Dye Your Canvas Pointe Shoes And Bring Them To Life

Do you participate in ballet? If so, you likely want to look your best when it is time to perform, because you want your audience to remember you. Perhaps you have a favorite pair of canvas pointe shoes that look average, but feel more comfortable than any other ballet shoes you own. Adding color to your ballet shoes is a great way to bring them to life, or create a one-of-a-kind shoe appearance. Best of all, dying your canvas shoes is not difficult. 

What You Will Need:

Duct Tape

Fabric Dye

Gloves

Paint Sponge Brush

Disposable Cups

Crumpled Paper

Cardboard or Old Tablecloth with Plastic Backing (need to be large enough to be used as a work surface)

Optional: Fan or Hairdryer to Speed up Drying

1. Set up materials on top of the cardboard or tablecloth. Pour the dye in the disposable cup. If you are mixing colors to form a unique color, ensure you mix enough for both of your shoes. Not doing so could result in you needing to mix more, and the colors may be mismatched. Only work on top of the tablecloth or cardboard to ensure that the dye does not get onto other surfaces. 

2. Use the duct tape to cover parts of your shoes that you do not want colored by the dye. If you are going for a multi-color effect, you need to dye one area of the shoes at a time. You need to cover the area(s) that you are not ready to dye. Ensure the tape is secure around the protected areas to avoid color seepage. Important: The first area will need to dry before you proceed to the next color. 

3. Insert the crumpled paper into the canvas pointe shoes. The paper will serve as a means of supporting the shoes during the dying. It will also protect the inner part of the shoes from getting dyed. 

4. Put on your gloves, and begin applying the dye. Use thin layers of dye. Apply in a painting motion. Thinner layers will dry faster. 

5. Allow the shoes to air dry, which will take between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. Using a fan or hairdryer will speed up the drying process. If you desire a darker hue, add more dye to the shoes after they dry. Continue to use caution in regards to avoiding saturation, and allow them to thoroughly dry again. Repeat dye and dry applications until the desired hue is reached. 

6. If you are applying more than one color, start with the next color after you achieve the first hue and it is dry. Pour out the old dye and rinse the cup to reuse. You can also opt to throw it away, and use a new cup. You will need to cover the previously dyed and dried area(s) with tape to prevent the new color from seeping into the area(s). Repeat steps 1-5 for each additional color. 

Final Thoughts

One or two colors of dye will be easier to complete if you have never dyed shoes. After you get acquainted with the process, you may develop the skill and precision to add three or more colors to your pointe shoes in the future. A ballet dance apparel store is a good resource to use to locate canvas shoes that are already colored by the manufacturer.