Tie-Dye

• 1). Grasp a small area of the white t-shirt (front and back fabric) and twist it tightly until it forms a small ball. Tie the ball in place with a rubber band. Repeat this in a number of areas on the shirt, varying the size of the balls.
  
  
• 2). Mix one cup of soda ash into one gallon of warm water in a large container. Soak the tied t-shirt for 20 minutes; the soda ash solution will help the dye stick to the shirt.
  
  
• 3). Wear plastic gloves to protect your hands from dye. Mix fabric dye solution according to the instructions on your specific dye package. Add one cup of salt to the dye mixture to help the dye set; some instructions may already call for you to do this. Store the dye in squirt bottles.
  
  
• 4). Remove the shirt from the bath and allow excess water to drip. Squeeze drops of the dyes into different areas of the shirt; the dye will run in fun, tie-dye patterns over the damp shirt. Wring the shirt a few times to spread the dye, and then set it aside to dry. Allow the shirt to dry overnight so the dye can set.
  
  
• 5). Remove the rubber bands. Rinse the shirt with warm water and then cool water until the water runs clear, to remove excess dye. Wash the shirt in a laundry cycle twice, once with cool water and once with warm and laundry detergent. Allow the shirt to air dry, or dry on a cool setting in a machine, before wearing.
  
  

Other Clothing

• 1). Wear bell-bottom jeans for men and women, or short skirts for women, for the bottom of the costume. If you only own straight leg jeans, split the side seam of the jean up to just below the knee; the fringed look also goes will with hippie style.
  
  
• 2). Wear your hair slightly unkempt. Wear long hair down. Wear a headband around the top of your head; place a flower in the headband to hold it in place in your hair.
  
  
• 3
  Peace sign jewelry accentuates your tie-dye hippie costume.Peace please. image by Saskia Massink from Fotolia.com
  
  Wear a peace sign necklace, bracelet, pin or other type of accessory. The more peace signs, the better for a hippie costume. Beads were another common jewelry accessory.
  
  
• 4). Go barefoot, or wear open, leather sandals.