How to Dye Your Satin Pointe Shoes

If you dance and perform ballet on stage you may occasionally be required to dye your pointe shoes to match your costume. Or you may want to make your old pointe shoes fresh and exciting. Dying your toe shoes is not that difficult with some simply planning ahead. Since they are made of satin the dyes take very well and look beautiful on stage.

Pointe shoes have a glue or paste in their fabric, so any liquid is going to change the shape and form of the shoe (that's why some dancers use water to break in their toe shoes). Keep this in mind when dyeing with a liquid fabric dye.

The best way to dye your shoes is to make sure they are extra dry, with no moisture in them whatsoever. If you wear them for class, make sure to leave them in the sunlight for a while to get them really dry. Let them dry naturally, don't use artificial heat (an oven or heater) because that can over-harden the glue in the toe box.

If you have used jet glue or a similar shellac substance on your pointe shoes (to hold the shape of your shoe once you have broken them in), they will not dye evenly. In fact, the areas with glue will not take the dye at all, or in the worst case, the glue will break down and the dye will bleed and fade.

Prepare the area where you are going to be doing the colorng. Lay out newspaper or plastic and get all your supplies lined up. Make sure there is a spot put aside to place the shoes to dry, and an easy way to transfer them there if needed (like a tray or old cardboard soda flat).

Once your shoes are dry they are ready to be colored. First fill the shoes with crumpled newspaper or other filling. This will make it easier to apply the dye because the shoe won't fold and crease as you press on it. Find a pair of gloves to wear to protect your skin from the dye - you don't want your hands to match your shoes!

You can use RIT or Tintex brand dyes (or any other fabric dye). These can be purchased at most department or drug stores, craft stores or online. Follow the directions on the box that tell you how to mix the dye, but do not follow the directions for applying. You definitely do not want to immerse the shoes in the dye. Instead, you want to apply the dye to the shoe manually. A kitchen sponge works great, but cotton balls can work as well. Squeeze all the extra dye from the sponge/cotton so it does not drip. Then, gently brush or stroke the dye onto the shoe. Go slow and try not to leave lines or streaks. It is best to do the satin ribbons and elastics at the same time so they match.

Once the shoes are completely colored, let them dry for one to two days in a warm, sunny spot. If you still want them darker, or have areas to touch up, you can apply another coat to the dry shoes.

Occasionally some dancers have used permanent ink from an artist's store to color their pointe shoes. They work similar to a magic marker. Fabric markers have even been used and can be helpful to touch-up the areas on the shoes where the color did not take (the seams especially).

If you are considering bringing your ballet shoes to a specialty shop to have them dyed (either a bridal shop or shoe store/cobbler), make sure you tell them not to let the shoe get wet. You do not want a beautiful pair of pointe shoes that are uncomfortable and don't fit anymore, especially if you'll be dancing on stage.

One final note, occasionally the dye from the shoes and ribbons may bleed onto your tights. Wear a pair that you are willing to get color streaks on.