Question on shoe shine. Non-even shoe color.

kontra · Dec 9, 2009

Its kind of a noob question - but how do you shine shoes like that:

These are almost exactly the ones I own - two pairs of Grenson's very similar to that. The leather is not the same color all the way - the color gradients towards the toes becoming a shade darker.
I was advised to just use the neutral polish by some people - but then was advised against it by others (it leaves some white residue?)
I shined my own shoes for as long as I remember - but I never had to do something like that and I dont want to take them anywhere.

srivats · Dec 9, 2009

Use darker polish on toes and heels, and lighter polish elsewhere. Getting a nice gradient is not easy, but it is not impossibly hard either.

ajv · Dec 9, 2009

I would use Saphir's Fawn (#19) shoe wax.

in fits of print · Dec 9, 2009

I wouldn't polish those shoes at all. Just clean them.

kontra · Dec 9, 2009

Originally Posted by srivats

Use darker polish on toes and heels, and lighter polish elsewhere. Getting a nice gradient is not easy, but it is not impossibly hard either.

-Im having hard time to imagine the process of blending two color polishes together to create a gradient.

Originally Posted by in fits of print

I wouldn't polish those shoes at all. Just clean them.

- How would you clean them? The color is almost exactly the same as pictured - Im really afraid to use conditioners as they darken the leather.

MyOtherLife · Dec 9, 2009

Nice Grensons.
With that 'two-tone' finish, here is how I do it.
For the lighter areas, I use very small amounts of leather lotion with my finger. No polish.
For the darker areas, the same, unless there are scuffs you want to deal with.
If there are scuffs, you can take a tiny bit of burgundy creme polish, mix with a bit of leather lotion,
and apply thinly and quickly over the darker areas. Cutting the polish with lotion gives you those extra seconds to play with. Because the burgundy is so thinly applied, you'll be amazed that it alost exactly matches the original color.
Let dry 30 min then brush. Use tow different brushes. One for the lighter areas, the other for the darker.

kontra · Dec 9, 2009

- any leather lotion you'd reccomend? Or at least what it'd be based on? Mink oil?

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Question on shoe shine. Non-even shoe color.

kontra

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in fits of print

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kontra

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MyOtherLife

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kontra

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