Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye 106 – 50ml with Brush

Description

Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye 106 – 50ml with Brush – a permanent recolour for tired suede and nubuck

There is a point at which brushing and spraying stop rescuing a pair of suede boots. The colour has gone blotchy, there is a water stain that will not lift, or the shade has simply stopped appealing to you. That is the job this Kaps dark brown suede penetrating dye was made for, and at £8.99 it is a very cheap alternative to replacing the boots.

A penetrating dye is not a surface coating. It sinks into the open fibres of the suede and colours them from the inside, so the new shade becomes part of the material instead of sitting on top of it. The practical difference is that it does not rub off onto your socks or the inside of your trouser hems, and it does not go chalky after a fortnight of wear the way a pigmented spray eventually will.

The 50ml bottle has the brush built into the cap, so there is nothing else to buy. That quantity covers roughly half a square metre in two or three coats, which in real terms is a comfortable pair of boots with a little to spare. Kaps 106 is a deep, honest dark brown with no red cast, which makes it a very forgiving shade to work with on faded tan and mid brown suede.

One honest warning before you start. A dye like this only travels from light to dark. It will take a sand or a mid tan boot to a rich dark brown beautifully, but nothing will lighten a dark shoe. It is also for suede, nubuck and velour only, never smooth leather.

Why choose the Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye?

• Permanent, not a cover-up – because the dye penetrates the fibres rather than coating them, the colour survives brushing, rain and everyday wear far better than a pigmented spray ever does.
• It will not bleed – once cured, the dye stays exactly where you put it. There is no migration onto socks, trouser hems or a pale sole, which is the usual complaint about cheap dyes.
• Brush built into the cap – the brush sits in the neck of the bottle, so you can stir the dye to a uniform shade and apply it in one movement. No decanting and no separate applicator to buy.
• Sensible coverage from 50ml – roughly half a square metre in two or three coats. That is a pair of boots done properly, and the screw cap keeps what is left over usable for the next project.
• Works well beyond footwear – suede and nubuck bags, jackets, belts and gloves all take the dye in exactly the same way, which makes one small bottle a good deal more useful than it first looks.

How to use the Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye

1. Brush the shoes hard with a suede or crepe brush until no dust or dry dirt is left. Anything still in the nap will show up in the finished colour.
2. If the suede has been treated with a protector spray or carries greasy marks, clean it with a suede cleaner and let it dry fully. Dye cannot get through a waterproofing layer.
3. Mask the soles and any smooth leather trim with tape, and stuff the shoes with paper so they hold their shape while you work.
4. Shake the bottle, then stir the dye with the brush until the shade is completely uniform. Start with the seams, the sole edge and any deep scratches, where the dye needs most help.
5. Work outwards in thin, even coats over the whole panel. Two full coats is the honest answer for a consistent finish, and do not stop halfway across a shoe.
6. Leave the pair to cure for twelve hours somewhere warm but away from direct heat, then brush the nap up with a nubuck brush and finish with a suede protector spray.

My tip from behind the counter

The step everyone skips is the twelve hours. One coat looks perfectly even while it is wet, then dries slightly patchy, and if you brush it too early you drag colour out of the fibres. Do the shoes on a Saturday morning, leave them overnight, brush them up on Sunday. Test the shade on the inside of the heel first, every single time.

Specifications

• Volume: 50ml bottle with brush applicator in the cap
• Shade: Dark Brown 106
• Type: Spirit-based penetrating dye for napped leather
• Coverage: Roughly half a square metre in two to three coats
• Suitable for: Suede, nubuck and velour shoes, boots, bags and jackets
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and coated synthetics
• Direction of change: Light to dark only
• Curing time: Twelve hours before brushing and protecting
• Brand: Kaps

Frequently asked questions

Can I take light tan suede to dark brown with this?

Yes, and that is exactly what it is designed for. Sand, beige and mid tan suede all go to a deep dark brown very convincingly. What no dye can do is go the other way, so always work from light towards dark.

How many coats will I need?

Two full coats for a genuinely even result. A single coat looks fine while wet and then dries a little uneven, particularly across the vamp where the suede flexes most.

Will the suede still feel like suede afterwards?

It will, provided you brush the nap up once the dye has cured. The dye colours the fibres rather than gluing them together, so a good brushing brings the velvety texture straight back. Finish with a protector spray to lock it all in.

Where can I buy the Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye in the UK?

You can order the Kaps Dark Brown Suede Penetrating Dye 106 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.