neatshoes200

Hi all, this may seem like another silly question, but I bought a pair of shoes in brown, instead of black, the color I wanted because it was the last one of the style in my size. Brown is okay, but I would prefer black.

If I ask a shoe repairer to dye it black, will that mess up the interior (closed toe) or get dye all over?

Would the dye come off over time and leave brown spots (the underlying color)?

Or would it turn out so well that after it is dyed I could never tell later that it was ever brown?

Neatshoes

Guy N. Heels

Well, the foremost question is: What material(s) are the shoes made from? If they are made of leather then dying the shoes is so easy that you could really try it yourself.

After you've obtained a good quality dye you need to remove all old finishing material, wax, oil, or other stuff that might still be on the leather. I would suggest a good scrub with saddlesoap and/or with a 70% alcohol solution. Then you simply apply the dye per the dye mfgr's instructions. A second coat may be necessary, depending upon how things turned-out with the first coat. Then you finish up with a couple of coats of top quality shoe polish like Kiwi. Always remember that it's okay to go from a lighter finish to a darker one, but not the other way.

Of course, if the shoes are made of something other than leather, all bets are off.

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Keep on stepping,
Guy N. Heels

shoerepairer

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatshoes200 If I ask a shoe repairer to dye it black, will that mess up the interior (closed toe) or get dye all over?

Most repairers would have dyed many, many pairs of shoes in there time, we have little trade secrets that should ensure that you will get a top class job, and I would be really surprised if any dye ended up inside the shoe!
Mind you with a typical preparation & dying time of around the 1 hour mark, getting it done professionally doesn’t come cheap, so DIY is a very cost effective way of doing it!
When you buy the dye also buy a fine paint brush, for doing the edges.

There are two types of dye to consider, spirit based & water based. Most spirit based dyes achieve the best results BUT it depends on the way the shoes leather has been tanned as to whether this is the best choice & your retailer “should” be able to tell you which dye to use.
Spirit based dyes soak into the upper & are true dyes, once completed they will wear as well as the original colour.

Water based dyes normally put a surface on the upper, much like a paint & dry to a flexible & hard wearing coating. Which occasionally needs touching up. This is best used on plastic, synthetic & canvas uppers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatshoes200 Would the dye come off over time and leave brown spots (the underlying color)?

Under normal wear generally no, provided the uppers are maintained afterwards! Scuffing as with any upper, will need polishing or touching up.
if you take your time, you will not know they have been done, allow plenty of time, don’t rush them, consider allowing for two initial coats, and a 24 hour drying time & your shoes will look as good as new!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy N. Heels After you've obtained a good quality dye you need to remove all old finishing material, wax, oil, or other stuff that might still be on the leather. I would suggest a good scrub with saddlesoap

Do NOT use saddlesoap, neatshoes200. Saddle soap is a preparatory compound containing mild soap and softening ingredients such as neatsfoot oil, glycerin and lanolin. Your dye will not take well to neatsfoot oil! Use metholated spirits (not white spirits) to clean of the maufacturers polishes & “glossing” but please NOT saddlesoap!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy N. Heels Always remember that it's okay to go from a lighter finish to a darker one, but not the other way.

Here in the UK (not to familiar with the US market) the water based dyes I mentioned before are made by several manufacturers, the two most popular being, Dylon & Punch both are capable of dying leather, synthetics, plastics & canvas & both state you can dye black shoes white. I have lightened the shade of an upper on several occasions with positive results.

Lee

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