True Story: dying my hair blonde made me dumber

March 3, 2006 8:26 AM

Screw-up filter: help me camouflage peroxide marks on a favorite greyish brown cotton tank top

I got crazy with a home hair highlighting kit last night, and dropped bits of peroxide on a tank top I'm not ready to give up. (Yes, I am a dumbass. Lesson learned. Overwhelmed with feelings of shame and stupidity, thanks.) Tried to rinse it out, but did a completely crap job and now have orange spots and streaks on my totally awesome shirt.

Don't want to submerge the whole thing in RIT dye 'cause the color -- a heathered sort of taupe-y greyish brown -- is so awesome, and RIT dye usually sucks anyway. I know I can't erase the marks entirely, but if I could turn them back to some similar greyish brown from this pukey faded orange color, I'd happily continue wearing it.

I was thinking of soaking the spots in a bit of dark tea, with vinegar added for staying power. Better ideas? Cool DIY products made to help a screw-ball like me?

posted by junkbox to home & garden (10 comments total)

If you can find a matching color, try a permanent marker. Sharpies come in a remarkable array of shades. Washing will soften the color just a bit so don't be afraid of a too-brown brown.
posted by headspace at 9:52 AM on March 3, 2006

You're really pretty much fucked. Anything you do is going to take to a differing degree on the bleached areas than the other areas so unless you want a new color with splotches.... The same principal as your hair applies - to apply color evenly you have to strip out any underlying color to a consistent shade.
posted by phearlez at 10:10 AM on March 3, 2006

I've done this many time in the past, just with clothing that I didn't care for which is what you should have done. But you already know that. Sadly, I don't think there's a good solution to your problem. I once got some spots on a black shirt and covered it up with one of those big magnum 44 graffiti markers. Even that faded after one wash. And if there's streaking, you're probably screwed.
posted by puke & cry at 10:40 AM on March 3, 2006

The only solution may be to artistically apply more, and/or tie dye peroxide it.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:51 AM on March 3, 2006

It was an overpriced tank top to begin with ($28), which is why I feel so stupid for screwing it up. Nevertheless, it appears that they are still available for purchase on the company's website. Lucky me. I'll buy a new one, wash the taste of defeat out of my mouth with good ol' fashioned American consumerism, and chalk this up to a lesson learned the hard way.
posted by junkbox at 10:56 AM on March 3, 2006

I would usually bleach my hair wearing only some old gym shorts or boxers. The bleach can burn you, but not bad.
posted by puke & cry at 10:59 AM on March 3, 2006

There is hope. Something similar happened to me with a blue t-shirt. Here's how I fixed it:

Go to Michael's or another craft store -- one that sells fabric paint. This usually comes in little bottles for a buck or two a piece. Get the FLAT paint -- not shiny or puffy or any of the other varieties they sell -- in colors that you can mix to approximate the color of your fabric. Sounds like white, black, brown and maybe some red and yellow.

Put a daub of every color on a white or clear plate and start mixing to get an approximate shade match. If choosing between a shade slightly lighter or darker, go darker. You probably won't get a perfectly exact color match, but chances are you'll be surprised at how close you can get. It may take some time. Be patient.

When you've got your shade, paint it on the bleached spots with a small brush. Blend the edges. You may need to iron the spots after the paint dries or let it sit for a while. Afterward, wash as usual.

It should cover the spots pretty well with little to no affect to the weight or feel of the fabric. And if you need to go at it again you can. Good luck.
posted by CMichaelCook at 11:01 AM on March 3, 2006

What weapons grade pandemonium said. You can get surprisingly good results by bleach dying; no, it won't look like your old tank top, but it might look pretty good. Try tie dying it in diluted clorox, or - this looks really cool - take a spray bottle, fill it with diluted clorox, put some objects on your shirt (large plastic spiders are excellent, plastic dinosaurs are good, old watches, keys, whatever) and spray the shirt. Set the nozzle to maximum diffusion.

Other possibilities: sewing or ironing appliques over the splotches, using fabric paints and stencils to creat a little design over them.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:56 AM on March 3, 2006

My suggestion would be to buy one of the Clorox bleach pens and draw a design on the shirt that covers up most of the spots you've made. Let the bleach sit for 20-30 minutes or so, and then wash the shirt in the sink. You'll have a unique custom design bleached out, but the rest of the shirt will still be the color you love.
posted by MsMolly at 1:15 PM on March 3, 2006

I saw some tshirts at the mall the other day that were spattered with bleach spots. On purpose. Crazy kids.
posted by theora55 at 8:08 PM on March 3, 2006