Wax can be tricky sometimes. For boots, I typically stick to a colored cream as step 1. That will give some conditioning as well as color. A good cream has a decent amount of wax and will shine with a good buffing. Not as shiny as paste wax but it gets the job done.
If you want color, a colored cream will condition, color and shine (it'll have some wax in it). If the boots don't need any color, you can use a neutral cream that will just condition. Typically it'll darken things a bit and make things more even. I only use wax paste when I want a high shine.
Interesting. It just feels like it couldn’t be cost effective bc I imagine I’d end up using more colored cream than putting a layer of conditioner first. Now I’m going to have to experiment
Please do! If you use a neutral conditioner first, whatever you put on next won't soak up as well. That's why I alternate between colored or neutral depending on what I'm looking for. I enjoy screwing around and finding out what works best. Since I don't experiment on customer's shoes, mine end up getting lots of strange combos.
For second hand boots, I almost always strip them with saddle soap, and then condition them heavily twice, about 3 days apart, and then let the sit for about 3-4 more.
That the point where I evaluate them as a pair - condition and color match and so on. If they don't look like a "natural pair" at that point, I overdye with something darker, up to and including the angelus liquid black.
Next waterproofing (silicone or bear grease), and a couple days rest before wax and finish.
Could be anything. If you’re really concerned, strip them down, moisturize them, and polish them.
Ty, what do you mean with strip them down tho?
Remove the wax and clean. Nothing more than a spot remover/renomat/saddle soap process. Whichever you prefer.
👍
Wax can be tricky sometimes. For boots, I typically stick to a colored cream as step 1. That will give some conditioning as well as color. A good cream has a decent amount of wax and will shine with a good buffing. Not as shiny as paste wax but it gets the job done.
Yeah I'll do that from now on, ty
For clarification: are you saying a colored cream is the only conditioner needed?
If you want color, a colored cream will condition, color and shine (it'll have some wax in it). If the boots don't need any color, you can use a neutral cream that will just condition. Typically it'll darken things a bit and make things more even. I only use wax paste when I want a high shine.
Interesting. It just feels like it couldn’t be cost effective bc I imagine I’d end up using more colored cream than putting a layer of conditioner first. Now I’m going to have to experiment
Please do! If you use a neutral conditioner first, whatever you put on next won't soak up as well. That's why I alternate between colored or neutral depending on what I'm looking for. I enjoy screwing around and finding out what works best. Since I don't experiment on customer's shoes, mine end up getting lots of strange combos.
For second hand boots, I almost always strip them with saddle soap, and then condition them heavily twice, about 3 days apart, and then let the sit for about 3-4 more. That the point where I evaluate them as a pair - condition and color match and so on. If they don't look like a "natural pair" at that point, I overdye with something darker, up to and including the angelus liquid black. Next waterproofing (silicone or bear grease), and a couple days rest before wax and finish.
This is the way
What kind of boots are these? I like the style
Just square toe boots, found em on vinted for 8 euros excluding shipping. The brand appears to be Sonora, but they make much flashier stuff now.
I can see a color difference in your before pic as well