Dye Easter Eggs Naturally | California Herban Life

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If you’re decorating eggs in celebration this Easter, engage nature in the process this year and avoid synthetic dyes. Ingredients like herbs and spices offer an endless variety of hues for dyeing eggs — from the soft purple shades of hibiscus to the rich gold tones of turmeric.

There are two easy ways to dye eggs with botanical-based dyes. One is a hot method, which delivers the deepest colors; the other is cold. You might try each, or use them in combination.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Mordant: Alum, cream of tartar, or white vinegar will help the colors penetrate the eggshell. (Mordants aren’t necessary, but you’ll get better results if you use one. Include one tablespoon of mordant for each cup of water, and add it along with your herbs or other dyeing materials.)
Pots: Enamel or glass pots (not aluminum) are best.
Water: Use distilled water or water that is chlorine-filtered.
Eggs: White eggs will display the subtle, natural colors better than brown or green eggs.
Dyestuff: The more eggs you’re dyeing, the more dyestuff you’ll need.

Have fun experimenting with herbs and spices to see what colors they impart, but here are some suggestions to get you started.

Botanical Colors

Reddish blue/lavender: Hibiscus flowers
Deep gold: Turmeric root powder
Pale yellow: Safflower petals
Pale orange: Curry powder
Reddish brown: Chili powder
Orange: Paprika
Soft brown: Dill seed
Tannish yellow: Yarrow

Other egg dye products from plants that make lovely colors:

Beet juice or beet powder, berries, coffee, grape and cranberry juices, lemon and orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, onion skins (red and yellow).

Ingredients

Once you get the hang of dyeing eggs this way, you’ll work in panfuls and handfuls — but here are some guidelines you can start with:

4 cups water
Dyestuff (about 2 to 4 tablespoons of ground herbs and spices or 1 cup whole or cut and sifted)
1 tablespoon mordant (see above)
4 to 6 eggs, washed to remove any coating (use raw for hot bath, hard-boiled for cold)

Method 1: Hot Bath Directions

Bring water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil.
Add eggs and reduce heat to a simmer.
Cook for about 15 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit another 15 minutes or more, until desired color.

(The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the color.) Remove eggs, gently rinse in lukewarm water, and let air dry.

Method 2: Cold Bath Directions

Make a dye bath by bringing water, dyestuff and mordant to a boil.
Simmer the dyestuff until the water is deeply colored, anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. (Put a lid on the pot to prevent evaporation.)
Strain the liquid and cool. Add hard-boiled eggs to the dye, and let soak until desired color is reached — even overnight, in the refrigerator, if you like.

Egg Dyeing Tips and Tricks

Add sheen to your eggs by gently wiping the dry, dyed shell with vegetable oil.
Consider dyeing an egg in more than one color. (Let dry between colors.)
Experiment with fun techniques: Wrap an egg in rubber bands or apply masking tape in patterns before dyeing, for a batik effect. Or wrap an egg in leaves (hold them in place with a nylon stocking) before dyeing. For a stippled effect, pat an egg with a sponge while still wet. And to marbleize your egg, add a drop of oil to the dye liquid.
For a smoother look, dye eggs in strained liquid. For more texture, leave in the dyestuff.
Don’t over-stir the eggs while simmering, or over-handle them once you remove them from the dye. The outer shell, softened from the mordant, can rub off.

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