As you know, I love using slime to help my kids (and myself!) enjoy sensory play and learn about different feelings and ways to play! The best part of any slime journey is learning to make different types of slime with different textures. Not only does it help you and your kids learn, it is super fun to explore and play together.
The texture of your slime will be determined by the ingredients included in your recipe. If you’ve been following our posts, you know that we experiment with all different types of slime and share the results with you, so you will never have to stress out while trying to find your own slime recipes.
With that said, let’s talk about the best slime textures you can DIY at home and how to make each of them.
Original Slime
This is the type of slime we all know and love. This is likely the first slime you ever encountered, and you might have heard it referred to as jelly slime. Basic slime recipes use clear glue, white glue, or glitter glues to make a beautiful texture you just can’t get enough of.
Although it is basic, the glue mixture for basic clear slime can be lots of different colors, and the texture can be altered with different mix-ins. To make this yourself, try our easiest slime recipe. It is the perfect slime recipe for beginners, so if it’s your first time, it’s a great place to start!
Butter Slime
If the ultra sticky texture isn’t one you enjoy, butter slime might be the option for you! Otherwise known as cloud slime or cloud dough, butter slime is a completely different type of slime that is closer to play-dough. It has a thick texture that you can knead and mold much easier. I especially love using it with younger kids, because it’s less likely to get stuck in the carpet or in their hair.
It only requires corn starch and conditioner– yes, that’s it! You can add whatever food coloring you’d like if you want a different color than white. The buttery, cloudlike feeling will make you wish you could play with it all the time! And sure, your kids will like it too, haha.
Check out my cloud dough post to get the full recipe and enjoy creating it. The prep time is only about 3 minutes, and it engages multiple of your senses. It will smell as delicious as your favorite conditioner!
Fluffy Slime
For a slime idea that has the best of both worlds, a fluffy-yet-glossy slime is the perfect in between. The fluffy texture comes from shaving cream, and there are all kinds of themed, cool slime recipes that make the most of the exciting texture.
If you love to squish and mold your slime and don’t want it too… slimy, creating fluffy slime with your kids will be such a fun activity. My personal favorite is DIY birthday cake slime. It’s full of colorful foam beads that will make you feel like any day is a special occasion!
Crunchy Slime
If you’re on the internet at all, you’ve probably come across ASMR videos. These are videos that are created to stimulate the watcher’s autonomous sensory meridian response– a fancy way to say that they are full of satisfying, unique sounds. Crunchy slime is the most ASMR-friendly type of slime, and it feels amazing to play with in your hands.
Slime experts have developed so many recipes that help slime reach its maximum crunch potential. Two of the most common ingredients to make crunchy slime are foam beads or fishbowl beads. You can squish and pop them in your fingers, giving a satisfying sensation similar to popping bubble wrap.
Try out our winter slime recipe to experience the magic!
SAFETY NOTE: None of these slimes are ingestible, and ingredients like foam balls and fishbowl beads can be very dangerous if a child tries to eat them. Always make sure your kids have adult supervision when trying to make or play with these slime recipes to keep them safe. Thankfully, I enjoy playing with these exciting types of slime as well, so it’s not an issue!
Comment below: What is your favorite texture of slime?