How to Dye Shoes: easy guide
Key Materials for Dyeing Shoes
- Gloves
- Soft cloth
- Masking tape
- Leather dye or leather paint (for specific leather types)
- Permanent marker or sharpies (for custom designs)
- Alcohol and spray bottle (for special effects)
- Deglazer (for prepping leather surfaces)
Quick Look at Shoe Dyeing
Many people choose to dye their shoes to give them a fresh or unique look. Canvas and silk shoes tend to work best for this process, while leather footwear is usually not recommended except for specific options, such as certain sheepskin boots. Working with white or off-white shoes allows for the truest color results, while existing colors can be covered by overdyeing with a darker shade.
When dyeing fabric shoes, it is common to use materials like gloves and soft cloths to keep hands clean and apply dye more evenly. Prepping the shoes may also include using a deglazer to help remove finishes or residues. For those wanting to experiment, items such as permanent markers, sharpies, or even alcohol and a spray bottle can be used to create custom designs or effects.
Color mixing is important to think about, especially on shoes that have patterns or logos. New dye will blend with the existing colors in the fabric, often resulting in different shades. Here’s a simplified example:
| Base Color of Shoe | Dye Color Used | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| White | Blue | Blue |
| Pink Pattern | Blue | Purple Pattern |
| Yellow Pattern | Blue | Green Pattern |
For creative styles like tie dye shoes or rainbow effects, masking tape can help create clean lines or block certain parts of the shoe from being dyed. Specialty products such as Angelus leather dye, leather paint, or shoe polish are more suitable for shoes made from leather, but their use requires proper surface prep and often several thin coats.
It’s important to note that removing old color from shoes, especially if they are dark or have sun and bleach damage, is challenging and not always successful. Tools like Rit Color Remover may work best for canvas material, and even then, results cannot be guaranteed.
