How to Change Brown Leather to Black

How to Change Brown Leather to Black
Written By
Jennifer Leigh
Jennifer Leigh
Published: May 23, 2011
Updated: Dec 13, 2021
1 minute read

Changing the color of leather can be challenging because leather is not a porous material compared to other fabrics. Leather is also expensive, so mistakes can be costly if the color is not applied correctly. There are professional leather dyes that change leather from brown to black, as well as other materials that help with the dyeing process. Luckily, making a color darker is much easier than making it lighter or brighter.

Apply leather stripper to the leather product you want to dye. Put it on a cotton cloth and rub it all over the item. Use a toothbrush for any areas that are hard to get to. Give the stripper time to evaporate, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Put professional black leather dye on the item with a dye brush. Apply it evenly with long strokes. Allow approximately 30 minutes for the leather dye to dry. Apply another coat after the first has dried to make the item blacker and more even. Allow to dry. Apply a final coat if the item is not the color you desire.

Place the item in an area where it will not be disturbed for a few hours so that it can dry completely. Buff with cotton rags or apply a black leather polish for a shinier finish. You can also put on a neutral-colored sealer to keep the dye from rubbing off. Finish by buffing the item with cotton cloths.

References

Jennifer Leigh

Jennifer Leigh has been a writer since 2006. She has been published in "Voices of Art Magazine" and on various websites. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Arts in fashion management from the University of the Incarnate Word and is currently…

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