Changing Color of Shoes

sscotty727 · 25th August 2004, 00:04

I have a pair of 5" white heels (pumps). My wife doesn't like me wearing them because they are too bright and too easy to see (even around the house). I sometimes wear my black heels and she doesn't seem to mind as much. Before I get rid of the white heels, how easy would it be to make them black? I don't want to get into a very messy dye job, would a black permanent marker or sharpe work? What about black shoe polish, etc? Anyone ever do this?

Thanks,

Scotty

hoverfly · 25th August 2004, 00:36

Are they real leather or are they pleather?

Firefox · 25th August 2004, 01:27

A permanent marker will work on most surfaces, even plastic. Try a small area first, but if they are for indoor use, the durability of the finish is not so important.

The best way on leather is specialist shoe dye. It's not "messy" and can be applied with a brush just like paint. Just stand on a newspaper while drying. All in all quite simple and quick to do.

Hartland · 30th August 2004, 00:31

You hve to determine if the shoe is leather, or vinyl
It may say inside the shoe, it may not. If you see a leather hide mark on the sole, it may mean the sole is leather, but not the shoe.
There are Liquid shoe dyes, and Spray kind.
the Liquid kind use a daubber, usually a piece of foam rubber on a wire, or a cotton on a wire.
If the shoe is vinyl, you have to find a dye that says it is for vinyl You usually brush it on,
If the shoe is leather, It is best to remove the original dye from the shoe. The professionals usually use something like Acetone and Steel wool. It can be messy. when the shoe color is gone as much as possible, then you use the liquid dye first. let it dry, and then use the Spray dye. It may be sticky let dry by a fan, or Window with a screen and It will dry over night. Put some Neutral wax polish on to seal the job before wearing the shoes.
Practice makes perfect
Now you know why they charge the money
Good Luck
Gene

sscotty727 · 30th August 2004, 15:04

All,

Thanks for the great advice. First of all, I don't know what the heels are made of, but they are DEFINTELY not leather. They were inexpensive pumps I got on Ebay, I think for around $29.95 or something like that. Also, I don't plan on wearing them in public more than maybe when driving or getting gas with long pants, so they don't have to be spotless perfect.

Anyway, I ended up using a permanent black marker and they look pretty good. I am sure a professional shoe person could tell if they looked, but I showed my wife and she agreed they look pretty good, like they were always black. The one "problem" is they are a very shiny black instead of a dull black, but that is minor. I also realized that black markers could be used in a pinch to "fix" marks on shoes as well (the soles have some white on them from brushing against the walls, the markers made them look good as new!).

Scotty

Dr. Shoe · 30th August 2004, 20:18

Fix the shine by polishing with black polish. Although they'll come out shiny, after a while they'll dull down a bit.

high10 · 6th November 2004, 08:59

which dyes are the best for leather and plastic shoes and are they water,alcohol or oil based

Secreto · 3rd February 2006, 17:41

Clever shoe people:

I've just bough a pair of boots, they were "mode in pella" so I had to have them, especially as they were in the sale...but they're pink. They're made of soft leather with a suede section at the back - paint, cream or wax for the main part, and what would I use on the suede?

hart88 · 17th February 2006, 05:19

leather shoes need a leather dye...to do the best job, the original finish needs to be stripped down or off. Mostly to get the factory shine, and other products they might have put on to protect the finish. Most professionals use a liquid dye that gets into the pores of the leather. Then they use a spray dye to finish, that usually makes a shiney finish...If you don't want a shiny finish, then use a creme polish to put over the liquid dye. There are retail spray dyes that you can buy to spray your own self, but then you have to mask areas that you don't want the dye to get on

with an out door boot, or work boot, you can sometimes just use a wax polish over the top of the liquid dye and apply a couple of coats of polish while shining inbetween.
Vinyl shoes need a vinyl dye
Most Retail dyes for vinyl are sprays, but there are a few paint on brands.

Suede dyes are not as available...and there are fewer suede dyes for retail purchase...And it is even difficult to find a shoe repair shop that would attempt suede dying. Here in the states, we have one place we can send them into for professional suede dying, and it is expensive....

hart88 · 17th February 2006, 05:21

leather shoes need a leather dye...to do the best job, the original finish needs to be stripped down or off. Mostly to get the factory shine, and other products they might have put on to protect the finish. Most professionals use a liquid dye that gets into the pores of the leather. Then they use a spray dye to finish, that usually makes a shiney finish...If you don't want a shiny finish, then use a creme polish to put over the liquid dye. There are retail spray dyes that you can buy to spray your own self, but then you have to mask areas that you don't want the dye to get on

with an out door boot, or work boot, you can sometimes just use a wax polish over the top of the liquid dye and apply a couple of coats of polish while shining inbetween.
Vinyl shoes need a vinyl dye
Most Retail dyes for vinyl are sprays, but there are a few paint on brands.

Suede dyes are not as available...and there are fewer suede dyes for retail purchase...And it is even difficult to find a shoe repair shop that would attempt suede dying. Here in the states, we have one place we can send them into for professional suede dying, and it is expensive....