Painting shoes is a better way to revamp an old-looking shoe. Unlike dyes that penetrate deep into the shoe, paint remains on the shoe surface only which means that you can remove and repaint your shoes for a new look. If thinking of how you can paint shoes a different color, here is how you can do that!
Remove the laces and clean the shoe
Dip cotton balls into a nail polish remover and clean the shoe. As you rub the balls over the shoe surface, you will see a clear build-up coming off the shoe. The step is mainly to eliminate the clear coat that manufacturers usually spray over the shoes for protection.
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You must remove that coat for the paint to bond directly to the leather. If you leave the clear coat, the paint might crack after some time.
Masking the shoes for paint
I recommend you airbrush most fills to avoid too much visible brush marks. The only problem with airbrushing is that you must stay keen on over brushing and under brushing which is not an easy task especially where you use mixed colors rather than right from the bottle.
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To avoid spraying or under spraying, the masking needs to be very exact. It is also good to use soft painters tape if you want small stencils since they are perfect for complicated or detailed logos.
Painting the fill color
Whether you choose to airbrush or hand paint, you need to use multiple thin coats and then leave the paint to dry for about 2 hours between coats.
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Thin coats are ideal as they dry quickly and the paint is less likely to crack when you wear the shoe.
Removing the masking tape from the shoe
Carefully remove the masking tape from the shoe as the tape may remove small spots of the paint. If you are more careful at this step, you will need less clean-up afterward. Mask the shoe once again for paint and then add a different color of paint. Leave the paint for 24 hours to make sure it is completely dry before you add painters tape over the paint.
Check the small details or clean up
If you notice some parts around where the shoe was masked that need some paint, add some. Also, check the inner edges of the shoe sections that need paint or clean up due to over-spray. Use a fine line brush and be very patient and keen when rectifying the details. You do not want to paint where not necessary
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If you paint on areas where you are not supposed to, quickly take a clean cloth or use a nail polish remover and carefully dab over the unwanted paint.
Airbrushing sealant to the shoe
The sealant helps in sealing the paint o the leather as well as adding a nice gloss to the paint. If you want the shoes to look shiny, spray or paint more coats. Some sealants come in different choices including high surface shine, low, and mid surface shine.
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Again, you may choose to paint, but I prefer to airbrush to end brush strokes. After applying the sealant, your paint is now fully protected. Also, once the shoes get dirty, they are easy to clean. All you need is to take soap, water, and a clean rag and you are good to go. Leave the sealant for about twenty-four to forty-eight hours before you can wear the shoes.
You don’t have to live with your unattractive shoes. If you are not happy with the color, you can easily paint different colors on your shoes by just making good use of the above steps.
All the best!
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