https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:49:27 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1032050 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:13:37 +0000 Anonymous 1032050@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am really tempted to try the cream polish in silver to put over my grey moto boots -- I think it would update them and give them some life! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1032014 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 15:30:55 +0000 Diana 1032014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for chiming in, Vix and Claire!&nbsp; </p> <p>Vix, I'm glad to hear that you had good luck mixing colors.&nbsp; I don't think any of the golds match the pale gold of my oxfords, so I was considering mixing the platinum (which looks champagne in most pictures I can find) with old gold (which I was going to get for the brown shoes anyway).&nbsp; Have you ever tried mixing two colors together before applying, or do you always do it like in your link, with multiple coats of different shades?&nbsp; </p> <p>Claire, that's good to know about the sheerness of the metallics.&nbsp; I will definitely keep that in mind.&nbsp; I think I am actually going to order from Amazon - the price is a little higher but it qualifies for free shipping.&nbsp; <br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/TRG-One-Metallic-Shoe-404/dp/B006R0PIGS/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1379431543&amp;sr=8-1-fkmr0&amp;keywords=tarrago+metallic+cream" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/TRG-One-.....=137943154</a><br />(Google tells me that TRG is just the new brand name for tarrago and as far as I can tell it's identical).</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031948 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:28:52 +0000 Anonymous 1031948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Diana! Sorry I'm late here....I've used lots of the dye and some polish from Tarrago. The one metallic dye I tried was silver, and it was very, very sheer. I used an entire kit on a buff colored bag and the orange-y color still showed through when I was finished.. So I wouldn't rule out the dye. If you order from shoeshinekit.com, you have to order a $10 minimum, so you may as well get the polish and dye at the same time. That way you have the dye if the polish isn't doing it for you. Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031930 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:17:09 +0000 Vix 1031930@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ </p> <p>Hi Diana --</p> <p>The Tarrago metallic leather dyes have changed my shoe life -- no more dependency on manufacturers to give me a comfortable sandal in a color that looks good with my skin tone!&nbsp;</p> <p>I&nbsp;actually don't like the dye -- too shiny and prone to peeling for me.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the last several years&nbsp;I've used many of their cool-toned metallics.&nbsp;The pearlescent line gives&nbsp;a slightly softer look than the metallics, but doesn't look like they have any golds.&nbsp;The polish doesn't rub off, but if you scuff your shoes the base color will show through. Nice thing is it takes just a few minutes to coat a whole shoe, so touch-ups are even quicker.&nbsp;</p> <p>I actually suggest buying at least 2 shades so you can layer them to tweak the color a bit -- every base color will affect the result differently, and generally you'll need at least 3 coats to see results.&nbsp;[Though&nbsp;wow, the metallics have doubled in price since I started! Still a great deal; a jar lasts and lasts.]</p> <p>IME the palest shades don't do much at all on their own and even on a bone base color&nbsp;take about 7 (quick) coats to start looking metallic. If I had to pick one for my needs&nbsp;it would be High Silver.&nbsp;</p> <p>Over the dark brown I think you're going to need a deep gold to see anything remotely golden; with the gold shoes, a lighter shade&nbsp;might be ok. You *may* be able to just add a bit of shine without changing the brown, but generally I find I don't like the way mine look mid-process.</p> <p>A photo of some 2 year-old, oft-worn&nbsp;DIY'd silver wedges&nbsp;below -- most shots I have involve flash, the c/u might be daylight. Shininess is ~ equivalent to store-bought metallics, but your layering up the color adds control over that.</p> <p>Some photos and process stuff&nbsp;here (though I've done many shoes since:</p> <span></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://buildingacolorfullife.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/is-that-platinum-shoe-cream-in-your-pocket-or-are-you-just-happy-to-see-me/">http://buildingacolorfullife.w.....pocket-or-</a></p> <p></span>Good luck!<div><br /></div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031225 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:35:15 +0000 rae 1031225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They turn out brighter and shiner than in cream form. I only tried the bronze, and I'd say the resulting color was like a copper penny. The first link above is the platinum color, and it looks very silvery.&nbsp;The color used in the Etsy link is "metallic gold."&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031216 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:26:14 +0000 Diana 1031216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, wow, I didn't realize the self shine dye was so opaque.&nbsp; OK, polish it is then.&nbsp; Do you think the colors are true to the picture you linked?&nbsp; The golds all look very yellow to me, I'm wondering if I actually need platinum to match the pale gold of the Arlettas. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031207 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:12:55 +0000 rae 1031207@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hm, I think the cream polish would be best for those, too. The self-shine dye is going to be much more opaque and shiny. Here's a good close up of the metallic cream polishes... can you see how it's kind of like a pearlized texture as opposed to a chrome-like texture? When it dries, the milky-ness goes away, but the pearlescence stays to shimmer it up.<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.shoecaresupplies.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/tarrago-shoe-cream-color-chart-metallic-2.jpg">http://www.shoecaresupplies.co.....tallic-2.j</a>&nbsp;</p> <p>Some after shots of the Self Shine Dye&nbsp;from the interwebs - solid, opaque color:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://prettylittleladythings.blogspot.com/2012/08/diy-and-professional-dye-jobs-are-able.html">http://prettylittleladythings......-able.html</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/127407716/tarrago-self-shine-leather-dye-metallic?ref=&amp;sref">http://www.etsy.com/listing/12.....&#038;sref</a>= </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031195 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:00:54 +0000 Diana 1031195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Rae. That's good to hear.&nbsp; The polish seems easier to use and is cheaper too. I don't really want to change the color, just add some metallic texture.<br />Here is a stock photo of the arlettas.&nbsp; The gold is not so shiny IRL and mine are more beat up looking after a year of wear, and the undyed parts have turned a bit darker in color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031191 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:56:55 +0000 rae 1031191@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have only used the metallic cream polish, which was good for a little sheer shimmer. You can't go too thick with it, because you have to wipe off excess to make sure it doesn't come off. It's not a super high shine.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also tried it on a $1 leather jacket once, and the color was pretty but it turned out a little stiff. For shoes, I think the polish would work nicely for what you want. Plus a little jar goes a long way, and if it starts to fade you can touch up over time. </p> <p>ETA: do you have a close up of the Arletta texture?&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/questions-for-leather-dyers-tarrago-metallic-dyes#post-1031184 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:50:53 +0000 Diana 1031184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So I am thinking I want to turn my brown heeled oxfords bronze or dark gold.&nbsp; The brown is just too flat and boring and the truth is that I kind of just don't like brown.&nbsp; Anyway, I know Rae and Claire and others have mentioned Tarrago dyes.&nbsp; I'm looking at them and am a bit confused about the different products.</p> <p>So there is something called "metallic self-shine colored dyes"<br /><a href="http://shoeshinekit.com/tamedy.html" rel="nofollow">http://shoeshinekit.com/tamedy.html</a></p> <p>And something called "metallic color cream polish"<br /><a href="http://shoeshinekit.com/tameco.html" rel="nofollow">http://shoeshinekit.com/tameco.html</a></p> <p>What I want to do is basically add a bronze or gold coat over the existing brown color to add some depth and shine.&nbsp; Streaky is OK.&nbsp; I don't want the shoe to be sci-fi metallic or anything.&nbsp; Do I need to go for the true dye, or would the polish add enough of a coating?&nbsp; And does the polish rub off with time? </p> <p>How shiny do they end up?</p> <p>On a related note, I would also like to polish up my gold Born Arlettas.&nbsp; They are a distressed gold, with areas that are basically undyed which have gotten kind of ugly and darkened over time.&nbsp; So I'd like to basically put a coat of light gold polish over the whole thing.&nbsp; Would the cream polish be sufficient for that?</p> <p>Any other tips and tricks for dyeing things metallic are welcomed and appreciated! </p>