Darkening boots with do-it-yourself methods is possible and ensures a professional result. How to darken leather boots? Following our shoes and coloring them at home will be easy.
How to Darken Leather Boots?
Here is the detailed instruction from Kirby Allison, the founder of the Hanger Project.
To achieve a darker shade on your leather boots, follow these 5 easy steps to repair cracked leather boots. This process not only solves the cracking issue but also allows you to darken the color of your boots. So, no need to worry if your leather boots are losing their shine—just give them a darker look with this method.
Necessary Equipment
- Damp cloth
- Dry cloth
- Masking tape
- Newspaper sheets
- Dyeing for footwear
- Bowl
- Latex gloves
- Shoe polish
- Woolen cloth
- Solvent
- Leather Boots
Shoe Cleaning
Before you think about dyeing a pair of leather work boots like the work boots for construction workers, make sure they are real leather. Keep in mind that dyeing other materials (such as suede) is never perfect. It often leads to poor results.
Having made this preliminary check, it is necessary to remove all traces of dirt from the leather parts of the shoes. You can use the help of a damp cloth or dry foam and horsehair brush on the surface.
Get some masking tape. Cover all parts that do not need dye, such as the sole, heels, and metal parts. Insert paper into the foot slot to avoid staining the lining. Now, remove the shoe leather finish. Help yourself with a specific solvent for this or with acetone. To do this, put a fair amount on a rough sponge and start stroking.
In this way, your skin will gradually lose color and shine, reaching the condition to retreat it optimally. Let the shoes dry for at least six hours away from sources of heat and sunlight.
When it comes to leather boots, cleaning and maintaining them is important to keep them looking great, and it’s no different when it comes to darkening leather boots. You can clean your leather boots with baking soda to help to remove dirt and other debris from the boots. A clean surface will help with the absorption of the darkening agent and ensure an even result.
Color Change
It is time to proceed with the color change of your beloved shoes. Purchase a penetrating dye for leather, specific for footwear, in the nuance you like best.
The packages that are found on the market usually also have a brush. It is used to make the drafting of the product easier. Keep in mind that you will get a better result if you switch from a light color of your boot to a darker one, and not vice versa.
Open the bottle, empty the contents into a bowl. Mix well, trying to make the mixture as homogeneous as possible. Now spread the product on the surface. Start with a small dose, as what matters, in this first phase. It is not so much the coloring, but not creating lumps. Let it dry to perfection. Repeat this step until you have reached optimal coverage.
Liquid Dye and Spray Dye
For dyeing genuine leather shoes, liquid dye is undoubtedly the best method. On the market, there is also a spray version. It is a professional dye associated with a pre-dye. The pretintura is available for deep cleaning of the shoes.
Before using the spray version, it is advisable to proceed with the treatment outside the home. Of course, the day does not have to be windy. After pre-dyeing, apply sprays to the shoes and repeat this step several times until we achieve the homogeneous result. Leave to dry perfectly in a very ventilated or ventilated area.
If you’re looking for a way to revamp your old leather boots, consider using liquid or spray dye to give them a new look. This method not only darkens the leather but also enhances the natural texture and grain. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and protect any surrounding areas from getting stained.
Final Polishing
If you use good quality products, the results will be excellent and long-lasting. At the time of purchase, evaluate the amount of dye needed.
To dye enormous men’s shoes, one package of the product may not be enough. When the color is perfectly fixed on the skin, and it is completely dry, proceed with the polishing of the shoes.
Apply a coat of polish of the same shade as the one with which you dyed them. Finally, in a well-ventilated room, spray the shoes with a neutral waterproofing spray to fix the color and protect the surface. Your new shoes are ready. Be daring with trendy colors and get compliments on the latest trendy model!
How to Choose The Most Suitable Shoe Paint?
To repaint leather shoes, you first need to choose the shoe dye. If the goal is to renew the original color, the choice will have to focus on a dye that is similar to the starting point.
When in doubt, our advice is always to opt for a slightly darker shade? Those who want to change the color of their shoes will have to follow their taste. The best manufacturers offer about 100 different colors to choose from, to satisfy almost anyone.
In choosing the dye, we must not pay attention only to the color. We should emphasize that there are paints for leather shoes, dyes for suede shoes, and so on. It is of fundamental importance to ensure an excellent result and to buy the shoe dye. Otherwise, the color may not take and spread unevenly.
Methods of Darkening Leather Boots?
How to darken leather boots? It is a question that many people ask themselves often, looking at their shoes faded by time, scratched, damaged, or simply bored. There are several situations that a person might want to repaint their leather shoes, and they are all valid.
For example, many people decide to buy shoe paint to restore beautiful, comfortable, and expensive shoes that have faded. Others could resort to professional shoe dyes to remedy a few scratches or even some indelible stain. And a fresh coat of color is the only viable solution.
As expected, all these reasons are valid. The shoes remain at our feet for a long time and define our outfit importantly. So, for this reason, they must be perfect, starting from the color. Fearing that repainting leather shoes is a complicated process, so many people give up, throwing away the shoes early. Others, thinking that it is complex, invariably turn to the shoemaker. In reality, this operation is not at all as complex as one might think. With the right shoe paint, renewing the color of your shoes is a fun activity.
Well, now that you have purchased your shoe dye, you are ready to get down to business and give your footwear luster again. We recommend wearing gloves, protecting the work area with a few sheets of newspaper, and not wearing valuable clothes.
Shoe dyes are powerful, and any stains could be difficult to erase. Wearing an apron is not a bad idea! First, cover the unpainted parts with masking tape to prevent them from spoiling or changing color. Look for a spray product that is specific for plastic materials suitable for painting such as leatherette. Thoroughly, clean the entire surface to remove any residual dust before applying the new color. If there are any scratches, help with very fine-grained sandpaper and try to make the entire surface smooth.
It comprises cleaning the leather shoes very well, using a brush, detergent, and cotton cloth. Once clean and dry, we can paint the shoes. Here, the procedure to follow changes slightly from product to product, as each dye involves distinct steps. The Prestige Color Rapid shoe paint, for example, comes with a small sponge that after shaking the jar well, it must spread the color evenly on the shoes. After three minutes of drying, we can apply a second coat of dye to have a more covering effect.
Patent leather shoes can get damaged or peel off in some places. Before throwing them away, try to fix them using specific products that you can pass directly on the shoe. Put old newspapers on the floor, on the terrace, place your patent leather shoe in the center, apply the first coat of base dye and wait for it to dry.
Then, at the recommended distance, spray the new color all over the shoe without exaggerating the quantities. Wait for the paint to dry for at least 24 hours and remove the masking tape to reveal the parts you previously covered. If the result is not homogeneous, repeat the operation with a second coat of spray.
By doing so, in a few minutes, it is possible to repaint any type of leather shoes from closed models to open sandals. The investment is minimal, and it does correctly result if it guarantees every step. Why on earth give up a pair of shoes just for a little wear or a couple of scratches?
With Colored Dye
First, we have to choose the best product. You can visit the dying section for smooth leather boots on our online shop, and you will surely find the product with the color that best suits your needs. We can recommend the Tarrago Color Dye with a huge color chart.
Another great product for dyeing smooth leather shoes is the Prestige ColorRapid. They are quick and easy to use, complete with 82 different color shades. Another valid product is the Saphir Teinture Francaise, synonymous with quality when the name Saphir is indicated.
You will complete only with primary colors that guarantee perfect results. All the dyes stated above are to be used by brush or pad. In spray dyes, the most used dye is the Magix Color, recommended for dyeing shoes in a single color as the spray dye has a wide and uniform flow.
Once you have chosen the most suitable product, it is time to start! The Tarrago Color Dye also includes the degreaser to remove dirt and grease from shoes to make the paint adhere better. For the other dyes, the degreaser Saphir decapant or simply the pure spirit passed with a strictly white cloth over the entire skin can be used.
After the cleaning of the leather, it is time to understand how to dye your shoes optimally. Use the brush or the pad in the package, distributing the color evenly. You should not worry if with the first pass the leather does not immediately take the desired color.
Instead, it takes care to distribute the color well on the shoe without creating a too thick layer of paint. We can apply a second or third coat in one hour. The important thing is to always take care to distribute the paint well on the skin.
After finishing, your shoes will be like new and will have changed or renewed the color ready to face a new season. If you wish, once you have finished dyeing the shoe, you can pass the shoe polish in leather to get a result of 10 out of 10. If you use the suggested dyes and follow the simple rules stated above, the dyeing of the shoe is 100% guaranteed.
If you want to add some color to your leather boots, consider using colored dye. You can find a variety of colors, including two-tone options like blue and brown, to create a unique look for your boots. Make sure to clean the leather surface thoroughly before applying the dye, and consider using a sealant to protect the color and prevent it from fading over time.
With Vegetable Oils ( Olive Oil / Mink Oil )
Besides shoe dye, you can use vegetable oils like olive oil to darken leather, as the consultants and engineers at the National Industrial Research Institute in Delhi point out in their leather tanning manual.
However, olive oil is mainly made as a food product. All the oil will blacken the leather to some extent. Some support the use of olive oil as a non-toxic alternative to chemicals. Pour a small amount of olive oil into a saucer. Avoid staining or applying unevenly, using a little oil at a time. Dip a clean cloth or brush in olive oil, taking a little olive oil. Work the oil into the surface of the first bundle.
Dip the cloth or brush again in oil and proceed in the same way on the whole of the first boot, paying particular attention to the patterned areas. Set the boot aside to dry it. Treat the second boot in the same way. Return to the boots from time to time to check them. Touch them to see if they are still sticky. When the oil is soaked in oil and the boots are just sticky, you can polish them.
Rub the leather with a soft cloth from front to back and front to the front over the entire surface. Try to remove any excess oil applied by mistake. Polish each part of the boots as needed to create a shiny and uniform finish. The boots will now be darker and shinier.
FAQs
What do I have to consider if I want to dye leather?
The leather must be clean and free of grease, otherwise, the paint does not adhere well.
Are there different ways to dye leather?
Yes, these differ essentially in that you either only dye the surface of the leather or dye the leather completely.
How do you darken leather naturally?
Of course, you can also rely on home remedies. With coffee, black tea, or sunlight, for example, we can achieve different color nuances of a beautiful shade of brown.
How do I make my leather shoes darker?
First, know that leather gains its color thanks to a specific process. The skins are immersed in pigment baths so that the desired shade is well impregnated.
So contrary to what you might think, it is not enough to polish your shoes in another color to go from brown to black, for example. It is first necessary to break the original color so that your stain adheres in depth.
Here, we will choose the product of the Saphir brand: Flag Tincture, or also called base coat. It will make it possible to make a base that will subsequently accommodate the wax. As seen above, the leather must first be stripped. You will need a stripper for this.
It is a solvent that can be applied with a rag, or even it can be used with a scotch Brite sponge to stress its stripping effect. If you use the latter method, take it slowly so as not to damage the media too much. Here, it is useless to insist, you will never remove all the brown. Rough it well and make it so that the product sticks afterward.
Can I stain leather boots darker?
Even with shoe polish, you can remove some stains on the shoes in leather. We must clean the stains before the waxing. And even if there is only one stain on a leather shoe to avoid any risk of color change on the leather. It also requires cleaning both shoes, insisting on the stain.
How to apply a dye to leather shoes?
Once your support is ready and dry, you will apply the base coat. Here, we will use a navy-blue shade. It is advisable to always go from light to dark, as the reverse will not be possible with this product.
You can go to Famaco products to do this. When you get your hands on the techniques for dyeing your shoes, you can create patinas with different effects. For example, shades of colors give a wood effect to the leather. But you have to know the material and the products well.
You will spread the liquid over the entire surface using an applicator pad or a brush. Be careful not to run on the sole if you do not wish to dye it. You can use painter’s tape to protect areas if you do not want to cover them. It will sometimes be necessary to pass two or three coats to get the desired effect. Leave to rest for two hours between each layer. Keep in mind that it is only a base coat, it is the next step that will even out the shade and make the leather shine.
Do I have to polish the boots?
Finally, you will select a cream wax to nourish and shine the leather. Here we go to a Famaco Bleu Marine beauty cream. We take a waxing pad to affix the wax well and make it penetrate well.
For this reason, we make circular movements with the round waxing brush to facilitate penetration. We leave to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then polish with a shine brush. The supple horsehair bristles of this accessory allow you to heat the wax and thus give it shine.
To conclude your stain, we recommend you apply a fixer or waterproofer. So, you will protect your work and create a barrier against rain and poor weather. Remember to wax regularly to maintain the color and nourish your shoes to prevent drying out.
How to dye suede shoes?
Dyeing suede shoes is quick and easy. As always, we have to choose the best product to guarantee an excellent result.
You can visit the dyeing section for suede shoes of our online shop to find the color and dye that best suits your needs. We can certainly recommend the Tarrago Suede Nubuck Dye, the Prestige Suede Color, and the Saphir Teinture Francaise also available in 500mL and 1L packs for professional use or large surfaces.
Clean the shoe well to remove all the dirt to make the color adhere better, avoid washing the shoe because the suede does not like water much. Especially before dyeing, water dries the suede. To prepare the shoe well for dyeing, we recommend using a brass brush or a simple brush with a stiff bristle.
Once the shoe has been cleaned, apply the dye with the brush or the padding present in the package of the products recommended above, distributing the dye evenly. Do not worry if the color is not uniform on the first pass, you can repeat several coats at a distance of 30 minutes until the color is homogeneous. Once the perfect color is reached, let it dry for 3/4 hours.
The game is done. Your shoes are ready to be worn for an optimal result. Brush the shoe with the para rubber brush to comb the leather and make it even shinier. If you use the products recommended above by following the simple instructions that we have shown or those present in the datasheet of each product, the shoes will keep the color over time without fading.
Final Words
Are you tired of the usual shoe model with the color always black, blue, and brown? Let’s tell the truth. At the bottom of the shoe cabinet, we have not put them on for a long time. By now, we are tired of that color that we just cannot match with the garments of the moment.
Why leave a fine shoe to mold when we can use it with a small but significant change? The choice of dyeing leather shoes also allows us to dare colors we rarely use. If it is renewing the color faded over time, dyeing the shoes will save a lot of money.
We use that comfortable pair of shoes and show them off as if they were new. Remember to choose a dry and cool day for fast and long-lasting results and protect your eyes and use a mask for the powerful odor of the substances used.
