Alright so I finally got around to doing something I’d been itching to try – giving these plain black Nike Dunks a fresh look with some teal action. Wanted that cool contrast, you know?
Gathering Stuff
First thing was digging through my gear box. Had the Dunks sitting there waiting. Then I needed:
- Angelus leather deglazer (the important one, makes the paint stick)
- Angelus black paint (for touch-ups)
- Angelus teal paint (this was the star!)
- A few small detail brushes
- Painter’s tape
- Something to mix paint on
Kinda realized my main brush was kinda crappy halfway through – lesson learned there.
Prepping the Canvas
Took the black Dunks out. Didn’t wanna paint the whole thing, just certain panels. Wiped them down real clean with some soapy water first, gotta get rid of any dirt and oils. Dry time felt like forever. Once dry, grabbed the deglazer and cotton balls. Rubbed that stuff hard on the parts I wanted to paint teal. Smells like straight chemicals, but it works. Wiped off the residue until the leather stopped feeling slick.
Taping Off
This part is fiddly. Used the painter’s tape to carefully mask off the areas I wanted to STAY black. Around the swoosh, the heel tabs, the toe cap… one slip and the teal goes where it shouldn’t. Pushed down the tape edges real tight so paint wouldn’t sneak under.
Painting the Teal
Alright, moment of truth. Poured out some of that bright teal. First coat was pathetic – thin and kinda blotchy, the black underneath was bleeding through bad. Didn’t panic. Took a deep breath. Did a second thin coat, making sure it was real smooth. Waited like an hour (snack break time!). Third coat? Looking way better, the colour was popping solid now. Patience pays off. Did a super light fourth coat just to be safe.
Fixing Mess-Ups
Okay, not gonna lie, there were a couple tiny spots. A dab of teal sneaked onto the black midsole near the toe. Grabbed a tiny brush damp with paint thinner – SUPER carefully wiped it off. Took like 10 minutes of breathing slowly. Then touched up that little cleaned spot with the black paint. Nervous minutes!
Letting It Cure
This is the boring part but you can’t skip it. Took the tape off real gentle. Left the shoes alone on my desk for a whole 24 hours. No touching! Let that teal paint fully cure and harden.
The Final Touch
After a full day, hit the teal parts with Angelus acrylic finisher. Just brushed on a thin, even layer. This seals the deal, protects the paint from scratches and wear. Another long dry wait – another 24 hours. Finally, laced ’em up with some regular black laces.
Honestly? Pretty stoked with how they turned out. That teal really slaps against the black. Rocked ’em to the store yesterday, felt kinda proud. DIY projects with hiccups? Totally worth it.
