Suede Care
How to Dye Suede Shoes, Boots and Bags at Home
Use suede dye, not leather dye or paint. Clean the whole item, apply thin coats, dry and brush the nap. 8 steps, base-color table, drying times and mistakes.
To dye suede, use a dye made for suede, not leather dye or paint. Clean and brush the whole item, then work the dye in evenly with a dauber or stiff brush. Let it dry, add more coats only if needed, and brush the nap back up.
Dye can only take suede darker, because the original color shows through.
This tutorial is part of our suede care guides. Just want a yes or no first? See can suede be dyed?
Key takeaways- Leather dye can leave suede hard, and paint can stiffen it. Use suede dye.- Clean the whole item, not just the faded patch, to avoid water spots.- Partly synthetic suede may not take suede dye.- Alcohol-based leather dyes are highly flammable. Work in fresh air, away from flames.
Before you start: what dye and what color
Pick a suede dye. Angelus warns that its leather dye can make suede hard rather than soft, and sells separate suede dyes. It also says it doesn't usually recommend paint on suede, because it can harden the material. Fiebing's lists its suede dye for suede and rough-out leather.
Pick a color you can reach. The final shade mixes with the base color.
Not sure your target will work? Our guide to darkening suede without dye covers small shifts. For a jacket, follow how to dye a suede jacket instead.
| Starting color | Dye color | Likely result | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| White or cream | Red | Pink, not true red | – |
| Tan | Dark brown | A brown shifted by the tan underneath | – |
| Any color | Lighter shade | Won't lighten; base shows through | – |
Tools and materials
| You need | What it's for | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Suede dye (with its wool dauber) | The color | – |
| Small stiff-bristled brush | Works dye into the nap | – |
| Suede brush | Prep and lifting the nap after | – |
| Rubber gloves | Keep dye off your hands | – |
| Newspaper and a bin bag | Stuffing shoes; dye can drip through to the table | – |
| Saucer or jar lid | Holds a little dye | – |
How to dye suede in 8 steps
Step 1: Check it's real suede
wikiHow's cobbler-reviewed guide says the item must be real suede; partly synthetic suede won't work. Check the label.
Step 2: Clean the whole item
Clean off oils and dirt over the entire surface. Angelus says you cannot spot-treat suede and should clean all of it to avoid water spots.
Our suede stain guide covers stubborn marks. Let it dry fully.
Step 3: Brush the nap up
Brush the whole surface with a suede brush. It clears dust and stands the fibers up so the dye can soak in.
Step 4: Set up and protect
Remove laces and stuff shoes tightly with newspaper. Cover the table with newspaper over a bin bag, and put on gloves. Fiebing's leather dyes are rated highly flammable, so open a window and keep away from flames.
Step 5: Test the color
Try the dye on a hidden spot or a scrap first. Angelus calls its dye a professional product that may need several tests.
Step 6: Apply thin, even coats
Load the dauber or brush and work the dye in with small circular motions, one section at a time. Start at an edge and don't forget the tongue and inner edges. Don't flood one area: too much dye in one spot can leave permanent dark patches.
Step 7: Let it dry
Leave it for at least a few hours, or overnight. Add a second coat only if the color is too light.
Step 8: Brush and finish
Once dry, break up the nap with a stiff brush so it feels soft again. Brush off excess dye so it doesn't rub onto other things. A water repellent spray is an optional last step.
How long to dry, and how many coats? Sources differ
Follow the label on your dye. If in doubt, wait longer before brushing or wearing.
| Source | Drying | Coats | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angelus (suede dye maker) | A few hours | Soak evenly; no number given | – |
| wikiHow (cobbler co-author) | First coat overnight, ideally 24 hours | Too many coats can dry out the leather | – |
| Oxfam GB blog | Overnight, or the maker's time | Until covered | – |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What can happen | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Leather dye or paint on suede | Suede goes hard | – |
| Spot-dyeing one patch | Water spots and uneven color | – |
| Too much dye in one place | Permanent dark spots | – |
| Aiming lighter than the base | Base shows through | – |
| Re-dyeing the same pair again and again | Build-up is bad for the suede | – |
Caring for dyed suede
Freshly dyed suede won't last well in rain or snow, and rubbing can wear the dye away. Brush it now and then, keep it out of wet weather, and use a water repellent. If color comes off on clothes, see how to prevent color transfer from suede.
Dyeing smooth leather is a different job; see how to dye leather.
Leather Collection, the store behind this network, sells suede jackets but no dyes or care products.
Related guides
- Before dyeing over a pen mark, try the steps in how to get ink out of suede.
FAQ
Will Rit dye work on suede?
We couldn't read Rit's own guidance. wikiHow advises a dye made for suede, saying ordinary dyes may simply roll off. Test any dye on a hidden spot first.
Can you dye fake suede shoes?
wikiHow's guide says suede dye won't work on shoes that are partly synthetic. Angelus's suede dye page mentions only suede.
Does suede dye rub off?
It can. Angelus says to brush off excess so it doesn't transfer, and wikiHow notes abrasion can wear dye away.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.