How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Cracking on Shoes?

If you are primarily working with or near acrylic paint, you must wonder how to prevent acrylic paint from cracking on shoes.

You will have to find suitable paint and prevent it from cracking on your shoes. If you are working with or near acrylic paint, avoiding acrylic paint would be challenging and switching the job wouldn’t be a wise choice. But you can change the colour.

Acrylics are so vibrant and serene to look at. But colours are always pretty, so what is unique about acrylic paint? The feature that makes them stand out is the ease they provide. They are effortless to deal with. So, let’s find out the best acrylic paint for shoes.

Best Acrylic Paint For Shoes

If you love to apply acrylic paint on your shoes, then you must know a few things about acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is best if you use a single or double-layer application. Still, several single layers can be more effective in preventing cracking on shoes.

Acrylic paint is more vibrant, appealing, and easy to apply. If we compare them with oil colours, they are cheaper and don’t have a suffocating smell.

They don’t need any expensive special brushes for application. You can use the cheap ones. And as far as the cleaning is concerned, the mess created by acrylic paints is easy to clean.

Let’s Paint Shoes!

Have you ever painted your shoes with acrylic paint? If yes, then you are such a creative person. Wait! Where are you going? Oh! So you will grab your favourite pair of shoes because you have a fantastic idea to paint them.

Typically, the process runs smoothly when you are painting it. But the real test of your creativity starts when you finish painting it, and it’s time to handle its consequences.

Does Acrylic Paint Crack on Shoes?

Just imagine you finished painting your shoes with acrylic paints and are proud of yourself because it looks marvellous. You are impatient to wear it to school the next day, so you decide to go to your friend’s house nearby.

You step out of your yard, and when you look down at your shoes, you have to rush back to your home; because the paint, at the tip, near the sole and all over the shoes, has started cracking.
Awful! But it’s the reality. It is prevalent for acrylic paint to crack on shoes. This is one of the issues that we aim to discuss in this article.

\It hurts a lot when you see your efforts cracking up in front of you. Here, We have summed up some methods to help prevent acrylic paint from cracking on shoes.

How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Cracking on Shoes [Methods]

Before I explain these methods in detail, here is the gist.

1. Always apply paint in thin layers.
2. Use a single brand of paint rather than mixing multiple brands.
3. Never apply heat to dry it.
4. Use sealants made for acrylic paints.
5. Take care of the angle at which you are applying paint.

Now, we will discuss all these methods one by one.

Method # 1: Apply Paint in Thin Layers

The first method to deal with its consequences is to give it a sensible start. Applying paint is the essential part.

You cannot just take a lot of paint on the brush and apply it on the shoes without a second thought. There is no need to rush through this rudimentary step.

• Take little paint on your brush and apply it slightly in a single stroke throughout the targeted area rather than multiple strokes in the same part.
• Wait for this layer to dry, and then apply the second layer.
• Never hurry in administering layers over layers, as it will cause the paint to crack once it dries.
• Applying one layer, waiting for it to dry, and then applying another might sound like it will take a long time. But don’t worry. It won’t!

If you are in a hurry because you want it to dry quickly, let me tell you acrylic paints don’t take much time to dry so you can apply them with care. Take your time and go through this process with extreme care.

Method # 2: Stick to a Single Brand

When you paint your shoes, you will look for more colours and want something other than solo colours. Just make sure all the colours are from the same brand.

Though it isn’t proven, it is conventionally believed by artists that there are better ideas than mixing paints of different brands.

Especially when you are painting your shoes and have to expose them to the harsh outdoor environment, you should not take such a risk. All the acrylic paints you are using must be from the same brand.

Pro Tip: When adding hues of different colours, prepare enough mixture for both shoes at the start. If it runs short and you prepare another mixture, there are chances that you will obtain a different colour than you obtained before.

Method # 3: Don’t Apply Heat

Try to minimize or cut any direct contact of painted shoes with heat, as it is one of the primary reasons for their cracking.

It is a terrible idea if you are applying heat because you want it to dry quickly. As mentioned earlier, acrylic paints don’t take much longer to dry, so there is no need to rush through the process and contaminate the end product with cracks.

Another issue might arise after a few days of painting your shoes. You must follow all the instructions, and they will appear perfect.

They are also not cracked after the paint is dried, and you use them for almost a week. But suddenly, cracks appear on them. You might need clarification as you cannot get to the loose end.
This may be because you placed them in direct sunlight.

Or you used a hairdryer because they got wet last night.

When applying acrylic paint to your shoes, you are making them look chic, but you are also making them fragile. So you must be careful with your shoes.

Keep them away from direct sunlight at a comfortable temperature. Preferably, a place with good airflow!

Method # 4: Use Acrylic Paint Sealant

When you are finished painting your shoes, use sealant made for acrylic paints. This will prevent your shoes and paint from further damage or cracking. This is the second most time-consuming step after painting.

Applying sealant recklessly can result in severe damage, so you must be careful. Decide a specific spot, and spray it quickly. Don’t spray it by dragging it over the whole area. Be patient and do it in steps.

The sealant prevents the paint on your shoes from cracking and gives them a shiny look. You can also apply waterproof spray after using glue.

Pro Tip: Let your painted shoes dry thoroughly. At least let them dry for 24 hours before use. This time might seem long, but the results are worth it.

Method #5: Be Careful About the Angles of Stroke

You must wonder how these cracks appear in the paint. Or what is the reason behind them? These cracks usually occur where the material of the shoes is bent.

People usually don’t care when they apply paint on these bent regions. These are the points that show cracks after the paint is dried.

This is because the paint isn’t applied in the right direction. This leads to the paint cracking up. To avoid that, you must use colour in the order of flexes.

Observe how the material is blending and apply strokes synchronizing with these flexes.

If you follow the first method of applying paint carefully in thin strokes, you are halfway across it. It doesn’t take any special effort. You have to take care of its direction. This will reduce the chances of cracks appearing in the paint.

FAQ

How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Drying?

Acrylic paints are supposed to dry. You cannot prevent it from drying but slow the process. You can use retarders for this purpose. Retarders, also known as “slow-dry mediums”, extend their drying period.

How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Shoes?

You can use a sealant for this purpose. Acrylic paint sealants are sprayed on dry acrylic paint to prevent the colour from further damage. Apply the first coat, wait for it to dry, and apply a second coat in the opposite direction.

What Paint to Use on Shoes?

You can use spray paints, fabric paint, or acrylic paints. You can use leather paint. There are a lot of options. You decide the type of paint based on the material of the shoes. Acrylic paint is the most versatile option among all of these.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Shoes?

You can use acrylic paints on almost all kinds of shoes; leather shoes, running shoes, sneakers, etc. Acrylic paint might crack up after drying, but you can prevent it by adopting some simple methods, as mentioned above.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Air Force Ones?

It isn’t advised to use regular acrylic paint for Air Force Ones. You have to use special acrylic leather paint for them. Only this high-quality leather is supposed to withstand Air Force Ones.

Can You Paint Leather Shoes With Acrylic?

It’s recommendable to paint fabric or canvas shoes with acrylic. Leather shoes are expensive and have a smooth surface, so the paint will not dry on them quickly and can ruin your money.

Is acrylic paint waterproof?

Acrylic paint is not waterproof or water-resistant, but coating your shoes, you should keep in mind not to go out in rainy weather.

Is acrylic paint permanent?

It depends on the surface. Acrylic is a plastic paint, so if you apply it on paper or fabric like canvas, it’s almost permanent, but if you apply it on leather, plastic and metal etc., it may crack after drying.

Conclusion:

Painting your shoes with acrylic paint is an excellent idea because it makes them look attractive, but acrylic paint cracks on them after some time. The best way to avoid this is to apply multiple thin layers, allowing them to dry in between. So, We have mentioned Effective methods for How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Cracking on Shoes?