Apply Shoe Goo where the fabric is separating from the sole and use a bulldog clip to clamp the materials together.
What Kind of Paint to Use on Sneakers?
Having some trouble deciding what kind of paint you should use on your sneakers? No worries — we’ve got you covered.
When most people get started on their sneaker collection they want to start customizing. When they learn what it actually takes to customize though, most people don’t know where to begin or what paints to use.
So in this article, we will go over the best paints and brands you can use to add a little bit of color to your kicks. Let’s get started…
Nova Color Acrylic Paints — Best Paint to Use on Sneakers
The best way to ensure your sneakers look their best is to use the right paint for the job. And when it comes to painting sneakers, there’s no better paint than Nova Color Acrylic Paints.
Nova Color is a professional-grade line of acrylic paint manufactured in the USA, made from the finest raw materials available. The Nova Color acrylic paints are available in over 80 brilliant colors so you can choose one that matches the color of your sneakers perfectly.
Treat the sneakers as you would any other surface when it comes to the actual painting; you will want to apply several coats of the paint. Let the paint dry between coats, and then apply a top coat of clear acrylic sealer to keep the color shiny and protected.
Nova Color acrylic paints wash up well with soap and water if you get any on yourself while painting or handling them during your project.
You can use Nova Color acrylic paints on your sneakers to create anything from a bold, bright statement to a simple accent.
Tip: Always start painting your sneakers from the bottom and work your way up to prevent any unwanted bleeding
Why Paint Your Sneakers?
The answer is simple, it’s because it looks cool and lets you express yourself artistically.
Painting your sneakers is a great way to customize them and make them look like nothing else out there. You can also modify your sneakers to fit your personality; for example, you can use a lot of vibrant colors or do something really artistic and unique.
Whatever your style is, there is a way that you can paint your sneakers to make them reflect that style.
It’s also inexpensive to paint sneakers as you can purchase acrylic paints at any hardware store and it is surprisingly affordable. You can also shop around online at the Nova Color store if you want to find an even better deal. And if you’re not planning on keeping your shoes forever, it’s more than worth it!
What’s even better is that painting your sneakers is super easy and something anyone can do at home! You don’t need any specialized equipment or a lot of knowledge about paint.
Introduction: Customize Shoes With Spray Paint and Sugru
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Raised on leather, with flesh on her mind, here comes the woman with the look in her eye. Her words are weapons, sharper than knives. It makes you wonder how the other half die.
Here comes the man with the look in his eye. He was fed on nothing, but he’s full of pride. Look at them go. Look at them kick. It makes you wonder how the other half live.
Here comes the world with the look in its eye. The future is uncertain but certainly slight. Look at the faces. Listen to the bells. It’s hard to believe we need a place called hell.
When I lived in London, I spent a fair amount of time trolling around Camden, and it left an indelible impression on me for all things goth, punk, and cyber. If there were a pair of AngryRedhead shoes, these would be it.
I’m making the deadline by the skin of my teeth after toying with these shoes for 3 weeks now. This Instructable shows how to make a pair of stylized shoes using Sugru and spray paint and how to add treads to shoes that are a bit slippery. Most of the instructions are on the high heels as they require more techniques and instruction, so if you are making the men’s shoes, please read through the women’s, too.
If you would like to save yourself time and a whole lot of headache, please follow these directions on how to paint shoes as carefully as possible, or you may end up spending a lot more time on repairing mistakes than if you’d been patient from the start. Give yourself at least 2 weeks to decorate these shoes. Each step is short, but there’s a lot of time for curing necessary. Don’t skimp on the cure time!
Since I have JUST finished these shoes, I cannot say what exactly the durability is. Considering how specialized these shoes are, I’m guessing very, very few people are going to wear them on any sort of regular basis, and if there are cracks, breaks, snaps, etc., they are repairable. Be careful with these for the first month until everything is totally and fully cured and has become a permanent part of the shoe.
If you want to change the design and placement of the Sugru, carefully consider what you do and how you’ll wear the shoes. Consider how you will put your feet together, stand next to a wall, or drive a car while wearing these shoes. The horns are put on the toes for a reason.
Stay tuned for more custom shoe techniques and ideas! I would have done another design for other options, but I ran out Sugru and time. Bah!
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Step 1: Materials
- Shoes
You can use a pair of shoes that you no longer like or a pair from a thrift store. I bought these high heels for $15 a few months ago with the intention of customizing them. These are vinyl shoes, so these instructions apply to vinyl, not leather or canvas. Avoid shoes with overlay, heavy stitching, buckles, bows, etc. Very plain shoes are easier to customize.
- Krylon Fusion Spray Paint
I’m using Safety Red and Gloss Black. I tried the Rustoleum Plastic Primer on another pair of shoes, and it didn’t work as well as the Krylon Fusion which is why I’m mentioning this brand in particular. It also comes in many colors and is easy to use.
- Clear Spray Paint
This one is acrylic, but I have a feeling you could use a wax finish.
You will need 8 packs for a pair of women’s shoes and 2 for men’s.
- 1/4″ Detailing Tape
I found mine at an auto parts store, but call around and be specific with what you need to do with it. Many stores claimed to have it when they didn’t.
For wiping away mistakes and cleaning tools.
- Exacto Knife
- Butter Knife
- Frosting Tip
Or any appropriately sized funnel-shaped, hollow object.
I’m using 60, 120, and 320 cut into 1″x2″ squares.
Fine, not coarse.
- Gloves
- Board wrapped in wax paper
This is a piece of board from an old picture frame that I wrapped in a couple sheets of wax paper and taped down. This will help for molding the Sugru and protect your flat surfaces.
- Bulldog Clips
- Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly
- Red Shoelaces (optional; not shown)
- Black Fabric Dye (optional)
- Electrical Tape
- Shoe Goo for any repairs (not shown)
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Step 2: Sand Shoe
Sand shoe and wipe away dust with damp cloth.
Note: It’s probably going to feel wrong sanding down the shoes, but it will help. Sand all parts of the shoe that will have Sugru or paint.
Allow the shoes to completely dry after wiping down with the damp cloth.
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