Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Create Bleach Pen Designs on Black Denim
For many years, I’ve seen tutorials for creating bleach pen designs on jeans. Almost every tutorial is for bleach pens designs on basic blue denim and they all seem to leave out a step or two. So, when I found a pair of new Levi denim black shorts at a thrift shop, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to test a bleach pen design I had in mind and teach people EVERYTHING needed to create bleach pen denim designs.
Read on to learn how to create bleach pen designs on black denim. You can also use this tutorial on blue denim and other colors of denim too.
I love the results of my bleach pen experiment!
Discontinued Bleach Pen
Before my experiment, I found my research took me on an adventure to learn that the Clorox bleach pen is no longer manufactured. I am assuming it was not a great seller as people didn’t understand how to use it. I think it was just poor marketing because a bleach pen is very effective for many reasons. But I do understand if it was a safety issue which brings me to my next point: read my safety tips on this project for sure!
Bleach Pen Uses
I bought my bleach pen on Amazon. It’s generic, however, it’s exactly what I expected. On one end, it is a skinny pen like opening so you can get the bleach gel inside exactly where you want it. I used it for drawing designs on my shorts, however I also used it on some white grout that had some stains. I left it on the stain for 30 minutes, and it lightened it…not removed it completely, but lightened it. It kills mildew on grout though like a dream.
It has a larger opening on the other end for bigger bleach gel needs. This may include larger stains on grout or on clothing. Follow the directions on the package for best results. I left the bleach on my jeans for 3 hours, and some surfaces like certain grouts and thicker fabrics can handle this amount of time. However, you should test it in a small area if you are uncertain. Remember…it will bleach anything it touches, so use caution.
Round 2 provided more bleached out designs
Bleach on Indigo Dyed Jeans
Your results for this project will be determined on the type of DYE used on your denim. Read my full instructions below for what to look for in your results with different types of denim. See some cool blue denim bleach designs via the Hallmark Channel here. It’s some great inspiration while looking for design ideas for my tutorial!
Want a nice hem on a dress, pants or shorts without sewing? Try our easy hack in our 1-minute video below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
The Bleach Pen Design Tutorial
I used black denim for this tutorial, however you can use this tutorial for all colors of denim. I don’t know what your exact results will be on each denim color, but if you test on scraps or in a small area, you’ll get a better idea.
Here’s what you will need to use a bleach pen to create designs on denim:
Denim of your choice (I thrifted my Levi’s but here is a similar pair on Amazon)
Disposable Gloves (Amazon or even Walmart has them)
Face Mask + Open Window (do not breathe in bleach fumes….I did my project in front of my porch and kept my sliding glass door open to release the fumes as I worked)
Bleach Pen (Here’s the bleach pen I got on Amazon)
Small detail brush (Here’s a great set on Amazon)
Wax paper (Walmart)
Optional: Paint tray (Amazon), Fabric marking pencil (Amazon), cookie cutters (I used a 2-inch set of a star and heart and here’s a similar set on Amazon), cotton swab, garbage bag or something to protect your surface as you work.
The tools I used for this tutorial
How-to:
Lay out a garbage bag or something to protect the flat surface you will work on. I encourage you do to do this outside or by an open window or door for ventilation purposes.
I used SHARP fabric scissors on my jean shorts
I cut the hemmed edge off my shorts and washed and ironed them.
I used cookie cutters as stencils
I then decided to trace out some hearts and stars onto my shorts using my fabric marking pencil. You don’t have to use stencils, but they did help my design look more uniform and professional.
I first drew out my designs, which I kept simple for experimental reasons
I also used the pencil to draw dots. The pencil washes away in the washing machine, so don’t worry about making mistakes with it.
Using wax paper to prevent bleeding
Lay wax paper inside your jeans. This will prevent the bleach from soaking through to the other side.
Writing with the bleach pen
Use the pen tip of the bleach pen to outline your designs using a gloved hand. I used it to dot bleach on top of my pencil dots too. Squeeze the bleach pen gently as you go. Practice on some wax paper first if you are unsure of how it will squeeze out.
Using a brush to perfect my designs
I used a brush to fill in the shapes with more bleach gel and to perfect the outlines. I even put a little bleach along the pockets to “rough up” my jean short look a bit.
Letting the bleach do it’s thing
I let the bleach pen designs sit (high up on an ironing board and away from my pets) for 3 hours. The fumes do lessen during this process, so I was able to shut the open door during the 3-hour period. I then used some cotton swabs to remove some of the bleach gel and then I washed my shorts and air dried them.
I was not happy with the somewhat brown designs (they lighted as my shorts dried, but they were still a bit brown), and I felt my designs needed more refining, so I applied another layer of bleach gel (round 2) with a brush, left it for 3 hours, washed and air dried my shorts and liked my final results.
My final bleach pen results
While the bleach pen didn’t bleach out my black denim shorts to pure white, I was happy with the overall look. Some denim has more potent denim dye, so you may not get “white” no matter how long you leave the bleach gel on them.
Also note, you can leave bleach on for too long. Test a small patch on your denim if you are unsure as bleach can eat fabrics and unless you want holes, always test first.
I love the final design!
Cheaper black (or blue) denim shorts, jeans or a skirt may give you whiter results. Levi’s seems to use a higher quality denim dye (natural indigo on blue jeans is potent and they use it… I learned all about indigo dye in my fiber arts classes in college), so keep this in mind when creating any denim bleach pen design.
If you loved this article, then we know you’ll love this one too: How to Create Pollock Paint Splattered Jean Shorts
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.