Where to Buy Colored Chalk Powder for Color Run, Holi, etc (14 Stores)

William Lipovsky headshot William Lipovsky
Verified & Updated Sep 27, 2018

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Originally used as part of the Hindu festival of Holi, colored chalk powder is now used by several popular races that use the rainbow dust to make their events unique and fun.

One of the major players in the 5K craze is The Color Run, also known as “The Happiest 5K on the Planet.” If you sign up to run The Color Run, you receive a color packet along with your registration and you can purchase additional packets at the race. Most people opt not to purchase additional bags because plenty of free bags are thrown from the stage at the finish festival party (information obtained from contacting The Color Run customer service). Though if you want to buy additional bags of colored chalk powder, The Color Run sells them for $5 per bag. At some locations, you can get a discount if you buy multiple bags at once. As you run, people in the crowd will douse you in colored chalk powder as you go through the course. By the time you finish, you’re covered in all the colors of the rainbow. You can also use your own packet whenever you wish during the run. Throw it at friends, celebrate a halfway point, fling it back at the people in the crowd–it’s totally up to you!

Colored chalk powder is also sometimes referred to as Holi powder. Holi powder is used during the Hindu festival of Holi, the festival of colors and love, in celebration of the season of blooming flowers. It’s the Hindu celebration of spring, a joyous event encouraging brotherhood and sisterhood among all. Part of the festival of Holi includes throwing colored water and chalk powder on family, friends, or even complete strangers. The Color Run organizers refer to the festival of Holi as one of their guiding influences in creating the event.

All colored chalk powder distributed by The Color Run and other reputable dealers is:

  • non-toxic
  • composed of baking soda and/or cornstarch and FD&C dyes, and
  • free of all heavy metals.

The companies included in this article are all reputable colored chalk powder dealers.

Choosing Safe Colored Chalk Powder

Be sure to double-check your colored chalk powder ingredients and keep in mind that breathing in a powder of any kind, even a non-toxic one, can still be dangerous. It’s important to remember that if you have asthma or lung issues, breathing in powder is never a good idea and this might not be the best run for you. It’s also wise to use a bandanna around your nose and mouth to minimize the amount of chalk you inhale while running.

All of the powders listed in the companies above confirmed they are non-toxic and contain no heavy metals.

Physical Stores That Sell Colored Chalk Powder

Chameleon Colors

Walmart

  • Cost: $17.48
  • Quantity: 6 lanyard chalk bombs. These colored chalk bombs come shaped like a bomb and can be easier to throw than the powder in the typical packages. They explode upon impact.
  • Colors: Pink, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple
  • Shipping Cost: Free shipping on orders over $35; $5.99 for orders under $35.
  • Shop Walmart’s colored chalk bombs

Online-Only Stores That Sell Colored Chalk Powder

All India Store

Amazon

  • Cost: $7.00-$194.00
  • Quantity: 1.5 pounds – 50 pounds
  • Colors: Dark Green, Light Green, Pink, Salmon, Orange, Yellow, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Red, Purple, Teal
  • Shipping Cost: Costs vary by seller, but many of the featured products are eligible for Amazon Prime free shipping.
  • Shop Amazon’s top colored chalk powder products.

Cool Glow

  • Cost: $1.40- $137.79
  • Quantity: 70 grams – 1 kilogram
  • Colors: All Colors Are Ultraviolet, Blacklight or Glow Pigment (Invisible by Day, Glows at Night) —  Purple, Red, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Green, Blue, White
  • Shipping Cost: Free shipping on orders over $59.99, below that shipping varies based on location and weight of order.
  • Shop Cool Glow’s colored chalk powder

DesiClik.com

  • Cost: $1.00- $510.00
  • Quantity: .5 ounce – 100 pounds
  • Colors: Violet, Light Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink
  • Shipping Cost: Free shipping within the United States.
  • Shop DesiClik.com’s colored chalk powder

Herbal Beauty Supply Store

Hippie Powder

  • Cost: $14.90 (10 individual pack minimum at $1.49 per pack) – $97.00
  • Quantity: 10 bags/70 grams each to 25 pounds
  • Colors: Orange, Green, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Red, Purple, UV Glow
  • Shipping Cost: Free
  • Shop Hippie Powder’s colored chalk powder

HoliParty

  • Cost: $20.53-$646.15
  • Quantity: 10 bags/75 grams each- 500 bags/75 grams each
  • Colors: Multicolor Bundles: Scarlet, Red, Orange, Yellow, Dark Green, Light Green, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Pink
  • Shipping Cost: Within the United States, HoliParty has a flat shipping rate of $38.77.
  • Shop HoliParty’s colored chalk powder

Invisco

  • Cost: $19.99 – $24,950
  • Quantity: 10 bags/80 grams each – 5000 pounds (you can also special order more, if necessary)
  • Colors: Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Purple
  • Shipping Cost: Shipping varies by state and quantity ordered.
  • Shop Invisco’s colored chalk powder

Krishna Color Sales

PurColour

  • Cost: $8.00-$127.00
  • Quantity: 75 grams – 25 pounds
  • Colors: Yellow, Pink, Baby Blue, Orange, Green, Purple, Neon Yellow, Neon Pink, Neon Blue, Neon Orange, Neon Green, Neon Purple — each color can also be ordered mixed with glitter.
  • Shipping Cost: Shipping varies by state and quantity ordered.
  • Shop PurColour’s colored chalk powder

Wholesale Color Powder

How to Make Your Own Colored Chalk Powder

If you really want to save some money, you can create your own colored chalk powder with this simple recipe:

  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 oz. food color paste or gel coloring (food dye)
  • Large aluminum pans (1 per color)
  • Disposable gloves (1 set per color)

Mix the cornstarch and water together (the best way to do this is by hand) in the aluminum pan. Once it’s fully mixed, add the color paste. To increase your recipe, double the cornstarch and water, but leave the food coloring quantity the same.

After fully mixing the cornstarch, water, and paste, let it dry out completely. You can let it air dry for a few days, stirring occasionally with a fork to break up clumps.

If you prefer to dry your colored chalk powder quickly, preheat your oven to 170 degrees. Bake the mixture for 60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes to break up clumps. If the powder isn’t completely dry after 60 minutes, bake for an additional 20. Note: Sometimes this method can dull the color of your powder.

After whichever way you choose to dry out the mixture, dump it into a blender or food processor and blend until it becomes a fine powder.

For more DIY colored powder assistance, check out this great YouTube tutorial by Grace Stella on how to make DIY colored chalk powder at home. She uses the method outlined above, allowing the mixture to dry naturally.

In Summary

Now you know where to buy colored chalk powder. Whether you’re running your first 5K, looking for an exciting new race, or celebrating Holi, there are plenty of places to find colored chalk powder. If you stray from this list, make sure you find powder that’s non-toxic. If you’re going to be after-partying into the evening, you can really stand out with some of the glow and UV options above. Enjoy!

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