DIY Souvenir: How to Preserve Your Colour Run Shirt

Participating in a colour fun run brings a burst of vibrant colours to your clothes, making it a memorable and unique experience!

While our powder is designed to wash out easily for convenience, we know many participants want to keep their DIY rainbow shirt as a permanent souvenir.

Preserving those vivid colours on your shirt can feel like a challenge, but it's totally possible, and even easy! With a few household items and a little bit of heat, you can lock in the memories.

Here is our step-by-step guide to making your colour run powder stay on your shirt forever.

Our eco-friendly Holi colour powder

Holi powder is a bright, non-toxic powder created with high-quality, gluten-free cornstarch and food-grade dyes.

As Australia’s premier supplier, our powder is:

Biodegradable & Non-Toxic: Safe for skin and the planet.

Skin-Friendly: Free from common allergens like gluten.

High-Pigment: Designed for maximum vibrancy during your event.

While it’s gentle, it is highly effective at staining fabric when treated with the right colour fastening and binding agents!

What you'll need to set the colours on your fun run shirt

You'll need some white vinegar, a spray bottle, and a clothes iron, as well as a clothes dryer or hair dryer to complete the process.

How to set colour powder on clothes in five simple steps

Want a souvenir from your colour run? You can keep those colours on your fun run shirt in just a few simple steps.

STEP 1: Don’t Shake It Off!

Resist the urge to dust yourself down! The more powder that remains on your shirt, the better it will set, and the more vibrant the final result will be! We recommend gently removing your fun run shirt shortly after the event ends. Carefully fold it and place it in a plastic bag to keep the powder in place until you get home.

STEP 2: Spray and Soak!

White vinegar is the "magic ingredient" that acts as a fixative for the dyes.

Grab a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and generously soak your entire shirt, focusing specifically on the areas with colour powder. Ensure the shirt lies flat during this process to prevent colours from running or mixing.

Don’t forget to spray the back of the shirt as well!

STEP 3: Lay It Flat to Dry

Lay your vinegar-soaked shirt flat to dry. This allows the colour powder to evenly soak into the fabric, preserving vibrant hues without blending colours together.

Let it dry completely until no longer damp to the touch before moving to the next step.

STEP 4: Apply Heat 

Heat is what “seals” the deal.

Set your iron to a high heat setting.

Place a thin cloth over the shirt (to protect your iron) and press firmly over the coloured areas. The high temperature helps the food-safe dyes bond permanently with the fabric threads.

STEP 5: Final Dry

For the ultimate finish, turn your shirt inside out and place it in a clothes dryer for about 10 minutes.  If you don’t have a dryer, a hair dryer on high heat works just as well. 

Voila! Your vibrant colour run souvenir is now ready to wear! 

Care Instructions for Your Souvenir Shirt

To keep your shirt looking bright for years to come:

1. Cold Wash Only: If you must wash it, use cold water and avoid heavy detergents.

2. Air Dry: Lay it flat to dry rather than hanging it to prevent stretching.

3.Iron After Washing: A quick hit with the iron after a wash can help maintain the colour's "pop."

Enjoy your beautifully coloured shirt and relive the excitement of your colour run event!

Want to create your own colourful event with Holi powder?

Whether it’s a school fun run, a community festival, or a vibrant photoshoot, our Holi Colour Powder is the gold standard for safe and spectacular fun.