Have you ever had the experience of wearing your beloved leather shoes for a long time and the color starts to darken and even the leather starts to fade in some places? Don’t just rush to throw them away, give it a little makeover, dyeing leather shoes is an easy and fun way to give them a new life. Let’s take a look at how to make old leather shoes your new favorite.
What do you need to prepare?
Dyeing leather shoes doesn’t require complicated tools—just the basics will do the trick. You’ll need:
Leather dye: choose a suitable dye for leather, usually there are two kinds of dyes – liquid and paste, liquid dye is more common.
Cleaner: If leather shoes have dust or oil on the surface, the dying result will not look good, so cleaner is essential.
Coating tools: you can choose brushes, sponges or cloths. Brushes are the most common choice for easy and even application.
Gloves: To avoid getting dye on your hands, it’s best to wear gloves for a clean and safe application.
Old newspapers or cloths: lay them on the work area to avoid staining the floor.
Once these tools are ready, it’s time to get started!
Step 1: Clean the Uppers
Before dyeing, ensure the surface of your leather shoes is free from dust, grease, or dirt. Wipe down the uppers with a leather-specific cleaner, especially the toes and heels, which are often worn. If you have stubborn stains on the uppers, wipe them gently with a damp cloth. Be careful not to use too much water as too much moisture will affect the quality of the leather.
Step 2: Choosing Dyes and Colors
Choosing the right dye is crucial. Make sure it is specifically designed for leather, as these dyes offer better adhesion and longer-lasting results. When choosing the color, you can decide according to your preference. If you want a vintage effect, dark brown or black is a good choice; if you want to make the shoes look brighter, you can try red, blue or other bright colors.
There are many brands of dyes, so choosing a reputable and highly rated dye will be more secure.
Step 3: Coloring
Once you’ve put on your gloves, start coloring your shoes. Pour the dye into a clean container, dip a brush into the appropriate amount of dye, and start applying it to a small section of the shoe’s upper. Keep in mind that the dye needs to be even, it’s best to brush through each application gently so that the dye doesn’t build up in one spot. If you accidentally apply too much, you can wipe it off with a cloth.
When applying color, brush in the direction of the grain of the leather to avoid color blocking. It is recommended to apply the color in several coats, applying each layer of dye a little thinner and waiting for the previous layer to dry before continuing with the second layer. This will give a more natural and even coloring effect.
Step 4: Wait for drying
After applying the dye, place the shoes in a cool and ventilated place, away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause the dye to discolor or fade, affecting the results. Typically, it takes 6 to 12 hours for leather shoes to dry, if possible, let the shoes dry naturally so that the dyeing effect will be better.
Step 5: Care and Maintenance
Once it is complete, don’t forget to give the shoes a little care. Leather will become drier after dyeing, and you need to restore the luster of the leather through leather care oil or maintenance cream. Some people may worry about the hardening of leather shoes after dyeing, you can use a special leather softener to restore the softness of the leather shoes.
Tips:
- Avoid excessive dyeing: control the amount of dye to prevent the leather from becoming too saturated.
- Try gradient effect: If you don’t want a single color, you can try gradient dyeing, with gradual transition from toe to heel, the effect will be more layered.
- Protect the soles: When dyeing, it is best to seal the soles with tape to avoid the dye getting on the soles and affecting the overall effect.
- Regular maintenance: After dyeing leather shoes need special attention to maintenance, you can use leather care products regularly to extend the service life of shoes.
Dyeing leather shoes is a simple and enjoyable process that can breathe new life into your shoes and save you the cost of buying new ones. As long as you know the right way to dye your old leather shoes, they can take on a new look. Next time you find your beloved leather shoes a little old, try this DIY coloring tip, it will surely surprise you!
Further reading