The present state of knowledge of the mechanisms of dye-surfactant interactions for "normal" aqueous micelles is surveyed. The nature of the forces which lead to the binding of dye molecules in micelles, the influence of the cationic, anionic or non-ionic character of a surfactant on the absorption and/or fluorescence behaviour (below and above the critical micelle concentration), ion-association processes and the influence of additives on these processes are discussed. Some discussion along these lines on related systems (reverse micelles, vesicles, polyelectrolytes) is included.