Famaco Bordeaux Leather Dye Cream 346 – 15ml Famacolor Extra Opaque Repair Cream

Description

Famaco Bordeaux Leather Dye Cream 346 – 15ml Famacolor Extra Opaque Repair Cream – full coverage for bare toes and scraped heels

There is a gap in most people’s shoe care kit between an ordinary shoe cream, which refreshes but does not hide, and a penetrating dye, which is permanent and unforgiving. A bordeaux leather dye cream sits neatly in the middle of the two.

Famacolor is Famaco’s extra opaque cream, sold in a 15ml jar and mixed to cover rather than tint. Where a normal cream would let a scuff show faintly through, this gives full coverage, which is what makes it the right choice for leather that has actually been damaged rather than merely dulled. Faded burgundy shoes can be renewed with it, and a scraped heel or a bare toe cap can be brought back to one colour.

It behaves like a cream to apply and like a paint in result, which is an unusual and very useful combination.

Why choose this bordeaux leather dye cream?

• Covers damage that ordinary cream cannot. Extra opaque means the pigment hides what is underneath instead of glazing over it. On a toe cap worn back to the pale core, that is the difference between a repair and a smear. Build it in two thin passes rather than one heavy one for the most natural finish.
• Easier to control than a penetrating dye. A true dye soaks in and cannot be undone. This is a cream, so it sits on the surface and you can adjust as you go.
• Matched to a proper burgundy. Bordeaux is a deep red-brown wine shade, and it is one of the hardest colours to find in an opaque product. Most repair ranges stop at black and brown, which is no help at all on an oxblood brogue.
• A little jar for a small job. Fifteen millilitres sounds tiny until you realise this is used on scuffs and edges rather than whole shoes. That volume covers a great many repairs and stops you paying for cream you will never use. Keep the lid on and it stays workable for a long time.
• Works on boots as well as shoes. Boot heels and the outer edge of the sole take the worst punishment of anything on a shoe, and this is exactly what they need.
• Renews faded leather across a whole upper. If a burgundy pair has gone dusty rather than damaged, a thin even coat over the whole shoe brings the depth of colour straight back.

How to use the Famaco Bordeaux Leather Dye Cream 346 – 15ml Famacolor Extra Opaque Repair Cream

Opaque cream sticks best to leather that has had its old polish taken off, so the cleaning stage is not optional here. Allow a little drying time between each stage rather than rushing straight through.

1. Clean the shoes first with a brush or a slightly damp cloth to lift the surface dirt.
2. For the best result, work a cleaning lotion over the leather to remove old polish layers.
3. Let the lotion soak in, then leave the shoes until they are completely dry.
4. Take a small amount of Famacolor and work it into the damaged or faded area.
5. Let it soak in properly before you touch the surface again.
6. Rub it out with a soft cloth until the repair blends into the leather around it.

My tip as a shoe specialist

Feather the edges of a repair rather than stopping at the edge of the damage. If you fill a bare toe cap right up to the boundary of the scuff and no further, you end up with a patch of perfect colour sitting inside a ring of worn leather, and the eye goes straight to it. Work the cream thinly outwards for a centimetre or so past the damage and the repair disappears. Two thin passes always look better than one thick one, and the second can be added the same evening.

Specifications

At a glance

• Volume: 15ml jar
• Colour: Bordeaux 346, a deep wine red
• Type: Extra opaque repair cream, between a shoe cream and a dye
• Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and belts
• Not suitable for: Suede, nubuck and patent leather
• Applicator: Cloth or dauber, rubbed out with a soft cloth
• Properties: Full coverage, renews faded leather, repairs scuffs and bare edges
• Range: A very wide Famacolor shade chart
• Brand: Famaco, Paris, founded 1931
• Article code: fam-color-346
• Price: £6.49

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a normal shoe cream?

Coverage. A standard cream is designed to refresh colour that is still there, while Famacolor is opaque enough to hide bare leather and deep scuffs completely.

Will it rub off on my trousers?

Not once it is properly rubbed out. The final buffing stage removes anything sitting loose on the surface, so give it a thorough going over before wearing.

Can I use it on the sole edge?

Yes, and it is one of the best uses for it. Sole edges scuff constantly against kerbs and a bare edge makes an otherwise smart shoe look tired. Run the cream along the edge with a small cloth or a cotton bud and let it dry before walking on it. On a heel that has been scraped down to the layers, expect to do it twice.

Where can I buy the Famaco Bordeaux Leather Dye Cream 346 in the UK?

You can order the Famaco Bordeaux Leather Dye Cream 346 directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy. Famacolor is stocked across a wide range of shades.