Shoe Dyeing FAQs

Q:  How do I know if my shoes fit properly before dyeing?
A:  Your feet tend to swell during the day, so it is best to try on your shoes late in the day, when your feet are largest.  It is important to ensure that they fit you properly BEFORE you have them dyed. We will NOT accept returns on dyed shoes even if they do not fit you.

Q:  How do I know if my shoe is dyeable?
A:  Not all white satin, crepe and luxe shoes are dyeable. BEFORE you send your shoes to DyeMyShoes.com™, you should contact the shoe manufacturer and ask. If the shoes dyeing professional determine that a shoe is non-dyeable, they will not attempt to dye the shoe and will return it back to you at your expense.

Q:  How do I pick what color to dye my shoes?
A:  When deciding on a color to dye shoes, you must ask yourself whether you want to match your dress or whether you simply want the shoes to be complimentary color and not an exact match. If you want the shoes to match your dress, you must provide a 1” inch swatch sample of the dress. This can typically be obtained from the hem area on the inside of the dress. Professionally made dresses from designers can typically provide you with a fabric swatch specifically for this reason.  At KnotTheGroom.com, we also provide a white fabric swatch with each pair of dyeable shoes.

Q:  What is your policy with regards to color matching?
A:  When it comes to color matching, DyeMyShoes.com™ never guarantees color matching without having an actual sample of the color you want matched. In addition to providing a sample, you must specify how you want them to match the color with respect to the light source (indoor vs. outdoor). It’s important that you determine where you will be wearing your dyed shoes, at an indoor or outdoor event. The shoe dyeing professional at DyeMyShoes.com™ will then match the color to the sample provided under the light source specified (indoor or outdoor). 

Q:  Why does the color of my shoes look different in different kinds of light?
A:  The way color is displayed to your eye is greatly affected by what light the object is being viewed under, ie. sunlight vs. indoor light. 

Q:  Is the shoe dye permanent?
A:  Although the color on dyed shoes typically cannot be completely removed, the dye is water soluble. This means that if the shoes get wet, the shoe dye can run. Depending on the color of the shoe, it may be possible to re-dye a shoe to a darker color. For example, yellow to black.

Q:  How long does the entire custom dyeing process take?
A:  Once they receive the shoes at DyeMyShoes.com™, it can take up to 7 business days to process your order. They will then ship the dyed shoes back to you via UPS Ground, which can take up to 5 business days depending on where you live. So, it can take up to 12 business days from the day they receive your shoes until you receive your final product.

Q:  What is the most difficult type of shoe to die?
A:  It is most difficult to match silk shoes as the same color dye will appear much different when used on satin vs. silk.  It is also harder to get the color to change the way you want it to when dyeing silk shoes. 

Q:  What is the most difficult color to match?
A:  Dyeing to outdoor vs. indoor light is really tricky.  For example, when matching a champagne swatch to outdoor light, it will appear very different indoors (it will look really green in indoor light but will look perfectly champagne outdoors).  The different lighting affects all colors differently, so there is a lot of trial and error involved.

Q:  How does the shoe dyeing professional manage to keep from getting the color on the inside of the shoe or on the sole?
A:  It is pretty easy not to get dye on the sole or inside of the shoe. The shoe dyeing professional will simply drag the dauber carefully along the edge of the sole (where the fabric/sole meet) and will let the dye seep down so that it gets under the sole without getting on the sole. Occasionally the dye will get on the sole of the shoe, but since the dye is water based, it is easily removed by using a bit of extender on a rag and wiping the bottom.  This does not damage the shoe at all. The same can be said for the inside of the shoe.

Q:  Is the shoe dyeing process any different for a black shoe? 
A:  The jet black dye itself seems to be a bit thicker than the normal mixed dye, and sometimes it will require two coats to really get the shoe as black as it needs to be.  When that is the case, the first coat has to dry completely before applying the second coat.  Other than that, it is the same process.