Can You Dye Nylon? A Guide to Dyeing Nylon Fabric

Usually, synthetic fabrics are known to be not dyeable, and it’s true for most of them. But Nylon is a synthetic material that can be dyed. It is pretty easy to dye Nylon. You are going to face a very few problems while dyeing Nylon. You can even dye Nylon at home.

Synthetic fabrics are made up of chains of polymers, and they are made for comfort and to keep the body warm, so you would think that it is not easy to dye them. This is true for most of them, but the case for Nylon is different; it absorbs dye pretty quickly. 

Can You Dye Nylon At Home?

Compared to the other synthetic fabrics, it is surprisingly easy for you to dye Nylon at home. You would need to choose the right type of dye that would serve your purpose and the proper method for the dyeing.

It can also be fun dyeing Nylon at home; you can even have a dyeing party. Natural dye would be something that I would be interested in joining. However, you have to be careful with chemical dyes like acid dye or basic dye because things can get out of hand quickly.

Types of Dyes For Nylon

There are tons of types of dyes that you can choose from, but specifically for Nylon, there are four most famous types that will surely be enough options for you.

• Acid Dye

Acid Dye is the best option for dyeing Nylon. It is relatively more costly than the other options for this purpose. But it’s definitely worth the price. They are also very easily available and can be found even at Walmarts and hardware shops. Acid dyes are made up of a single kind of dye, making them the most effective for dyeing Nylon and other synthetic fabrics. If you use acid dye, you will get almost the same colors as your dye because most of the Nylon can absorb all the dye equally. 

But the one disadvantage of the acid dye is that if it’s added more than the required amount, it can ruin your Nylon. As Nylon is plastic, the acid dye has toxic composition. But if you are careful with it, you will be fine. 

• Direct Dye

Direct dye is also a chemical dye that can be used to dye Nylon at home or the industrial level. Direct dyes have a more basic composition than acid dye. It is also fairly quickly available and can be found at any paint or hardware store. 

A disadvantage of direct dye is it can alter the color of the dye while applying. Though it costs almost the same as an acid dye, its results are not significant.

• All-purpose Dye

All-purpose dye is another excellent option for dyeing Nylon. It is also less costly than acid dye. It can be used for synthetic and natural fabric because it comprises two kinds of dyes. 

The factor which makes all-purpose dye come second is that it will not give Nylon the exact shade that the dye. The color might be light or different. But the all-purpose dye is the best option if you have a limited budget as it is cost-effective. 

One advantage of all-purpose dye is that there is close to no chance that it can ruin your Nylon because it has non-toxic composition, which is better than acid dye in this sense. 

• Natural Dye

Natural dye is anything that has its color and can leave its pigment on other surfaces. You can make customized colors by dyeing Nylon with anything you want. People use a lot of stuff as a natural dye. Here are some examples for reference. 

• Tea

You can use tea as a natural dye by opening a tea bag and adding it to some boiling water. It will give a very faint brown color, but if that is something you want, you should go for it.

• Coffee

Just like tea, coffee can also be used as a natural dye. You just have to crumble some beans of coffee and add them to boiling water. It will give a stronger color than the tea; it will not be husky brown.

Actually, coffee is the most used substance as a natural fabric; there is something special about that brownish natural-looking shade that everyone wants to try. Besides the shade, the prices of applying the coffee onto a piece of clothing are also straightforward, making it even a better option if you are looking for adventure.

• Food Color

Food color is used to add color to different dishes like rice and stuff. It can also be used to dye Nylon. Simply just put some amount of color particles in the water and let the Nylon soak the water. After drying, the Nylon will be similar to the food color.

You can even give your fabric multiple colors by adding different layers of color. 

• Natural Paint

The natural paint used to color walls can also be used to color the Nylon by diluting it with boiling water, and the color will be added to the surface of the Nylon. 

Method For Dyeing Nylon At Home

As discussed earlier, it’s pretty easy to dye Nylon. You just need to follow some steps.

1. You need to take a container according to the length of the fabric you want to dye.
2. You have to fill half with water and boil it. 
3. Then, add the dye to the water. You have to be careful with the amount of dye you add because less or more than the proper amount can change the shade you want.
4. Add the piece of cloth you want to dye and let it soak in the water.
5. Then rinse it with warm water.
6. Slowly use cooler water. 
7. Let it dry by hanging; never use a dryer or anything else to dry it.

Can Dyeing Nylon At Home Damage It?

As discussed, the dyeing of Nylon at home is not a highly complex process. It’s like anyone can be at home with the correct method and the suitable dye. But there are some cautions that you have to take to avoid the following damages.

1. Adding the Nylon to boiling water can harm its polymers chain that can destroy the whole structure of the fabric. Sure the Nylon can’t melt in the water, but seemingly more minor problems can make your fabric useless. 
2. Adding too much synthetic dye can also affect the nylon fabric as there is a chance of chemical decomposition of the Nylon. 
3. If you repeatedly wear Nylon, it can lose its softness and be very uncomfortable wearing. Once or twice is the amount of time you can dye before it starts to lose its essence. 
4. In pursuing a better-shaded color, you can lose its original color because there are no guarantees that the dye will come on the fabric as you wish it to be.

Conclusion 

Nylon is a unique synthetic fabric alongside a side polyamide that can be dyed. In fact, it’s easy to dye it at home if you have the proper method and dye it of your choice. 

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