mica does not dissolve in water, so it is dispersed rather than bloomed. Mix roughly equal parts polysorbate 80 and mica into a smooth paste, then work the paste into your dry mix. The polysorbate 80 lets the mica spread through the bathwater instead of floating on top or ringing the tub.
Start with less color than you think you need; it is easier to deepen a batch than to lighten one. For rates, see How To Use Our Micas, and for which colorants are approved for bath bombs, our Bath Bomb Colorant FAQ.
Prefer to Watch?
This video from The Nova Studio walks through blooming dye in baking soda.