Spray painting leather shoes can be tricky, but with the right gear and prep, it absolutely can be done with stunning results. However, not just any spray paint will do.
Choose the wrong type, and you’re guaranteed to get disappointing results, and you may even ruin the shoes permanently.
For a professional transformation, you want to correctly prepare the shoes’ surface and use a spray paint specifically designed for leather.
In the following, we’ll cover the best spray paint options for leather shoes and you’ll learn the proper steps to take before you begin.
Review of the Best Leather Spray Paints for Shoes
Top Pick: Moneysworth & Best Brillo Color Spray
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The Moneysworth & Best Brillo Color Spray is the best spray paint you can find for your shoes. It can help make old or damaged shoes look like they just came off the shelf.
To use the product, simply treat the area you want clean or refurbish with spray while following the directions on the can, then wait for it to dry completely.
The product doesn’t just fix shoes. You can apply it to any leather surface to create a new coat of color and seal damages.
The spray comes in 44 different colors and also works on vinyl and plastic.
The diversity of color options provides you with a lot of variety which you need for fixing shoes because they come in so many different colors.
Beyond the essential elements of black, brown, and white, you can also buy Brillo Color Spray for exotic leather colors like pink and scarlet.
You should be aware, however, of the proper usage of the product. Without appropriate usage, the leather will begin to peel and fade again in about a week.
Instead, condition your leather before and after use, and it will last much longer and look better too. This will also help prevent roughness with the leather.
This process is one reason you see a lot of mixed reviews about the Brillo Color Spray.
People tend to either give a five-star rating or a so-so review, and it’s related to accurate usage because some people claim it failed after a week while others quote it as a miracle formula that worked like a charm.
One thing you want to avoid with any leather shoe spray is runoff.
Letting the spray leak into the shoes’ soles or interior will lead to them looking even worse than when you started.
If you use the Brillo Color Spray properly (short bursts about 20 centimeters from the shoe), you won’t have to worry about runoff.
Customers did have some complaints about Brillo Color Spray. First of all, their customer service and delivery timetable leave a lot to be desired.
One verified purchase on Amazon said, “it took a lifetime…” for the delivery to be completed, and when he found it was the wrong color, it took another six weeks to exchange it.
The other complaints mainly were related to the durability of the product and its ability to imitate leather.
While these opinions weren’t universal, it appears that some customer’s shoes went back to being damaged after about a week, and others said the spray wasn’t very shiny and might as well have been black ink.
Pros:
- Many color varieties.
- Easy to use.
- Little runoff.
- Fast drying.
- Improved resistance.
Cons:
- Slow customer service.
- Durability concerns.
- Color can be hard to match.
Runners-Up:
S.M. Arnold Leather, Carpet, Vinyl, & Hard Plastic Refinisher
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You can use this leather spray for cars, shoes, and furniture. While this product might be advertised for automobiles, it will work just as well on your wingtips.
Customers also rave about its ability to dye carpet. However, there aren’t many accounts of people trying it for shoes.
Customers also mentioned the difficulty with matching colors.
Most of the time, whether we’re talking about a pair of shoes or a sofa, the tag or label will have the color of dye written on it.
Keep in mind that this product has spray designed for automobile colors, and these can differ from your shoe dye.
If you compare this with the color options for this refinisher, you might have some luck matching.
However, comparing the color you see on your screen with colors in real life is never a good idea.
Resolution and contrast affect the color’s shade significantly, and it can vary based on the screen you’re using.
One positive customer review stated that the spray color didn’t perfectly match when dying, but after a couple of days, it blended nicely with the original.
This is understandable because wet paint always appears darker than when dry.
Pros:
- Applicable on many different surfaces.
- Many color options.
Cons:
- Hard to match colors.
- Looks darker until it dries.
- Intended for cars.
Coconix Vinyl and Leather Repair Kit
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This product contains its array of colors in every kit, so you won’t have to worry about buying the correct one.
The colors range from yellow to white with multiple brown options, which can help with shoes because brown is one of the most common colors.
Coconix also sends an email to all of its customers, offering them personal assistance in their repair.
This assistance can be beneficial because people mostly choose these kits over a professional upholsterer or cobbler. With their guidance, anyone can make a leather repair.
The kit also includes some tools for applying the leather-repairing liquid and a mixing jar for creating the solution.
It creates a beautiful and glossy result that makes it work great as shoe polish as well.
The one thing to keep in mind is that this is not a leather spray as much as it is paint.
You’ll have to pay more attention to the coating you apply and make sure you distribute it evenly throughout the shoe.
Pros:
- Comes with multiple colors.
- Necessary tools are included.
- Match and application assistance available.
Cons:
- Not a spray.
Sealing and Protecting Painted Leather Footwear
The first step in guaranteeing a successful leather shoe repair is to properly prep the shoes before the painting process.
Most products recommend getting a rag or cotton swab and soaking it in a combination of rubbing alcohol and water.
The rubbing alcohol will remove any excess dirt from the shoe and help the spray stick to the leather more easily.
After that, you can spray the shoes with the color.
Once the paint is applied, you should try a foamy Pledge spray to help seal them and keep the color intact.
You can also try a leather sealing or protection spray to get extra durability.
Most leather sprays will already add water resistance, but an extra coating to make sure no tears or chipping occurs can never hurt.
You can apply this same process to painted leather footwear and clothing.
If you like to paint on leather and don’t want your artwork to get ruined, you should buy a sealer to protect it. Learn more about the right way to paint leather here.
Related Questions:
Here are some answers to other questions you may have about painting leather.
How Do I Prepare Leather for Painting?
The best way to prepare leather shoes for painting is to use a leather preparer and deglazer (this one is the best).
Most shoes come with a factory gloss to make them more resistant. Painting without a deglazer will prevent the paint from sticking correctly because the gloss will get in the way.
To apply the deglazer, pour it on the shoe and begin rubbing until a white and waxy substance rises to the surface.
Once you have removed all of this substance, leave the shoe to dry before you start painting.
Can I Use Any Acrylic Paint on Leather Shoes?
Acrylic paint is one of the most popular paints to use on leather items. However, this is not for refurbishing damaged shoes.
The paint will not have the same appearance as dyed leather and will be an apparent additional layer, unlike leather spray paint, which blends in with the shoe’s leather material.
Does Leather Spray Paint Work on Faux Leather?
People have used leather spray paint on faux leather in the past. It is safe to do and will produce the same clean result as with real leather.
Leather spray paint is designed to mimic shiny and smooth materials like leather, vinyl, and plastic.
Quick Recap
While many people choose the airbrush or brush approach for painting leather shoes, spray painting is a valid option as well… as long as you use the right type.
The Moneysworth & Best Brillo Color Spray is going to be the best bet for professional-looking results. It’s easy to apply, won’t rub off, and dries quickly. Just right!
With 44 colors to choose from, you’re sure to find just the right shade to renew your drab shoes and give them a new lease on life or transform them completely.
