A leather jacket has long become a basic element of men's and women's wardrobe, along with a white shirt or jeans. This thing is practical, versatile, elegant, comfortable. But despite the durability and wear resistance of natural material, over time, abrasions appear on the sleeves and collar of outerwear, and the pocket area becomes covered with microcracks and scratches. To restore a product to a presentable appearance, it is not necessary to resort to the expensive help of specialists. High-quality paint for a leather jacket and careful study of the instructions for its use will help you cope with the task. The range of coloring compositions today is unusually wide; choosing the appropriate option is worth taking into account the degree of wear of the clothing, the expected working conditions, and the availability of auxiliary tools.
Varieties
There are several types of paint for leather jackets. They differ in the main base substance, release form, and color palette. Each variety has strengths and weaknesses that should be taken into account before choosing.
| Variety | Peculiarities | Advantages | Flaws |
| Aerosol | Distributed evenly. Two to three thin coats will be required. They dry in a few hours, depending on the characteristics of the composition (in some cases - in 1-3, in others - in 5-6 hours) | Excellent absorbency, large selection of colors. Convenient to use. No additional materials such as brushes or sponges are needed | Mandatory use of a respiratory mask, gloves, the need to protect the environment from paint splashes using plastic film or working outdoors |
| Liquid | The best leather dye for home use. Apply the composition in a thin layer | Dries in 2 hours | A soft sponge and protective gloves are required. |
| Powder | Dissolve in water according to the instructions, then the composition is heated to 95 degrees. After it cools to 45°, the jacket is completely immersed in the liquid and kept in it for a certain period of time. | Uniformity of staining | Requires preliminary preparation of the coloring composition. Less durability compared to aerosol type |
| Creamy | Available in tubes, they look like a thick paste | Fast absorption, deep penetration | It is not always convenient to squeeze out the product, especially when it runs out |
In order to update the color in places and eliminate existing minor defects, you can paint the product with a liquid composition using a tube with a foam tip. This is the best option for spot local processing. It should be understood that choosing a color that will be identical to the tone on the jacket is quite difficult. To get rid of scuffs and remove scratches, you can use a creamy product based on oil or water. The first will make the surface of the jacket denser and tougher, and the second, in turn, will soften the texture of the leather and preserve its natural properties. To remove scratches and abrasions, it is enough to apply the treatment 2 times. If complete coloring of outerwear is required, it is better to use aerosol or powder formulations.
Aerosol
Liquid
Powder
Cream
How to seal a leather jacket
No one is immune from tears and cuts of delicate material, even if the item is handled carefully. It is not possible to sew up a leather jacket, but it can be repaired in another way, namely by sealing it. How to do it right? Use one of these methods.
How to seal a hole in a leather jacket with liquid leather
This composition also makes it possible to mask the problem area and prevent further “spreading” of the material. You will need a piece of bandage and a small spatula, which you can make yourself by cutting a 1 cm wide strip from an unnecessary plastic card.
Products are repaired as follows:
- Cut a piece from the bandage, the size of which will be slightly larger than the damage.
- Apply liquid leather to the cut on the front side of the product and apply a bandage, pressing it tightly.
- Apply adhesive to the top of the bandage, while pulling the thin fabric taut. This must be done carefully, otherwise it will tear.
- Leave the glued product to dry for 10 minutes and then apply liquid leather again.
- After this, the item must dry for at least 3 hours.
Coloring methods
How to dye a leather jacket so that its color becomes rich again is a question that many owners of this versatile outerwear ask. There are 2 staining options - superficial and deep method. The first involves applying the composition only to the outer side, when the skin is partially wetted. For surface painting, any suitable means is used, depending on the general condition of the natural material.
Surface painting of leather items consists of the following mandatory steps:
- degreasing with acetone;
- applying dye in two to three layers;
- drying.
With the deep method of painting leather jackets, it is necessary that the surface of the product is completely saturated with the composition. The item must be soaked in a basin with coloring pigment for the period of time recommended by the manufacturer, and then fixed on a wooden furniture panel to dry. Sometimes it is necessary to use compounds that help fix the paint and fat impregnation.
With the deep method, it is important to constantly turn the jacket over in the water to avoid the appearance of lighter, weakly colored areas.
Surface painting removes abrasions and makes the color brighter
After deep dyeing, the product looks like new
Aerosol for painting
How to properly paint a leather jacket using an aerosol?
This technology can be called the simplest. To properly paint a thing, you need to stock up on at least two cans. It must be remembered that the coloring composition should always be applied outdoors, and not indoors.
Objects surrounding the jacket must be protected from accidental contact with the coloring composition. During the work, gloves are worn to protect the surface of the hands from coloring pigments.
Is it possible to paint a leather jacket by laying it flat? Of course not. If you paint the material horizontally, the pigment may drain from the surface. It is best to hang the jacket on special hangers.
If the question arises: “What paint to paint a leather jacket?” - then you need to look at the color of the product itself. You cannot repaint the material in a completely different shade, otherwise the jacket will lose its appearance.
How to prepare a product for processing
Before you start dyeing, you need to prepare the leather jacket - remove dirt and degrease the surface. If the skin is simply dusty, you can wipe it with a damp cloth. Using glycerin-based soap mixed with water can get rid of a greasy stain on a sleeve or collar. In case of frozen dirt, a warm soap solution made from ordinary laundry soap will help out. It is important to comply with certain conditions:
- do not wet the skin too much, it is better to use a well-wrung out cloth;
- clean the surface thoroughly, making sure that not a single fold is missed;
- rinse off the soap with a clean sponge and water;
- For drying, choose places away from sunlight and radiators, otherwise the clothes will dry too quickly, take on an irregular shape, and become rough.
Before you dye your leather jacket at home, you need to make sure that it is completely dry after pre-treatment.
Clean the surface with a well-wrung-out cloth and treat all folds.
Remove soap scum with a damp cloth or water
Dry away from heaters and sunlight
Preparation
All leather products undergo a dyeing procedure. It is a fact. Therefore, it is quite logical that over time, faded spots, bald spots, and other completely unattractive areas appear on them.
Restoring the appearance of the product is very simple. You just need to paint it. It's not difficult to make it yourself. There are ready-made products for this on the market. But first things first.
Cleansing
If you decide to do the coloring yourself at home, you should not start this process right away. It is necessary to carry out preparatory work. First you need to check the pockets, remove the lining, fur collar and other removable elements.
Then degrease the surface of the skin. If this is not done, the coloring will be uneven. And the result will be even worse than before.
Lay the jacket out on a flat surface or hang it on a trempel. Take a clean dish sponge or microfiber cloth, slightly dampen it and thoroughly wipe the entire surface of the leather product from dust and possible dirt. This is a very important stage. If particles of dirt remain on the product, it will not be possible to paint it evenly.
How to degrease
After cleaning, the jacket should be degreased before painting. Under no circumstances use acetone or other similar products that are sold in hardware and construction stores. They are overly aggressive and can corrode the skin.
The easiest way to degrease is to use available products. If the product is dark, you can wipe its surface with a solution of lemon juice and water (proportion one to one). Wetting a cotton pad in the resulting mixture, you need to carefully treat a black, dark gray or brown jacket.
The second option is a degreasing solution, a mixture of soap and glycerin. For 200 milliliters of water you need to take 20 g of fine soap shavings and three tablespoons of glycerin. Mix thoroughly, and then use a new dish sponge to wipe the leather product several times.
There is another way to degrease the surface - egg white. It needs to be whipped into a stiff foam and wiped over the product. This option is ideal if you have to dye a white or beige jacket.
Now that the jacket is completely degreased, you need to let it dry thoroughly. To do this, you need to hang it on a trempel and leave it at room temperature for several hours.
Staining algorithm
The first step is to put the jacket on a mannequin or hanger. To prevent the skin from hanging in folds, you can place old towels under the shoulders, back, and collar. Painting on a horizontal plane is also acceptable, but it is not always convenient.
How to paint a black or any other jacket step by step:
- moisten a cotton swab in acetone mixed with water or alcohol and wipe the surface of the product - this will help remove the protective wax;
- Using a brush, lubricate the skin with a gelatin solution: dilute a tablespoon of powder in 250 ml of cold water, heat to dissolve the crystals;
- stand for 30 minutes, meanwhile preparing the composition for painting;
- Apply paint first to the most worn areas, and then to the entire surface.
It is important to carefully paint the seams on the sleeves, collar, and around the fasteners.
It is better if the leather jacket is painted at +16–20 degrees and normal air humidity - no more than 75%. It is recommended to open the windows in the room and keep the lighting bright.
Each type of paint for a leather jacket, black, brown or white, has its own nuances of use.
| Means | How to apply correctly |
| Sprays | Hang the product on hangers, and from a distance of 28–32 cm, spray the composition in one even layer over the entire surface of the skin. Let the paint soak in. Afterwards, wipe the surface of the jacket with a soft cloth. |
| Liquid formulations | Dilute the composition with water in a basin. Dip the product into the coloring pigment, making sure that it is evenly saturated with it on each side. After dyeing, treat the surface of the jacket with a solution of warm water, vinegar and table salt. |
| Creamy substances | Squeeze the paint onto a sponge and cover the entire jacket. Wait until the substance is completely absorbed and the surface of the skin becomes dry. |
| Powder dye | Before work, dilute the substance in water at 35–40 degrees, transfer it to a large container, add 2 liters of water and boil. When the composition has cooled to a temperature of 40–45 degrees, lower the jacket into the container. To paint it black (or any other color), be sure to turn the product over several times. After the required time has passed, remove the jacket from the solution, squeeze out the moisture and rinse with clean water. |
Drying time is individual, approximately it is indicated in the instructions compiled by the paint manufacturer. You cannot use a hair dryer or any other electric heat devices to speed up the process. Drying should take place under natural conditions.
Degrease the surface of the jacket
Apply gelatin solution with a brush, leave for 30 minutes
Paint the worn areas first, then the entire surface.
To speed up the drying process, do not use a hair dryer or heater.
Traditional methods
Before any type of painting, the jacket must be absolutely clean. Otherwise, the paint will not be absorbed into the fabric evenly and the item will be damaged. If it is rough leather, wash it by hand. Thin, delicate skin is afraid of such washing. Use a leather cleaner; it is suitable for gently cleaning genuine leather clothing. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package, otherwise there will be excess product that will make painting difficult. If there are heavily soiled areas, clean with a brush or sponge with soapy water. For better effect, add turpentine. After washing, be sure to dry the item for subsequent procedures.
To prevent the painted material from fading, you can use a solution of ordinary table salt in addition to vinegar.
The process of dyeing black can be carried out not only with the help of dye, but also with black tea.
Useful tips
At home it is quite difficult to repaint a leather product in a different color; here it is better to resort to the services of specialists. But it’s quite possible to restore the jacket’s original shade on your own. Alternatively, you can use tinting. In any case, before dyeing a jacket at home, it is important not to forget to test the selected composition on a small, inconspicuous piece of skin, for example, an armpit.
Synthetic fibers are difficult to tint.
If paint gets on a person’s skin during work, you should immediately wash it off with warm water and soap. If the product gets into your eyes or mucous membranes, you must rinse the affected areas with plenty of water as quickly as possible; to avoid negative consequences, consult a doctor.
To minimize harm to health, work must be carried out with nitrile gloves and a protective mask. It is equally important to monitor the ventilation of the room. We must not forget that many degreasers are flammable, so when using them, smoking or being near sources of fire is prohibited.
Before painting, you should try the composition on an inconspicuous area.
If paint gets on your skin, you should immediately wash it off with water.
It is recommended to use nitrile gloves when applying paint.
Dye selection
Before going to the store, you need to find out the material of the down jacket. For synthetic fibers, compounds made from chemical elements are suitable. First you need to purchase paint from a specialty store. You should not save on money and buy from unknown manufacturers.
Important! Dye purchased cheaply in the subway can ruin clothes.
High-quality compositions can be found in a regular art store. Acrylic is designed specifically for dyeing fabrics. The main advantage is the huge palette of shades. If a person has not found the right color, he can combine several colors. Dyes are also sold at hardware stores. Before purchasing, it is recommended to test the product on a small piece of similar material. Artificial dye is presented in the form:
- powder;
- crystals;
- paste placed in a jar.
Powdered dye for clothes
Acrylic paint for fabric Please note: Painting leather furniture
The best manufacturers
Among the well-proven brands:
- Saphir - paint is effective, economical, safe for the skin and health of the user. The release forms are varied - sprays, liquid formulations, bottles with an applicator.
- Le Tech - the paint is suitable for both repairing minor damage and for complete restoration of a jacket. It is wear-resistant and easy to apply by hand or spray.
- Salamander - any composition is characterized by high durability, color saturation, and tone matching the description. A nice bonus is the affordable cost of coloring pigments.
- Sitil - the product will easily dye a leather jacket at home, returning its color and shine. Suitable for all skin types.
- Fiebing's - paints from this company are made with alcohol, are easily absorbed, and are produced in 29 colors.
When choosing a product from any brand, you need to make sure that it is intended specifically for coloring leather. When using the substance, it is important to follow the instructions exactly, taking into account all the manufacturer’s recommendations and warnings.
Saphir
Le Tech
Salamander
Sitil
Fiebing's
How to paint a leather jacket using liquid paint: instructions
Thanks to this paint, you can completely restore your jacket! By the way, all seams, pockets or other small and hard-to-reach parts can also be carefully painted. The choice of liquid paint is very impressive. But the main colors sold on store shelves are brown and black. All that remains is to catch the tone. But with bright shades there is a bit of a problem - you will need to order them only online.
- Some manufacturers' jars themselves come with a soft sponge. If you don’t have such a thing, then arm yourself with an ordinary kitchen sponge. And be sure to wear gloves!
Important: Give preference to oil-based paints! Or at least choose a composition close to natural ingredients. It is the oils that ensure the softness of the leather, the shine of the product and greater durability of the paint.
- A jacket usually requires 2 tubes, but it also depends on their volume. On average, a jacket needs 100-150 g of paint. Again, the degree of abrasion affects. Check the paint first on an inconspicuous area of the product! If the shade is suitable, only then start working.
- It is necessary to pour the contents of the tube into an enamel or glass container. Under no circumstances should you take aluminum containers, since oxidation is possible. And this will ruin both the bowl and the paint.
- If you choose regular liquid paint, then add a couple of drops of castor oil. This will give extra softness to the skin after drying.
- Lay out the jacket on a flat surface, having previously covered it with paper or a waterproof cloth.
Rub the paint in a circular motion and don't forget to wear gloves
- Dip a washcloth into the paint and apply it to the jacket in small portions. Rub the pigment into the product using circular movements.
- Take your time, carefully work through every centimeter. And make sure that the paint applies evenly and the tone is the same.
- It's worth going over areas that are too worn out twice. And what’s convenient is that you can easily paint the collar and cuffs.
- Next, hang the jacket on hangers and leave it to dry. When it's dry, go over the jacket with a dry cloth made of natural fabric to smooth out any rough edges. Liquid paint will take at least 2 hours to dry.
- If there is excessive shine from the paint, then you need to rinse with water and wipe dry. Or use a topcoat. It will also remove some excess shine.
Important: It is forbidden to dry the jacket near a radiator or with a hairdryer. High temperatures will cause the paint layer to crack.
- To ensure the paint adheres better, be sure to apply a sealing layer over the top. To do this you need to mix: 2 tbsp. l. salt;
- 5 tbsp. l. vinegar;
- 1 liter of water.
Dyeing can turn an old jacket into something new.
How to paint a jacket in the easiest way using an aerosol: tips and tricks
It is worth immediately noting that this paint is very convenient to use, a small amount of dye is consumed, and it covers the jacket with a very thin layer. Moreover, you yourself can easily control the thickness of the paint. But there is one drawback - it is only suitable for light touch-ups and requires regular updating.
- In addition to preparing the jacket for painting, you also need to choose the appropriate aerosol. Spray cans fill both store shelves and lists on Internet sites. Choose a suitable shade as the transitions may be noticeable. And keep in mind this regularity - a lighter jacket can be painted in tones slightly darker than the previous color.
- Consider the material of your jacket as well. The distribution of aerosols follows the same criteria. Sprays for suede, nubuck and smooth leather are sold separately. For a short jacket you will need at least 2 cylinders, and for an elongated item the consumption will double.
- Choose a suitable location - it should be a well-ventilated area. Ideally, carry out this procedure on the street. The cylinder often emits a pungent and unpleasant odor. And in a closed space, paint fumes can cause headaches and dizziness, as well as poisoning. It doesn't hurt to wear a respirator or disposable mask.
- And, of course, do not lose sight of the nuance that the spray can stain other objects around. Alternatively, you can use the garage, but lay out other necessary items first. Don't forget about the floor; it won't hurt to cover it with newspapers or polyethylene.
- Be sure to wear gloves! Unless you want to paint your fingers along with your jacket. By the way, sometimes such paint can cause burning and redness on the skin.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with How to repair a cigarette hole on a jacket.
Important: If possible, seal the zippers with adhesive tape. Otherwise, they will also become colored. But the buttons will need to be cut off. Otherwise, they will interfere with uniform coloring! If the buttons are tightly fastened, then cover them with tape and carefully outline them with an aerosol.
Spray painting should be done outdoors or in a garage.
- Hang your jacket on hangers. Moreover, make sure that no bends or folds are formed. This will negatively affect the quality of the painting. Also note that the bottom of the product should not touch the floor or other surface. Otherwise, it threatens to erase the paint from below. The minimum limit should be at least 20 cm from any surface.
- You need to keep the balloon at a distance of 20-25 cm. This will allow you to apply a thin and uniform layer. The closer you hold the can, the thicker the paint will adhere. And this can cause the formation of drips. Don't forget to shake the container first.
- Distribute the spray evenly over the jacket so that the end result is the same color. Don't stay in one area for too long. If there is a spot of a different color in any place, paint over it in a second circle. But the next layer can be applied no earlier than after 15 minutes.
- Particular attention should be paid to the armpits, collar and cuffs. It wouldn't hurt to paint the last two parts on the inside. To avoid damaging fabric areas, cover them with construction tape. It can be easily removed after the paint dries.
Important: Paint the jacket using the correct aerosol strictly from top to bottom! This will help to obtain a uniform color and avoid drips.
- Aerosols flow more than other paints. Therefore, after 30 minutes you need to walk a small piece of fabric (only velvet or velor is suitable) over the surface. This will remove excess paint. The jacket takes about an hour to dry. But take into account the manufacturer and the thickness of the layer.
- Although aerosols are now sold with water-repellent particles, it doesn’t hurt to apply a final layer. This will make the paint more durable. You can use store-bought fixative. But it is better to give preference to water-based preparations. Although it depends on your desire - whether you want your jacket to be matte or glossy.
- If there are any imperfections or cracks, go over such places with regular shoe polish (it is better to use colorless cream), furniture mastic or even wood wax. By the way, they also come in different colors. There is an even simpler method - use beeswax or paraffin.
We suggest you read How to remove an old grease stain from a jacket
Using an aerosol you get a thin layer that you can adjust yourself
Why does it become necessary to dye a down jacket a different color?
The most common reason why customers want to dye a down jacket a different color is because parts of the product are fading. As you wear it, the shoulders, sleeves, and sides of the down jacket become a tone or two lighter.
People often wonder whether it is possible to dye a jacket because they ruined it by washing it in the washing machine. Especially on light-colored down jackets with leather or contrasting trims, streaks form after washing.
- How to dye jeans black: 5 ways
As a rule, light down jackets get dirty faster and lose their attractive appearance. Therefore, many people ask how to paint a down jacket black or fashionable dark blue.
