Did you know about Hot Water Fiber Reactive Dyes?

Folks are starting to notice our "New" Fiber Reactive Hot Water dyes, and are wondering what makes them special. And actually, Dharma has carried a Hot Water Fiber Reactive Dye for decades, our #250 - Jet Black. We carried it because folks wanted a black for tub dyeing (solid color) that would be darker than anything you could get with Procion type "cold" or "warm" water Fiber Reactive Dyes. Jet Black filled the bill. Hot Water Fiber Reactive dyes can achieve more depth of color than the so called "cold" water ones (Procion type).

At the time we added Jet Black, Cibacron was the main "hot water" Fiber Reactive Dye out there, and it was very expensive compared to Procion. It is now even more expensive, and goes by the name of Novacron. In fact, because our Jet Black formula got so expensive a couple of years ago, we brought in a second Hot Water Fiber Reactive Black, our #275 - Hot Black, to give you all a less expensive choice.

These days, there are a number of Hot Water Fiber Reactives, most of them less expensive than Novacron. Each line has only a few pure colors. Each line has a slightly different temperature recommendation, but in our experiments, that wasn't that critical. We decided to bring in a selection of some different Hot Water Fiber Reactive Dyes for you that "play" fairly well together. They have chemical reactivity in the presence of Soda Ash exactly like the "cold water" Procion type Fiber Reactive Dyes. Because of the heat requirement (dye baths should ideally be 130-150° F), these dyes work better for solid color "tub dyeing" than for colder water techniques like tie-dye & batik. BUT, you CAN use them for tie-dye & low immersion techniques IF you batch (cure) them really warm, like all day in the sun under black plastic, or under an electric blanket (in the winter). In addition, more time makes up for less heat, so batching them longer gets them darker. We've gotten very good tie-dye results by curing them 24 hours in regular room temperatures (above 70ºF) actually.

Except for the temperatures and/or curing times, you use them just like our other Dharma Fiber Reactive (Procion type) dyes, same recipes. (Tub dyeing, tie-dyeing with Dharma Hot Water Fiber Reactive Dyes)

We have brought in a line of pure uncut colors for you, very similar to the Procion colors of the same name, only even more intense, especially the "to dye for" Brilliant Blue, that can all be used at 2% OWG for a medium shade, except the blacks** (7 - 8% OWG) We also made a couple of green mixes, a brown mix and a deep purple mix, as those colors are not available in a "pure" state, to fill out the selection.

In addition, as you already know, there is the new Neutral Grey in this line that is a pure color, that does not split with low immersion techniques. AND, drumroll, we have added a new, redder black also, for you to try, Ebony Black. It is a really nice dark black, redder than #250 Jet and much darker than #200 Hot Black. If you are a black fan, you should really try it!

Advantages to using these dyes:

• They store longer than Procion type dyes once mixed with water - they retain their full strength at least 2 weeks, longer if refrigerated. (Powder has a longer shelf life too - several years vs 1 - 2, for Procion.) No need to toss unused dye stock or old powders, so less waste!
• Blacks are darker (if you have used our Procion 250 or 275, they are of this type - we have always wanted folks to have the option of darker blacks)
• New - EBONY BLACK** (** means use 4 times as much dye to get it dark - 7-8% OWG) - adding to our stable of blacks - a VERY dark reddish black. #250 leans green and #275 leans blue.
• NEUTRAL GREY - what you have all been asking for - NOT a mix, doesn't split! Can be used for tie-dye or ice dye if cure long enough. Same with the Red Violet, and every color where it doesn't say "mix" after the name - these are pure, uncut!
• BRILLIANT BLUE is the closest dye to a perfect Blue we have EVER seen! Slightly darker and even more intense than the Procion color Cerulean. Only the Novacron line has this color, hence the price, but it's worth it!
• Some dye houses have switched to this dye instead of Procion type dyes because these dyes use less water to wash out the excess, IF they are well fixed with enough heat, & you're not using too much, so if you are conserving water...
• Will also dye silk & wool using acid, hot dye baths or steam, just like Procion. With the blacks, on protein, they usually don't come out black. Each one will have a different cast. But the Neutral Grey does come out a nice grey on silk and wool.

Neutral Grey On Wool and Silk - Left: w/cold water and soda ash, Right: w/hot water and citric acid.