Rejuventating, Repairing or Restoring Your Balenciaga

[kerryisntreal]

So, I’m looking to revive one of my light pink Bals, specifically the colour Bois De Rose . I bought this on Amazon. Has anyone had experience with this product?

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Hey! I’d caution you against using this. A “water based dye” that covers basically means it’s a paint.

I’d highly recommend using creams instead, assuming what you’re looking to do is refresh a dulled color. I also had a bois de rose (work) that needed a freshen up, and I mixed a few different creams to get the right BDR shade. In the case of areas where colors are worn off, you can venture into paint territory but it’s always obvious when paint it used on a bag.

 

[Monz1987]

Hey! I’d caution you against using this. A “water based dye” that covers basically means it’s a paint.

I’d highly recommend using creams instead, assuming what you’re looking to do is refresh a dulled color. I also had a bois de rose (work) that needed a freshen up, and I mixed a few different creams to get the right BDR shade. In the case of areas where colors are worn off, you can venture into paint territory but it’s always obvious when paint it used on a bag.

Thank you so much! I got your DM and replied there. You are so kind for reaching out to me.

 

[BBBagHag]

Hi! Good to know.. I have a 2007 black city that could use a color refresh and I was thinking of dye.. is there a particular cream you would recommend? TIA

Hey! I’d caution you against using this. A “water based dye” that covers basically means it’s a paint.

I’d highly recommend using creams instead, assuming what you’re looking to do is refresh a dulled color. I also had a bois de rose (work) that needed a freshen up, and I mixed a few different creams to get the right BDR shade. In the case of areas where colors are worn off, you can venture into paint territory but it’s always obvious when paint it used on a bag.

 

[kerryisntreal]

Hi! Good to know.. I have a 2007 black city that could use a color refresh and I was thinking of dye.. is there a particular cream you would recommend? TIA

For sure! I like Tarrago and Saphir creams. Both brands’ black will have some pigment in them that can help deepen a faded black (creams are like using tinted moisturizer; dyes are like tattooing; leather paint / acrylic “dyes” can be like anything from concealer to face paint).

The creams also contain a lighter wax that helps restore a light sheen once buffed, and is my favorite for a whole-bag kind of treatment. After applying it, let it dry for 10+ mins then just buff with a rag to pick up any excess and restore the shine.

I don’t have a ton of great “project” pics on my phone but this is an old before/after of using a cream (pretty sure this color was a tarrago) in 2016 on my faded rouge cardinal. The last pic is the same bag just a couple months ago

 

[samfalstaff]

I just got a 2005 Caramel City bag from TRR. It's been authenticated by @muchstuff. I love the color, but the leather feels very dry for chevre. At first I was thinking there might be some coating on the bag, but now I just think it's dry. I have zero expertise in assessing the dryness of Balenciaga leathers (vs. some sort of coating on the bag) so thought I would post pictures and see what others think.

 

[kerryisntreal]

I just got a 2005 Caramel City bag from TRR. It's been authenticated by @muchstuff. I love the color, but the leather feels very dry for chevre. At first I was thinking there might be some coating on the bag, but now I just think it's dry. I have zero expertise in assessing the dryness of Balenciaga leathers (vs. some sort of coating on the bag) so thought I would post pictures and see what others think.
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Hard to tell from afar, but I agree with you, it does look like it might be a bit dry!

The "coating" is probably just the original glaze. Since leather is a natural product there can be a pretty wide variation in how a hide will be even same year/color (and who knows what kind of climate it may have been in!). It prob just needs a good conditioning.

 

[BBBagHag]

Wow! That makeover is pretty amazing! Thanks for the info, I’ll give it a try! I bought a fieblings dye for the faded black city but maybe I’ll start with a cream instead!

For sure! I like Tarrago and Saphir creams. Both brands’ black will have some pigment in them that can help deepen a faded black (creams are like using tinted moisturizer; dyes are like tattooing; leather paint / acrylic “dyes” can be like anything from concealer to face paint).

The creams also contain a lighter wax that helps restore a light sheen once buffed, and is my favorite for a whole-bag kind of treatment. After applying it, let it dry for 10+ mins then just buff with a rag to pick up any excess and restore the shine.

I don’t have a ton of great “project” pics on my phone but this is an old before/after of using a cream (pretty sure this color was a tarrago) in 2016 on my faded rouge cardinal. The last pic is the same bag just a couple months ago

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[kerryisntreal]

Wow! That makeover is pretty amazing! Thanks for the info, I’ll give it a try! I bought a fieblings dye for the faded black city but maybe I’ll start with a cream instead!

Yeah dyeing is definitely an extreme action to take on a bag. IMO it’s a last resort. Do you have pics of the bag? How badly faded is it?

 

[kerryisntreal]

Wow! That makeover is pretty amazing! Thanks for the info, I’ll give it a try! I bought a fieblings dye for the faded black city but maybe I’ll start with a cream instead!

Grabbed some dye and shoe cream I had on hand (ha) for a quick comparison. Top is tarrago cream, bottom is Fiebing’s dye.

and this is after a simple hand wash:


The products:


The dye is penetrative, and would require more of an intense studio setup to protect surfaces because it *will* stain [RIP my old table]. For creams I typically just lay out a large sheet of paper or cardboard, and it cleans up well from surfaces.

 

[RT1]

Definitely use the cream first and then check out the results.

OMG, I dyed some raw leather the other day and did not use gloves (incredibly stupid of me) and I thought I'd never get the dye off my hands...LOLOL!
I tried Bartender's Friend, AJAX, Lava soap, and finally Clorox Bleach...all scrubbing with a Scotchbrite pad.
After about three days of numerous washings, my hands finally came clean.
That dye is incredibly powerful and penetrative.

 

[samfalstaff]

Hard to tell from afar, but I agree with you, it does look like it might be a bit dry!

The "coating" is probably just the original glaze. Since leather is a natural product there can be a pretty wide variation in how a hide will be even same year/color (and who knows what kind of climate it may have been in!). It prob just needs a good conditioning.

Okay. Thanks for the info. I will give it a good conditioning with some Leather CPR. I might even try Leather Honey since I don't mind if it darkens a bit.

 

[kerryisntreal]

Okay. Thanks for the info. I will give it a good conditioning with some Leather CPR. I might even try Leather Honey since I don't mind if it darkens a bit.

Ooh I’ve never used leather CPR but I’ve heard good things. I have these 2 around, I use the furniture clinic one the most.

I do like leather honey but it scares me sometimes lol. I recently used it on an olive green bag and it took a couple days to fully set in and I ended up using a neutral cream on top to restore shine bc it felt dull afterwards.

 

[RT1]

I've used Leather CPR with great results.
There is also a product made by a company called LEXOL, that works wonders on leather renewal.
They specialize in leather conditioning.

 

[samfalstaff]

Ooh I’ve never used leather CPR but I’ve heard good things. I have these 2 around, I use the furniture clinic one the most.
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I do like leather honey but it scares me sometimes lol. I recently used it on an olive green bag and it took a couple days to fully set in and I ended up using a neutral cream on top to restore shine bc it felt dull afterwards.

I wouldn't think to use furniture conditioner, but I guess it makes sense. I've heard absolutely wonderful things about leather honey and absolutely scary things about it too. Guess I just have to try it out for myself.

 

[kerryisntreal]

I wouldn't think to use furniture conditioner, but I guess it makes sense. I've heard absolutely wonderful things about leather honey and absolutely scary things about it too. Guess I just have to try it out for myself.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Furniture Clinic is actually the parent company of Handbag Clinic. They make great products!

From what I've read it seems like HC was basically a bunch of leather experts realizing they could help fix up people's fancy bags, hehe.