How to Dye Leather Shoes From Brown to Beige

Leather shoes are available in many different colors, though you may not always find the shade you're looking for. Whatever the reason for wanting a change, brown shoes can become beige when mixing pigment dyes to your desired color, or dyeing intermediary colors with solvent dye.

Things You'll Need

• Brown leather shoes
• 3 clean white cloths
• Leather deglazer
• Plastic sheet
• Painter's tape
• Tan leather dye (solvent only)
• Beige leather dye
• Bowl (optional)
• Sponge or wool dauber
• Rubber gloves
• Leather finish

Instructions

Solvent Dye

1. Prepare your work space by laying a plastic sheet on a flat surface, such as a table top.

2. Remove the shoelaces. Blot leather deglazer on a clean white cloth. Rub the deglazer vigorously onto the shoe to remove the leather finish as well as surface dirt. Allow the shoes to air dry.

3. Apply painter's tape around the seam where the upper meets the soles of the shoes for protection against spills.

4. Put on rubber gloves and shake your intermediary (tan) dye bottle vigorously ensure that the color will be even.

5. Apply your intermediary (tan) dye color in a thin, even coat with a wool dauber. Use a clean cloth to catch any drips. Allow the shoes to air dry.

6. Apply the beige dye with the wool dauber in a thin, even coat, being sure to cover the first color in its entirety. Allow the shoes to dry.

7. Rub the shoes vigorously with a dry, clean cloth to remove any excess surface dye.

8. Use a clean cloth to apply a top coat or finish. Allow the shoes to dry.

Pigment Dye

1. Remove the shoelaces. Using a clean, white cloth, apply deglazer vigorously onto the shoe to remove any surface dirt and finish. Allow the shoes to air dry.

2. Prepare your work space by laying a plastic sheet on a flat surface, such as a table top. Apply painter's tape around the soles of the shoes for protection against spills.

3. Put on rubber gloves and thoroughly mix your dye by shaking the bottle or using a wooden stirring stick. If you are mixing two different colors, such as tan and white to create a beige, mix the colors in parts in a bowl until you have achieved your desired color.

4. Dip the sponge into the dye mixture, and apply by maneuvering the sponge in an up-down pattern. Allow the shoes to dry. Apply a second coat in a right-left movement and allow it to dry.

5. Rub vigorously with a clean, dry cloth to remove any unabsorbed surface dye. Remove the painters tape from the soles.

6. Use a clean cloth to apply a leather finish if desired, and allow it to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Patch-test the dye on a hidden part of your shoe, such as the arch.

• Pigment dyes are water-based and can be mixed beforehand to achieve a desired color.

• Solvent dyes require an intermediary color. When going from brown to beige, a tan middle color will be beneficial.

• Solvent dye requires a topcoat.

References

• Zelikovitz Leathers: How to Dye Leather
• Fiebing.com: Using Leather Dye