Abstract: The invention is concerned with a change in the current practice of dyeing natural and synthetic polyamide materials with reactive dyestuffs. The invention involves pre-treating the material to be dyed with an amphoteric auxiliary in a bath which is brought rapidly to the later dyeing temperature and which contains an amphoteric auxiliary preferably at a pH buffered within a specific range. It is found that the pre-treated material takes on the reactive dyestuff very readily and that the dyed materials have a good fastness. A major achievement is that the dyeing time is cut to about one-half of that presently employed.