To modify the colour of your leather shoes or boots, even into a lighter colour, re-colouring products only are not sufficent. You need to use a dye and proceed according to the following two solutions :
1 - To change from a light to a darker colour :
use Liquid Dye Teinture Française Liquide Saphir, a very liquid hydroalcoholic formula which will penetrate the leather in-depth, the solution of the highest quality because the leather is deep-dyed. Afterwards, it is necessary to apply a finish with one of the polishes, which will serve for everyday maintenance. Cannot be used to make a colour change from a dark colour to a light one, not suitable for fabric.
2 - To change from a darker to a lighter colour :
use COLOR DYE Tarrago, an acqueaous formula with great covering power, to make the colour change towards a lighter colour without any problem. Does not require a finish, also suitable for synthetic leather and fabric.
Please find below the details on how to proceed :
SOLUTION 1 (see video below): change the colour from light to dark
a- Preparation:
If your leather has previously been treated with different shoe polishes based on wax (polish, grease...), it is recommended to remove them for better penetration of the products to follow (the dye in particular). Use Leather Cleaner Renomat.
b- Stripping :
Use Saphir Stripper for a complete stripping of the leather, a necessary preparatory step before applying the dye. If you change for a darker colour, this step might not be necessary (test before).
c- Dyeing:
Dye the leather with Liquid Dye Teinture Française Liquide Saphir. Apply with a Paint Brush. Afterwards, polish with a Chamois Cotton cloth to remove the surplus and prevent any discharge. You need approx. 50 ml for a pair of shoes and 100 ml for a pair of boots.
Protect the areas you don't want to dye with Painting Tape.
To clean any dye overflow, use Polish Thinner Louis XIII.
d- Finishing :
Teinture Française slightly dries the leather, therefore it is necessary to finish the procedure by applying Shoe Polish Pate de Luxe Saphir in the same shade. Very rich in beeswax and pigments, it helps to obtain a deep colour and shine.
For colours not available in Pâte de Luxe, use Cream Shoe Polish Pommadier Saphir. If the finish obtained with these products is not sufficient, use Juvacuir, which is a cream dye with more recolouring power, or, if your colour is not available, Renovating Cream Saphir.
e- Care:
Alternate between Shoe Polish Cream Pommadier Surfine Saphir and Shoe Polish Pate de Luxe Saphir in the same shade.
Remarks : Also available: a spray dye Teinture TENAX Aérosol, which does not require finishing. Attention: it will give a more satiny appearance and does not penetrate, with a risk of flaking in time. It is not the professional solution, but can be of use in certain cases, if you can't find the colour amongst the other products, if you want to cover a darker colour the choice of colours is more limited than for COLOR DYE Tarrago, see below ). In this case, prepare your leather with Stripper Saphir before applying the spray dye.
SOLUTION 2 :
change the colour from dark to light.
Use COLOR DYE Tarrago for this type of colour change. This dye is delivered in 2 bottles, containing a dye preparer and the actual dye.
Begin by preparing the leather with the preparing product and a small used Brillo Pad (green colour).
Afterwards, apply COLOR DYE Tarrago (2 - 3 thin coats) by following the instructions. It is very important to apply very thin coats. The first coat has to be almost invisible, in particular on very smooth synthetic leather. In this case, apply this first coat by dabbing. Let dry thoroughly before applying the following coat (8 to 10 hours), if necessary by using a hair dryer on a low position ( 3 to 4 hours).
Two coats might be sufficient, and sometimes 3.
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For any professional use of this advice card, please contact us.