Can You Dye Leather Shoes a Darker Color?

Don't despair - dye those too-red shoes black.

Dyeing leather shoes a darker color is easy and can be done with materials under $25. Bear in mind, you will not be able to dye rubber or plastic parts, and dyeing works well only on smooth leathers, not suede or nubuck.

Preparation

Before shoes can be dyed, they must be cleaned of all dirt, then a deglazer is used on every surface and seam. Deglazers remove waxes and finishes, and prepare the leather for dye.

Mechanism

Dyes penetrate the leather, rather than coat its surface. Dyeing a shoe while it is wet with deglazer allows speedier, deeper penetration.

Steps

You'll get better results by dyeing light shoes an interim color, then your darker color. Dye manufacturer Fiebing recommends dyeing white leather blue, then black; or light green before deep brown.

Paint

Cobblers sell spray cans of leather paint, but paint is better suited to renewing a color than covering it.

Man-made Materials

Paint is useful for man-made soles or other pieces on a shoe, which will not accept dye. Still, you will have to renew the paint job periodically.

References

• Fiebing: Using Leather Dye
• Leather World Technologies: Leather Dyeing Manuals
• "Coloring Leather"; Al Stohlman; 1985

Resources

• Hidecrafter Leather Company: Dyes and Deglazers
• Tandy Leather Factory: Dye and Deglazers