Have you ever wondered whether hot water immersion tie dye or liquid dye gives better results? In this post, I’ll walk you through both methods side by side using Dharma colors Lime Pop, Amethyst, Nightshade, and Raven. You’ll see how each technique works, how long it takes to batch, and which one gives the most vibrant results.
I first posted a video comparing hot water immersion vs ice dye, and that sparked a lot of questions about how hot water immersion compares to liquid dye. So today, I decided to test both! On the right side of my project, I used liquid dye, and on the left side, I used the hot water immersion technique.
Hot Water Immersion Tie Dye Method
Hot water immersion is one of my favorite quick techniques when I want results fast. You start by boiling water and pouring it into a garden hose sprayer (or pump sprayer). Then, mist the boiling water over your powdered dye. The heat activates the dye almost instantly and allows you to rinse in as little as 20 minutes!
One thing to note is that the hot water splatters the dye slightly, so your results may look a little speckled or organic. In my test, it splattered some Lime Pop onto the purple areas — but honestly, it still looked really cool in the end. This is a great option if you’re teaching a tie-dye class or hosting a tie dye night and want everyone to take home a finished piece the same day.
Liquid Tie Dye Method
For the liquid version, I pre-mixed my dyes with water and applied them directly to the fabric. Because the liquid spreads easily, a little goes a long way. I definitely used too much in some areas, but that’s part of the fun of experimenting!
The biggest difference I noticed is that liquid dye projects need to batch for about 12 hours, compared to only 20 minutes with hot water immersion. But the results were much cleaner and more defined. If you like crisp, vibrant color sections, liquid dye wins here.
Final Results: Hot Water Immersion vs Liquid Dye
Both projects turned out beautiful but very different. The hot water immersion version had a more organic, speckled look with blended colors, while the liquid dye version looked smoother and more precise. Both held color well through the rinse out, which I did the same way for each: cool water, hot water, a wash with Dawn dish soap, and a final wash cycle on hot.
If you’re short on time or doing a group project, hot water immersion tie dye is definitely the faster choice. But if you love clean color separation and don’t mind waiting overnight, liquid dye gives incredible results too.
Tips for Better Results
- Use painter’s tape to hold spirals in place — it won’t flatten your design like rubber bands sometimes do.
- Start with less liquid dye than you think you need; it spreads more than powdered dye.
- Always rinse cool, then hot, and finish with a hot wash and Dawn dish soap.
- Try this project with different color combos! The one color tie dye method also works great with both techniques.
My Honest Takeaway
I honestly can’t pick a favorite — they serve different purposes! I’ll reach for hot water immersion when I want quick results or a same-day finish, and liquid dye when I’m looking for smoother, more intentional color control. Both are fun, and both create gorgeous results.
If you loved this experiment, check out my post on how to tie dye with black for even more comparison-style tie dye content. Or if you’re new to tie dye, grab my free printable below!
Looking for supplies? Here are the exact ones I used in this project:
- My Amazon storefront – all my favorite dyes and tools
- My Etsy shop – see what’s currently available
Thanks for reading! If you try this experiment yourself, tag me on Instagram at @storebrandanna so I can see your results!
