Slitesterk Dark Blue Penetrating Leather Dye – 100ml with Ball Brush

Description

Slitesterk Dark Blue Penetrating Leather Dye – 100ml with Ball Brush – navy that soaks in rather than peels off

Some shoes are past the point where a cream helps. The blue has gone patchy, the toes have drifted towards a chalky grey-blue and polishing simply makes the unevenness shine. That is the moment for a dark blue penetrating leather dye: a dye that soaks into the leather rather than laying a coating on top of it, so it cannot chip, peel or grin white at the creases.

Slitesterk is our own registered brand, and we had this line put together specifically for dyeing smooth leather shoes and boots. The obvious alternatives come in small 50ml bottles with a narrower range of shades. Ours holds 100ml, roughly double, because anyone who has dyed a pair of boots knows how quickly a small bottle disappears. A ball brush comes in the box, which is the applicator that gets dye into welt seams and around eyelets without flooding them.

Dark blue is a genuinely useful shade to have. Navy shoes, blue Derbys, blue Chelsea boots and blue trainers with leather uppers all fade towards grey long before the leather itself is worn out, and almost nobody stocks a proper navy dye. Like every penetrating dye it works dark over light, so you can take a faded blue back to navy, but you cannot lighten a black pair.

Why choose the Slitesterk dark blue penetrating leather dye?

Why a penetrating dye rather than a surface paint.

• It penetrates, so it cannot peel. A surface paint sits on the leather and eventually cracks at the vamp. A penetrating dye bonds with the fibres inside the leather, so the colour moves with the shoe and stays put.
• 100ml, not 50ml. Twice the usual bottle for a job that always needs more than you expect, and how much you use depends on how thick and thirsty the leather is.
• Ball brush included. The rolling ball applicator lets you work small amounts in evenly and reach the tight spots around stitching and eyelets. No decanting and no separate brush to buy.
• A navy you can actually find. Dark blue is one of the hardest shades to buy in a dye, and it is one of the most common colours in a modern shoe rack. This is the bottle that saves a faded blue pair.
• Our own brand, our own specification. Slitesterk is our registered brand, and we set the shade range and the bottle size ourselves, which is why the choice is wider and the bottle bigger than the usual alternatives.

How to use the Slitesterk dark blue penetrating leather dye

Cleaning decides the result. Nine uneven dye jobs out of ten were rushed at this stage.

1. Brush the coarse dirt and dust off with a stiff brush, soles and welts included.
2. Clean the leather thoroughly with a leather cleaner and a cloth to strip old polish, cream, wax and grease. This step decides whether the dye takes evenly, so do not hurry it.
3. Mask the sole edge and the heel with tape or foil if you want a crisp line and no runs.
4. Let the shoes dry completely at room temperature, never next to a radiator.
5. Shake the bottle, then work the dye in with the ball brush in small amounts and thin passes, keeping the coverage even across the whole panel.
6. Let each pass dry, then judge the depth of colour and repeat as often as you need until the navy is even and strong.
7. Leave the shoes several hours to dry, overnight is better, then polish with a matching dark blue shoe cream to seal the job and bring the shine back.

My tip from behind the counter

Test for colour fastness before you touch the toe. Put a little dye on a hidden spot such as the inside of the heel and let it dry fully, because two minutes of testing tells you more than any shade chart. Remember the direction rule as well: dye only ever goes darker. Navy over a faded blue is straightforward, navy over black is not going to happen. And keep this bottle well away from suede and nubuck, which need a dedicated suede dye that colours the fibres without matting the nap.

Specifications

• Volume: 100ml bottle, ball brush included
• Shade: Dark Blue, a true navy
• Type: Penetrating dye for smooth leather
• Direction: Works dark over light only
• Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, ankle boots and boots
• Not suitable for: Suede, nubuck, patent leather and coated faux leather
• Finish: Seal with a matching shoe cream or wax polish
• Brand: Slitesterk, our own registered brand
• Article code: Leer-verf-d.blauw
• Price: £12.99

Frequently asked questions

Will the dye come off on my socks or trousers?

Not once it is dry and finished properly. The dye bonds with the leather rather than resting on the surface. Let every pass dry fully, then seal the job with a dark blue shoe cream and buff off any surplus before you wear the shoes. Transfer nearly always means the work was sealed too soon.

Can I use it on navy suede or nubuck boots?

No, this version is made for smooth leather. Napped leather needs a dedicated suede dye, formulated to colour the fibres without matting the nap, and we stock a separate Slitesterk suede penetrating dye for exactly that job.

How many pairs will one bottle dye?

Comfortably a pair of shoes with plenty left over, and usually a pair of ankle boots as well. Thick, thirsty or heavily worn leather drinks more, and a full colour change takes more passes than a refresh, so bear that in mind if you are dyeing tall boots.

Where can I buy Slitesterk dark blue penetrating leather dye in the UK?

You can order Slitesterk dark blue penetrating leather dye 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.