These DIY shades are your next party trick. Bust them out after dark and you’ll light up the room (literally). Follow these easy steps and be on your way to a glowing good time!
Need some sunglasses to get started? We used these folding shades and these neon nerd frames. Now get craftin’!
Supplies
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Paintbrushes (different sizes)
- Painter’s tape
- Sunglasses
Step 1
Prep your sunglasses by taping over both the inside and outside of the lenses (so you don’t splatter them with paint)! We found that the easiest and fastest way to get this done is by laying tape strips over the lenses and then trimming them down once each lens is covered.
Step 2
Choose your colors and start painting! To get the splatter effect pictured above, try “slinging” paint using the opposite end of your paint brush. (Basically, dip the handle of your brush in paint — enough so that it’s dripping — and whip your hand back and forth over the the frame.) Really, it works.
To create a smaller splatter pattern, try flicking the bristles of your paintbrush toward your glasses. This technique creates a bit of an airbrushed or spray-painted look. Side note: Be patient with this technique. It takes multiple layers of paint for the glasses to glow in the dark!
Another technique you can try is painting designs on the temples of your sunglasses, like the ones pictured above. We went for multi-colored stripes, but anything goes. Zig-zags, stars, your name — be creative!
Step 3
Take a chill pill and let your shades dry. We let ours dry overnight just to be safe, but they should only take a few hours. Keep in mind that you might need to add a second coating of paint to your glasses after they’ve dried to really get a good glow effect.
Step 4
Peel the painter’s tape off your lenses, clean up any paint that smudged around the edges, and you’re almost ready! To get your glasses ready to glow, charge them under a lamp or out in the sun for awhile before testing them in the dark.
Step 5
Ready, set, GLOW! Time to enjoy your sunglasses in style. #DareToWear
Ready to make your own? Share your DIY Glow-in-the-Dark party shades with us on Instagram! Don’t forget to tag us @Sunglasswarehouse!