5 Tie Dye Colors I Use the Most (Geode Ice Dye Tutorial)

Think you need 20 different dye shades to make something amazing? Not at all! In fact, there are a handful of colors I reach for over and over again when I’m tie dyeing. In this post, I’m sharing the five most-used tie dye colors in my stash and showing you how they look together in a geode ice dye shirt.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next project or just want to know what colors are worth trying, you’re in the right place.

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Prefer a video format? Here’s a video I made with all this information included!

Why I Chose a Geode Fold for This Project

Some tie dye folds (like spirals) can be tricky with unusual color combos—they don’t always turn out as balanced as you’d hope. A geode fold, though, is much more forgiving and actually works beautifully with unexpected mixes.

👉 If you’re brand new to folding, you might like my post on how to fold socks for tie dye where I break down four beginner-friendly folds that look great with almost any color.

For this shirt, I balled up the fabric, tied it tightly with sinew into several nodules, and then added ice on top before sprinkling on my five go-to colors. Geodes give you natural “crystal ring” effects, which really show off how different colors split.

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My 5 Most-Used Tie Dye Colors

Here’s the lineup I used:

1. Tangerine – A bold orange that splits into golden yellow. I love pairing it with darker shades for contrast.
2. Alchemist – A gorgeous blue designed specifically for ice dye that splits into purple tones.
3. Warrior Princess – A controversial color in the tie dye world. Results can vary, but I love the surprise factor—it’s never boring!
4. Seafoam – A light, subtle green. You’ll need to use a lot of dye to get strong results, but it’s worth it.
5. Teal Blue – My most-used color, hands down. It’s rich, dark, and honestly my favorite shade of teal. (It even matches my kitchen cabinets!)

👉 If you’re curious about what happens with different dye brands, check out my comparison of Rit vs Jacquard color remover. It’s a fun side-by-side experiment that shows how products can vary just like dye colors do.

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The Dyeing Process

1. Tie & Fold – I used a continuous geode tie for faster untying later.
2. Ice Dyeing – Ice went on top of the shirt, then I sprinkled the five dyes over it.
3. Rinse Out – I started with cool water, then switched to hot. I also squirted a little Dawn dish soap during the rinse to help release even more excess dye.

👉 Not sure how to prep fabric before dyeing? I did a full experiment testing soda ash soaking vs sprinkling so you can see which method gives the brightest results.

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Final Results

When all was rinsed and revealed, the shirt turned out stunning. The different splits—yellow from Tangerine, purples from Alchemist, muted tones from Warrior Princess, soft green from Seafoam, and depth from Teal Blue—all worked together to create a shirt that feels vibrant yet earthy.

This geode fold really showcased how these colors can mix without overpowering each other.

👉 Want more single-color inspiration? Check out my post on one color tie dye projects that still look amazing—even for beginners.

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Want to Try These Colors Yourself?

If you’re building your dye stash and aren’t sure where to start, I highly recommend these five. They’re versatile, surprising, and fun to work with—whether you’re doing geodes, scrunches, or even spirals.

✨ Freebie: Grab my printable guide with 12 Favorite Tie Dye Folds → Click here to download
🛍️ Etsy Shop: Check out my latest tie dye creations → Practical and Pretty on Etsy
📦 Supplies: Find all my go-to dyes and tools → My Amazon Storefront

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Final Thoughts

Tie dye is all about experimenting, but once you find your “comfort colors,” it’s amazing how much easier it is to get results you love. For me, these five shades are my tried-and-true choices—and when combined, they create something magical.

👉 If you want to keep learning, you’ll love my tutorial on how to tie dye with black. It’s full of tips for getting true, rich results instead of muddy gray.

So, which one is YOUR favorite? Let me know in the comments—I love hearing which colors other dyers reach for most!

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