Complete guide to dyeing leather
Dyeing your shoes: complete guide
If you want to dye your shoes, you've come to the right place!
Dyeing your shoes can give them a new lease of life. You can change the original colour of your shoes. Your shoes will once again have a bright, solid colour.
The colour of the leather may fade or no longer suit your taste or style. You can also completely change the style of your shoes with leather dyeing. Rather than replacing your leather shoes, dyeing offers an option. It's an affordable and creative way to give them a new lease of life.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through all the steps needed to successfully dye your leather. The products mentioned in the article are available on the site. These are the types of dyes specifically for shoe leather.
Here, we teach you how to dye smooth and grained leather for your shoes only. Our advice does not apply to leather handbags. Faux leather reacts differently, so we advise against dyeing it.
We advise against dyeing suede, as the change is not long-lasting.
Tradition, Innovation and Customisation
The art of dyeing leather is a practice that combines tradition and innovation. It can be applied to many different types of product, including leather bags. Dyeing can also give a new lease of life to leather items that have gone out of fashion. Opting to dye your leather shoes is an alternative.
By choosing to dye your shoes, you embrace a unique personalisation approach. You can adjust your favourite pieces to suit your current style or the trends of the moment.
Details of products to use
Selecting the right dye product is crucial to the successful transformation of your leather shoes. There is an impressive variety of dyes on the market. You can find water-based formulations, which are more environmentally friendly, to alcohol-based options. Each is renowned for its deep penetration and rapid drying.
We recommend stains from the Saphir or Famaco brands, as they guarantee an even, long-lasting finish. What's more, they keep the leather supple.
When looking at the ingredients in dyes, it's important to look for products that contain as few harmful chemicals as possible. This way, the dye will not alter the feel of your leather shoes.
Understanding colour blends and the use of brighteners or fixatives can also enrich shades.
Preparing leather for dyeing
Before dyeing leather, it is important to prepare it and protect yourself properly. Protect your hands with gloves and the work surface so as not to damage your table.
Make sure the surface of the leather is clean and completely free of dust and dirt. You can use a mild leather cleaner such as cleansing milk. To do this, use circular movements with a soft cloth or chamois.
Once cleaned, you can move on to the next stage of stripping. To do this, you'll need a stripper and a clean chamois cloth.
Apply the stripper to the chamois and rub the leather in a circular motion. The dye will come off. The leather will become increasingly matt and whiten in certain areas.
The leather must be completely matt before moving on to the next steps.
Applying the dye to the leather
Once the leather is clean and dry, you can start applying the liquid dye.
Here are the basic steps for dyeing leather:
1. Choose your dye: select a Saphir French dye in the colour of your choice. Dyes can be mixed together to create new shades. Lightening agents are also available to lighten dyes.
2.Apply the liquid dye: Use a brush for even application and to create shades. Apply several coats of dye to achieve even coverage.
3.Leave the stain to dry and finish off with a maintenance treatment. Once the dye has been applied and dried, nourish the leather with a suitable shoe polish.
4.Finish by applying polishing paste to shine and protect the patina.
By following these simple steps, you can give your shoes a professional patina. You'll be able to dye the leather of all your shoes and give new life to your favourite accessories.
Extending the life of the patina
Once your leather has been dyed, it's important to look after it. Here are some tips on how to prolong the life of your leather and preserve the brilliance of the colour.
1. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, as this leads to premature fading. Store them in a dark place or use covers to protect them when you're not using them.
2. Use suitable cleaning products. To clean and protect dyed leather, use Monsieur Chaussure care kits. The products are based on natural active ingredients to avoid damaging your leather objects.
3. Store your leather accessories correctly: Avoid storing them on top of each other, as this could cause permanent creasing and deformation. It is advisable to use red cedar shoe trees to retain their shape. This also prevents moisture from getting into your shoes.
4. Carry out regular maintenance to maintain beauty and durability. We recommend once a month. You can follow our 20-minute routines.
By following our advice, you'll double the life of your patina.