Hydro Soaking Shoes are a trendy shoe hack that can be seen on a plethora of DIY and Pinterest sites. it has been very popular among creatives and artists who love to wear colorful and fancy items.
WHAT IS THE HYDRO DIPPING SHOE?
The word hydro means “water” and to soak means “to submerge”.
Hydro-soaking is a technique that involves immersing an object in water, covered with several colored layers. This procedure transfers the abstract colors to the elements you want to create fancy.
THE STORY:
Looking back in history, this hydraulic dipping technique is said to have been introduced to China by Mototyasu Nakanishi of Cubic Engineering in 1982. It was first used by the automotive industry to paint wheel rims and car interiors. This was done by industries around the world until in the 2000s people started to prefer to pack their household belongings.
WHY PREFER HYDRO SOAKING?
People prefer to use the hydro-soaking technique because:
- It is anything but difficult to utilize and takes less time.
- It’s really affordable.
- It can assist you with enlivening your ideal things.
- It can be useful to hide flaws.
- You can modify it in your number one tones and style.
- You can convert your boring shoes into cool and chic shoes.
HOW TO IMMERSE HYDRO ON SHOES:
ITEMS:
- Pair of shoes (preferably white or applied with a white base paint).
- Paints (colors of your choice).
- Deep rectangular bucket.
- Water
- Masking tape
VARIATION OF PAINTS:
People use a plethora of types of paint on their shoes depending on the availability. Many people opt for spray paints, acrylic paints, and emulsion paints etc.
Regarding quality and durability, it is suggested to use acrylic spray paints as they float upward in a thick film and adhere firmly to the submerged object. Other than that, the color stays intact on the shoes for a long time without letting the bright colors fade. Besides, it has quick drying capabilities,
STEPS OF HYDRO SOAKING:
STEP 1:
Take a shoe and tape the parts you don’t want to overlap with the color (like the sole and the logo).
STEP 2:
Take a bucket of water and fill it until it is five to eight inches below the surface of the bucket.
STEP 3:
Take your favorite colors of acrylic based spray paint and spray it little by little until it begins to form an abstract layer. You can use a thin stick to remove the colors and make the designs more abstract.
STAGE 4:
Take your upholstered shoe and dip it in water, sole side up. When you dip it, you can see the layer of paints spinning around the shoe. Make certain to wear gloves so you don’t stain your hands.
STEP 5:
Move your shoe a little so that it covers all the areas and take it off. Do likewise with the other shoe.
STEP 6:
Keep your shoes in a protected spot to dry for around 24 hours. After completely drying, remove the tapes and if you want to personalize even more you can use Sharpie markers to make great designs.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Colors are insoluble in water because they are hydrophobic and form a layer on the surface of the water. Water is also denser than the colors, so it is the main reason for its insolubility. When an object is immersed in the water, the surface tension of the water causes the paint to curve around it, and this is how the entire process of hydro-immersion takes place.
COMMON ERRORS WHEN USING THIS TECHNIQUE:
The most common mistakes made with this technique are as follows:
- A second coat is usually applied if the coat does not cover the entire shoe. It is recommended to avoid the second coat. If you do this, make sure that the first layer isn’t wet.
- The use of an unequal amount of color loses its adhesion.
- Using two to three colors is very preferable because the abstract design is easy to carry.
- People usually rush in this process, mostly when the base paint has not completely dried out and they move on to hydro-diving. Let the base paint or primer dry to allow the paint to bond firmly to the shoe.
CONCLUSION:
There is no doubt that hydro-dipping is a very useful and incredible invention for applying the art of printing to desirable objects. Just the right choice of color and patience can make your boring shoes look cool and funky.