Tarrago Colourless Nubuck Dabber 000 – 75ml Conditioner for Suede

Description

Tarrago Colourless Nubuck Dabber 000 – 75ml Conditioner for Suede — revives the nap without touching the shade

Some suede does not need colour. It needs feeding. A pair of grey suede loafers or a set of two-tone trainers can go dry, thirsty and flat-looking while the shade itself is perfectly fine, and reaching for a tinted product would only muddy a colour that never had anything wrong with it.

This is the 000 shade in the Tarrago dabber range, which means no pigment at all. You get the same 75ml bottle and the same sponge applicator set into the neck, so you press it against the leather and work the conditioner into the nap. Because there is nothing to match, this colourless nubuck dabber is the one bottle in the range that is safe on every suede and nubuck you own, whatever colour it happens to be.

What it does is put moisture and suppleness back into the fibres and add a useful degree of water and dirt resistance. Dry suede is what cracks along the flex line and what soaks up a rain shower, so keeping the fibres fed is preventative work rather than cosmetic.

Why choose the Tarrago colourless nubuck dabber?

• Safe on every colour you own. With no pigment in it there is no shade to match and no risk of going a tone too dark. One bottle covers the grey trainers, the tan boots and the navy loafers alike.
• Feeds fibres that have gone dry. Napped leather dehydrates just as smooth leather does, it simply hides it better. This restores suppleness where the shoe creases, which is where dry suede eventually splits.
• Adds water and dirt resistance. A fed nap sheds a shower and light street grime far better than a parched one. It is not a substitute for a waterproofing spray, but it helps day to day.
• Revives a flat, tired nap. Combined with a brush, it lifts fibres crushed flat by wear so the surface reads as velvety again rather than shiny and compacted.
• Precise, controlled application. The sponge head lets you treat the toe box and the flex creases where drying shows first, without soaking the whole upper unnecessarily.
• Works well before a colour treatment. If you plan to tint a pair later, conditioning first gives the pigment a more even surface to work into. I often use this as the preparation step.

How to use the Tarrago colourless nubuck dabber

This is the easiest job in suede care because there is no colour match to worry about, but the brushing still matters at both ends.

1. Brush the shoes all over with a suede brush to lift out dust and raise the nap, working the whole upper rather than just the tired areas.
2. If there is ground-in dirt, clean them properly with a suede cleaner first and let them dry naturally at room temperature.
3. Shake the bottle well, so the conditioner is evenly mixed in the neck of the applicator.
4. Press the sponge to the leather and work over the upper in light, overlapping passes, following the nap. Concentrate on the toe box and the flex creases.
5. Do not flood it. A thin, even coat absorbs properly, whereas a heavy one stays damp for hours and can dry with a faint tide line.
6. Leave the shoes for about forty minutes, then brush the nap up briskly with a clean suede brush to restore the texture.

My tip from behind the counter

Use this one as maintenance rather than rescue. Once a season on every suede pair you own, at the same time you re-do the waterproofing spray, and you will find you almost never need the tinted dabbers at all. Dry suede fades faster because brittle fibres shed pigment as they flex, so feeding the nap is the cheapest colour protection there is.

Specifications

• Volume: 75ml bottle with built-in sponge applicator
• Shade: 000 Colourless, contains no pigment
• Type: Conditioner and reviver for napped leather
• Suitable for: Suede and nubuck in any colour, including shoes, boots, bags and jackets
• Not suitable for: Smooth leather, patent leather and coated finishes
• Coverage: Roughly three to five pairs per bottle
• Brand: Tarrago
• Article code: Tarrago-Dep00
• Price: £8.99

Frequently asked questions

Will this restore faded colour?

No, and that is the point of it. With no pigment in the bottle it cannot put tone back into a bleached toe cap. What it does is feed the fibres so they hold the colour they still have, and lift a flat nap so the existing shade reads richer. If your suede has genuinely lost its colour, you want the tinted dabber in the matching shade.

Can I use it on light or white suede?

Yes, and this is the shade to choose for exactly that. Anything tinted risks dulling a white or pale grey, whereas colourless leaves the tone completely alone. Test on the inside of the tongue as a matter of habit, and judge the result once it is fully dry.

Is this the same as a waterproofing spray?

Not quite, though there is some overlap. This conditions the fibres from within and adds a fair degree of water and dirt resistance as a by-product, while a dedicated spray sits on the surface and gives considerably more protection against a real downpour. In practice they work together: condition with the dabber, let it dry fully, then spray. That combination is what I use on my own suede boots before winter.

Where can I buy the Tarrago Colourless Nubuck Dabber in the UK?

You can order the Tarrago Colourless Nubuck Dabber 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.