Slitesterk Black Suede Penetrating Dye 102 – 100ml with Ball Brush

Description

Slitesterk Black Suede Penetrating Dye 102 – 100ml with Ball Brush — proper black back into grey, tired suede

Black suede does not fade to a lighter black. It fades to grey, and it does it unevenly, so a pair of black suede Chelsea boots ends up with a charcoal toe, a slate outer edge and a proper black shaft. Brushing lifts the nap but cannot put pigment back. A colour reviver will help a mild case, but once the grey has properly set in you need something that goes deeper.

This black suede penetrating dye is that stronger option, and it is a dye rather than a surface paint. The pigment travels into the suede fibres and colours them from within, so the nap keeps its texture and brushes up soft afterwards. Nothing sits on top to go shiny, stiff or crack across the flex line, which is exactly what happens when people reach for an aerosol paint on napped leather.

The other reason to choose this one is simple arithmetic. The standard alternatives come in fiddly 50ml bottles; ours is a full 100ml with a round ball brush applicator in the box. You can finish a pair of boots, put a second coat on the worn toes, and still have dye left rather than rationing the last few drops.

Why choose the Slitesterk black suede penetrating dye?

• Penetrating, not coating. The pigment is absorbed by the suede fibres, so the nap keeps its texture. No plastic sheen, no stiff patches, nothing to crack where the shoe flexes.
• Black works over anything. Dye only ever goes dark over light, which makes black the easiest colour in the range. A grey, faded or even brownish suede will take black without the usual caveats.
• A full 100ml bottle. Around double the volume of the standard suede dyes, so a pair of boots including a second coat on the worst wear comes comfortably out of one bottle.
• Ball brush included. The applicator is in the box, so you are not improvising with a sponge. It spreads the dye evenly and reaches into the seam line without flooding it.
• Works on far more than shoes. Suede and nubuck bags, jackets, gloves and belts all take the same treatment. If it is napped leather and it has gone grey, this will bring it back.
• A proper repair rather than a cover-up. The colour is in the fibres rather than on them, so it does not wear off the toe again after a fortnight.

How to use the Slitesterk black suede penetrating dye

Suede rewards patience more than any other material, and the preparation matters as much as the dye itself.

1. Brush the shoes with a suede or crepe brush to lift dust and raise the nap. A stiffer dirt brush deals with the soles.
2. If the suede has been treated with a protector spray, clean it first with a suede cleaner. Dye cannot travel through a waterproofing layer.
3. Mask the sole edge and any smooth leather trim with low-tack tape, and stuff the shoes with paper so they hold their shape while you work.
4. Shake the bottle firmly for about twenty seconds so the pigment is fully mixed, then load the ball brush.
5. Apply the dye in thin, even passes following the nap. Start at the seams and the sole edge, then sweep across the open panels so nothing is missed.
6. Let the shoes dry fully, then brush the nap up briskly with a suede brush. Add a second coat on the worn toes if they need it.

My tip from behind the counter

Do the seams and the sole edge first, before you touch the open panels. Those are the places that get missed, and once the main surface is dyed you cannot see where the boundaries are any more. Work the ball brush along the welt and into the stitch line while the shoe is still grey, then sweep out across the vamp. That order is the difference between a boot that reads as evenly black and one with a pale outline round the sole.

Specifications

• Volume: 100ml bottle, roughly double the standard 50ml size
• Shade: 102 Black
• Type: Penetrating dye that colours the fibres from within
• Included: Round ball brush applicator
• Suitable for: Suede and nubuck shoes, boots, trainers, bags, jackets, gloves and belts
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather and patent leather, which need a surface paint
• Note: Dye works dark over light only
• Brand: Slitesterk
• Price: £12.99

Frequently asked questions

Will it change the texture of my suede?

It should not, and that is the whole point of a penetrating dye. The pigment goes into the fibres rather than forming a film on the surface, so once it has dried and you have brushed the nap up, the suede feels as it did before. What does flatten a nap is applying too much in one go, so keep the coats thin.

Can I dye a brown suede boot black?

Yes, comfortably. Black is the one shade in the range with no restrictions, because dye works dark over light and nothing is darker than black. Brown, tan, grey and navy suede will all take black without a struggle. Expect two coats on a mid brown boot and give the first time to dry fully before you judge it.

How much will one bottle do?

A pair of adult boots including a second coat on the worn areas comes comfortably out of one 100ml bottle, and shoes or trainers use less. It depends how thirsty the suede is, since a soft nap drinks more than a dense one. That is why we had these made at 100ml rather than 50ml. For a jacket, buy two.

Where can I buy the Slitesterk Black Suede Penetrating Dye 102 in the UK?

You can order the Slitesterk Black Suede Penetrating Dye 102 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.