If you’re looking for a slime that’s as bold as it is fun, this red slime recipe is a must-try! Made with clear glue, food colouring, and mica powder, it has a deep, vibrant colour. And its glossy, stretchy texture makes it so satisfying to play with. Whether you’re going for a classic bright red or a dramatic blood red slime, this easy recipe is a fun way to get creative with colour.
Kids and teens will love how cool this slime looks — and it only takes a few simple ingredients to make. The rich red really pops, especially against the clear glue base, and the final texture is smooth and stretchy without being too sticky. It’s perfect for sensory play, party favours, or just a rainy day craft. Let’s dive in and show you exactly how to make red slime step-by-step!
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How to Make Red Slime
Materials:
- Clear glue
- Baking soda
- Food colouring (“brick” or red)
- Mica powder (purple-red)
- Contact lens solution
Equipment:
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Mix the first ingredients
- Pour 1/2 cup clear glue into a bowl.
- Add 1-1/2 teaspoons of baking soda.
- Stir to mix the ingredients together.
- Add food colouring to achieve your desired colour (about 6 drops).
- Once the red food colouring is completely combined, add a bit of red mica powder (we used a purple red shade here).Stir well, until the powder is completely combined.
Step 3: Activate the slime
- Activate the slime by adding 2-1/4 teaspoons of contact lens solution.
- Stir the mixture until you can’t anymore and it starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl. Press the mixture down to incorporate all the contact lens solution.
- Pick up the slime out of the bowl and work it in your hands – stretching, kneading, and rolling.It’ll be sticky at first, but don’t panic! Continue working it and using the slime to clean itself off your hands.
- Continue until the slime no longer sticks to your hands. You can add a couple more drops of contact lens solution if it’s still a bit too sticky.
- Your red slime is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Choose your mica powder carefully: Using a purple-red or rose gold mica powder gives the slime extra depth and shimmer. You can also try adding glitter, but mica blends more smoothly for a subtle shade correction.
- Don’t overdo the contact solution: Too much will make the slime stiff instead of stretchy. Start small and only add more if the slime stays sticky after kneading for a few minutes.
What’s the best way to colour my slime red?
There are a number of options for how to make slime red. We used “brick red” food colouring in our red slime recipe, but you can experiment with other shades of red food colouring too. We also added mica powder to give some shimmer and add richness to the red colour.
The shade of red slime you’d like to make will determine what you use to colour it. Liquid watercolour and acrylic paint are good options for colouring slime, but they made more of a pinkish red slime than the deep red we were going for.
If you want a really deep red slime (more like burgundy or maroon), try adding a single drop of black food colouring. This gives your red slime a lot of richness and colour depth!
What glue is best for making bright red slime?
Both clear and white glue will work to make red slime, but we prefer using clear glue. When we want a specific colour for our slime it offers a blank canvas for the colour, resulting in a deep and rich shade.
White school glue automatically makes the slime colour more pastel, because the colour is mixing with the white opaque glue. To make bright, vibrant colours of slime with white glue, you need to use a lot of food colouring.
What’s the best activator to use in my red slime recipe?
We prefer using contact lens solution to activate our slime recipes. It’s safe to use and gentle on skin. You need to use baking soda as well when using contact lens solution. The baking soda raises the pH levels and activates the borate component in the contact lens solution.
You can also use a borax solution (usually made from 1 teaspoon of borax dissolved into 1 cup of hot water). You won’t need baking soda when using this activator, and you can add a tiny bit of activator at a time until you’re happy with your slime’s consistency.
This activator is less expensive and it’s also more consistent, since you don’t have to worry about different brands containing different amount of boric acid and sodium borate. However, it can be harsher on your skin if used incorrectly or in high concentrations, which is why we prefer sticking to contact lens solution.
This red slime recipe is such a fun and satisfying sensory craft, and it’s as pretty as it is playful! The bold colour and shimmer make it extra special, and it’s the perfect hands-on activity for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or just for fun. Whether you’re new to slime or a seasoned slime-maker, this recipe is sure to become a favourite!
Here’s even more colourful slime ideas:
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