How to Create Faded Dyed Sneakers

If you want to create a cool fade on a pair of sneakers, you can easily do it at home with liquid fabric dye. Start with plain, white sneakers made of canvas and buy a liquid fabric dye in a color that you like. Mix the fabric dye with hot water to create a dye bath, then dip-dye your shoes to the depth that you want. After that, rub the shoes at the transition line with a dampened cloth to manually fade the color. Your new kicks will be one-of-a-kind!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Mixing a Dye Bath

1. Cover your workspace with plastic or newspaper to prevent staining. Fabric dye will stain most surfaces. To prevent stains on your countertops and floor, cover them with a drop cloth, garbage bags, or thick layers of newspaper. If you’re worried about the protective layers shifting around, tape around the edges with masking tape to secure them in place.
   
   
   
   • Make sure the entire work area is protected.
   • You may also want to keep a roll of paper towels nearby in case of spills.
2. Put on old clothes and a pair of plastic gloves. Dyeing shoes can be messy! Fabric dye will definitely ruin your clothes, so wear old items that you don’t mind staining. Then, put on a pair of plastic gloves to protect your skin from the dye.^[1]
   
   • If you can’t change your clothes right now, try wearing a long apron or smock over them.
3. Fill a plastic container or sink with of hot water. Ideally, the water should be around . You can use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature. If your tap water doesn’t get that hot, heat the water up in a large pot or kettle on your stove. Then, transfer the hot water to your plastic container or stainless steel sink.^[2]
   
   
   
   • If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer on hand, heat up the water to just below boiling.^[3]
   • If you don’t have a stainless steel sink, use a plastic container. The fabric dye might stain other sink materials.
4. Add of liquid dish soap to the hot water. Use a measuring spoon to measure out the liquid dish soap and pour it into the plastic container or sink with the water. Use a wooden spoon to stir the hot water so the dish soap distributes evenly. Stir gently so that you don’t create suds!^[4]
   
   
   • The dish soap helps the dye spread out evenly in the hot water.
5. Stir of liquid fabric dye into the hot water. Decide what color you want to dye your shoes and buy matching liquid fabric dye. Shake up the liquid dye in its original container before measuring the liquid dye out. Then, dump the dye into the hot water and stir with a wooden spoon to distribute it. Be gentle to avoid splashing the dye bath.^[5]
   
   
   • If you want very vibrant results, try using of fabric dye instead.
   • If you want to dye your shoes different colors, or if you’re dyeing multiple pairs of shoes in different colors, create a separate dye bath for each color.

[Edit]Dip-Dyeing the Shoes

1. Buy white canvas sneakers or clean a pair that you already own. White sneakers without logos or patterns on them will give you the results you want. It’s extremely difficult to control the fade effect if your shoes aren’t completely white and made of canvas. Other fabrics, like real (or faux) leather, won’t take the dye very well.^[6]
   
   • The only exception are women’s silk bridal or formal shoes. They still need to be white or off-white, though.
   • If you’re dyeing a pair of sneakers that you already own, make sure they’re stain-free! Stains and other discolorations will interfere with dye absorption.
2. Remove the shoelaces and insoles from your sneakers. Unlace the shoelaces and set them aside for now. If your shoes have removable insoles, go ahead and take those out, as well. Be sure to place the laces and insoles well out of reach so they won’t get stained by accidental splashes or drips.^[7]
   
   
3. Run the canvas parts of the shoes under a faucet to wet them. The canvas will accept the dye better if you get it wet first. Simply run the canvas parts of your shoes under a water faucet to thoroughly wet them. It doesn’t matter what water temperature you use for this.^[8]
   
4. Smear a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the rubber soles. You can use your fingers or a paintbrush to apply the petroleum jelly to the soles—just make sure you cover the rubber surface thoroughly! Don't forget the rubber sole parts along the sides of the shoes.
   
   
   • The petroleum jelly prevents the dye from staining the rubber.
   • If you’re dyeing silk bridal shoes, skip this step. Petroleum jelly will stain silk.
5. Hold 1 shoe in each hand and line them up side by side. Grab the left shoe in your left hand and the right shoe in your right hand. Line the heels and toes up so that the shoes are perfectly parallel.^[9]
   
   • Dyeing both shoes at the same time is easier and ensures that you get matching results.
6. Position both shoes with either the heels or the toes pointed down. How you position the shoes depends on where you want the color to appear—the toes or the heel. Either way will work. Dip-dyeing with the toes down is probably a little easier, but it’s completely up to you.^[10]
   
   • Don’t forget to keep the shoes parallel once you decide on the orientation.
   • The only exception is if you’re dyeing the shoes different colors. In that case, dip 1 shoe at a time in separate dye baths or simply put the dye baths next to each other and dip the shoes simultaneously.
7. Lower the shoes slowly into the dye bath to the depth you want. How deep you dip your shoes is up to you, but keep in mind that the color will spread a little further on the shoes when you create the fading effect. Give yourself about to work with if you want your shoes to fade to white.^[11]
   
   
   • For example, if you want your color to start fading at the middle of the shoes, dip the toes up to the lace holes. The color will extend to the center portion of the shoes when you manually create the fading effect.
   • How far the fade extends is also customizable because you will create the gradation yourself.
8. Hold the shoes in the dye bath for about 2 minutes. Be as still as possible while you’re holding the shoes in the dye bath so that you get even results! Keep your eye on the time or use a timer to keep track. After 2 minutes, pull the shoes out of the dye bath.^[12]
   
9. Inspect the color and dip the shoes again if you want it darker. Check out the color you’ve achieved so far. Keep in mind that the color will look darker when the shoes are wet; once they dry, the shade will be a little lighter. If you want darker results, dip the shoes into the dye bath again. Check on them in 30-60 second intervals until you reach the color you want.^[13]
   
   
   • If you dip your shoes more than once, don’t forget to dip them at the original depth every time.

[Edit]Creating the Fade Effect

1. Rinse the dyed parts of your shoes with cool water until it runs clear. Hold the dyed portion of your shoe under the faucet and rinse the shoes, one at a time, with cool water. Concentrate the water only on the dyed parts of the canvas. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.^[14]
   
   
2. Rub the canvas with a damp cloth where the color meets white. Dampen a clean, soft cloth with water. Then, gently rub along the transition line where the color meets the white part of the canvas until the harsh line blurs. Keep rubbing until there are no visible harsh lines on the canvas.^[15]
   
   
   
   • If the color is being stubborn, wet the cloth again and keep rubbing.
3. Drag the damp cloth through the color toward the white area. For example, if you dip-dyed the toes of your shoes and you want the color to slowly fade to white around the halfway mark, drag the damp cloth through the dye from the toe to the transition area. Then, move a little further down the toe and drag again. Continue this process until you reach the gradation you want.^[16]
   
   
   • The color should transition smoothly from dark to light.
   • Work as quickly as possible, since the canvas needs to be wet to create this effect.
4. Wash the shoes in warm water with gentle detergent. Once you’ve achieved the faded look you want, put the shoes into your washing machine. Use a warm water setting and a gentle cycle. Add a small amount of gentle laundry detergent before starting the cycle. ^[17]
   
5. Let the shoes air-dry completely. Take the shoes out of the washing machine and lay them on a towel to dry. Once your shoes are completely dry, put the laces and insoles back in and try them on! They’re ready to wear as long as they’re dry.^[18]
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Let the shoes to dry in a cool place for a faster dry time. Avoid humid areas.
• Dispose of remaining dye bath according to the package directions.

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

• White canvas shoes
• Old clothes
• Plastic gloves
• Petroleum jelly
• Dropcloth, plastic, or newspaper
• 5-gallon bucket or access to a stainless steel sink
• Liquid fabric dye
• Wooden spoon
• Paper towels
• Several clean clothes

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make a Pair of "Vintage" Converse
• Wash Shoes

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=11
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=59
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=60
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=74
5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=81
6. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=40
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2FPUxHrUyU&feature=youtu.be&t=49
9. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
10. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
11. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
12. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
13. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
14. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
15. ↑ http://www.inspiredbythis.com/style/diy-ombre-shoes/
16. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
17. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/
18. ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-shoes/