Can you dye a faded hat black?

[Ravenwood]

My hat looks awful and I haven't even had it that long

(well a few years maybe). And you certainly couldn't accuse me of leaving it out in the sun - what sun? I haven't seen any for nearly three years

So, is it possible to dye it black again? Has anyone done this before?

My hat..........

(PS: Ignore me stuffing my face!! this was at the first meet last week - but you can clearly see how faded it is

)

 

[niagaraduval]

I'm sure it is possible if you used a sponge and sponged the dye on.

 

[only_me]

steam it - hold it over a boiling kettle and the steam *should* restore it back to its natural colour

it worked on mine

 

[Ravenwood]

I've tried steaming it - I think its too far gone

 

[Ravenwood]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure it is possible if you used a sponge and sponged the dye on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you actually done this? I would be worried it would go all blotchy and look worse!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Be careful..............I have visions of black dye trickling down your face with all the rain you have!!!!

 

[Ravenwood]

My thoughts exactly!!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If steam won't bring it back then I doubt it can be done. You'd have to be so careful anyway as you may well affect the integrity of the hat.

 

[mintaka04]

I suppose you could always try dylon dyes. Or if it was my hat I might be tempted to try one of these shoe blackener things.
You know the white ones with a wee sponge attached for whitening your sandshoes...I think they do a black version too.
Try your local Timpson's shop.
Regards, x

 

[Ravenwood]

I think the shoe blackening would run in the rain (I can just picture it now!!).

But I was wondering if anyone had used a dye as you suggested.

 

[Ravenwood]

[ QUOTE ]
If steam won't bring it back then I doubt it can be done. You'd have to be so careful anyway as you may well affect the integrity of the hat.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL - I didn't realise hats had any integrity - mine just sits on my head without complaining!!!

Sorry ignore me - I am in a silly mood

 

[Smurphy]

I have used shoe dye on my hat with no problems, just takes a while to dry.

 

[chunkytfg]

cut the peak off and use a black silk

 

[PoppyAnderson]

There's a lady near Manchester who can do anything with hats. She's just fixed my Charles Owen and 3 of my friends hats, including a Patey that Patey couldn't do anything with! She is extremely reasonable as well. PM me if you want her details.

 

[niagaraduval]

Well I have dyed things in the past. (Bedding etc..) and it has never faded in the wash. Surely it would be the same for a hat? DO NOT PUT SHOE POLISH ON IT.

I remember something very stupid I did when I was small. I put shoe polish on the soles of my shoes. I walked around the wet grass and walked black shoe polish all through the house. - Parents weren't happy!

 

[DuckToller]

Can't help with dylon question, but thought I'd share this. We took our 11.2 pony to a dressage to music comp a few years ago and my daughter cleaned all her own stuff. Warmed up nicely, but just before test it bucketed down. Next thing I see is daughter with black rivulets running down her face - she had put boot polish on her hat as it was faded! I had to run to a tack stall and cough up £75 for a new hat while we waited for the class to restart

 

[Ravenwood]

LOL - that made me chuckle. This is why I am worried about dying it - especially as considering it rains 365 days of the year on Exmoor (at least it seems like that!)

 

[conniegirl]

I dye my show hat when it fades in the sun.
I use suade (sp?) shoe dye, you work it in well with the little brush provided, leave it for 2 or 3 days to dry completely and then brush it with a stiff brush.

I've shown in torrential rain with my redyed hat and it has never run!

 

[PapaFrita]

I would get some ink/dye and put it in an atomiser bottle thingy... Use sparingly!!

 

[conniegirl]

hat before dyeing

hat after dying

obviously a navy hat but i dont see why it wouldnt work with black instead navy

 

[Ravenwood]

Ah - you may have provided the answer then! - where do you get the suede shoe dye - a shoe shop I am guessing

 

[conniegirl]

i got mine from ebay. but i did see some in the dry cleaners the other day.

 

[LCobby]

Dylon Suede shoe dye- comes in a bottle with a sponge applicator and is waterproof when dry- being made for shoes.
Just stroke it over the velvet or dab it on, no solvents or anything to affect the shell.

 

[Pilib]

I used a thick black permanent marker pen an coloured my faded hat in.

X

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

I was going to try black henna on my hat ...