How to Mix & Apply KixKote Shoe Paint

A complete guide for airbrush and brush painting custom sneakers, leather shoes, midsoles, restorations, and detailed artwork using the KixKote system.

Why KixKote Paint Is Different

KixKote is a water-based urethane shoe paint system built for flexibility, adhesion, durability, and professional custom work. It is designed for artists who want a finish that moves with the shoe instead of cracking, peeling, or feeling stiff.

Water-based urethane formula
Flexible for shoes, sneakers, and high-movement surfaces
Works by airbrush or hand painting
Paint lines can be mixed for custom colors and effects
Designed for leather, vinyl, synthetic materials, rubber, midsoles, fabric, canvas, and more when prepped correctly
Compatible with Sticky Icky, Brush Boost, Soft Feel, Thick Sauce, Adhesion Promoter, Sole Flex, and KixKote Finishers

The goal: Thin coats, proper prep, the right primer, and the correct additives. That is how you get a cleaner, more flexible, longer-lasting custom shoe finish.

Choose Your KixKote Paint Line

KixKote is more than one bottle of paint. It is a complete shoe paint system with different paint lines built for different types of custom work.

WALK101 Series

The main opaque color line with 101 full-coverage colors for custom sneakers, restorations, panels, logos, midsoles, and everyday color work.

Shop WALK101

UV Blaze

Neon, UV-reactive colors built for bold effects, black light reflection, accents, and high-energy custom designs.

Shop UV Blaze

ChromeFlex

Flexible metallic colors for reflective details, logos, accents, trim work, and statement pieces.

Shop ChromeFlex

Studio Skintone Paint Palette

Realistic skin tone shades for portraits, characters, figures, restorations, shading, and detailed custom artwork.

Shop Studio Skintone

MatchMade Custom Color Match

Custom-matched shoe paint for special projects, restorations, brand colors, team colors, and hard-to-match shades.

Shop MatchMade

Before You Mix: Prep Comes First

Great paint work starts before the first coat. Make sure the shoe is clean, properly prepped with acetone, and ready for the surface you are painting.

Remove laces and insoles.
Wipe down the entire shoe to remove loose dirt, oils, and surface contaminants.
Use acetone to prep the whole shoe and remove the factory finish where paint will be applied.
Work in small sections and wipe until the surface has a clean, slightly matte feel.
Lightly scuff slick surfaces if needed.
Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth and allow the shoe to fully dry.
Mask off any areas you do not want painted.
Use the correct primer for the surface.

Primer guide:

Adhesion Promoter: leather, vinyl, and synthetic panels.
Sole Flex: rubber, plastic, nylon, midsoles, and sole areas.

Acetone Tip: Use acetone carefully and avoid soaking the shoe. Apply with a cloth in controlled passes, especially around plastics, glue lines, painted factory graphics, and delicate materials.

Read the Prep Guide

Mixing KixKote Paint with Sticky Icky

Sticky Icky is KixKote’s urethane binder. It helps improve durability, flexibility, adhesion, and long-term performance when mixed into paint or Finisher.

Step 1: Shake the Paint

Shake the bottle thoroughly before use. Make sure pigment is fully mixed from the bottom of the bottle.

Step 2: Pour Only What You Need

Pour a small amount into a clean mixing cup or palette. Only mix what you plan to use during that painting session.

Step 3: Add Sticky Icky

Mix Sticky Icky at approximately 5% by volume for most projects.

1 oz paint = about 0.05 oz Sticky Icky
2 oz paint = about 0.1 oz Sticky Icky
4 oz paint = about 0.2 oz Sticky Icky

Step 4: Mix Thoroughly

Stir gently for 1–2 minutes until the mixture is uniform. Avoid whipping air bubbles into the paint.

Step 5: Watch the Pot Life

Once Sticky Icky is added, use the mixture within 4–6 hours. After that, mix a fresh batch.

Important: Do not pour mixed paint back into the original bottle. Once Sticky Icky has been added, keep that mixture separate.

Airbrush Instructions

Airbrushing is recommended when you want the smoothest OEM-style finish, clean fades, even coverage, and less visible texture.

Nozzle: 0.3–0.5 mm
Pressure: 20–25 PSI for most colors
Distance: 6–8 inches from the surface
Coats: 3–5 light coats
Flash time: 10–15 minutes between coats

Airbrush Application Steps

Shake and mix your paint thoroughly.
Add Sticky Icky if desired for added performance.
Strain paint if needed for detailed airbrush work.
Test spray on a card before spraying the shoe.
Apply light passes while keeping the airbrush moving.
Build color gradually with multiple thin coats.
Avoid spraying too close or too heavy.
Use light airflow or gentle heat to help flash between coats.

Reducing tip: KixKote can be reduced with small amounts of water if needed for airbrush flow. Start small, test first, and avoid over-thinning.

Do not flood the surface. Heavy coats can lead to texture, runs, tackiness, weak adhesion, or reduced flexibility.

Hand or Brush Painting with Brush Boost

KixKote can also be applied by hand with a brush. Brush Boost is the key additive for smoother brush painting because it helps improve flow, leveling, and control.

Brush Boost Mixing Ratio

Add 1–2 drops of Brush Boost into approximately 8–9 drops of paint. Mix gently before brushing.

Brush Painting Steps

Use a soft synthetic detail brush.
Place a small amount of paint on a palette or in a cup.
Add Brush Boost using the ratio above.
Mix until the paint feels smoother and easier to brush.
Apply thin coats in one direction when possible.
Do not overwork the paint once it starts to tack.
Let each coat dry before applying the next coat.
Build coverage with multiple thin coats instead of one heavy coat.

Brush Painting Tips

Use smaller brushes for edges, seams, logos, and detail work.
Use wider soft brushes for larger panels.
Avoid loading too much paint on the brush.
If you see brush marks, use lighter coats and more controlled strokes.
If the paint feels like it is dragging, add a small amount of Brush Boost.
For tiny details, use Thick Sauce when more body and control are needed.

Best practice: Brush painting works best when you stay patient. Thin coats will almost always look better and last longer than one heavy coat.

Mixing Colors and Effects

KixKote colors can be mixed to create custom shades, fades, highlights, shadows, and special effects.

WALK101: Mix colors together for custom opaque shades.
UV Blaze: Mix with compatible colors for neon accents and glowing effects.
ChromeFlex: Mix metallics for custom metal tones and accents.
Studio Skintone: Blend shades for portraits, realism, shadows, highlights, and character work.
MatchMade: Use when a project needs a specific custom-matched color.

Pro Tip: Always test custom mixes before applying them to the shoe. Write down your ratios so you can recreate the color later.

Helpful Color Tips

Use white or light bases under UV Blaze colors for brighter neon impact.
Use black or dark bases under ChromeFlex colors for stronger metallic depth.
Use WALK101 colors for blocking, outlines, undercoats, and solid coverage.
Use Studio Skintone colors for portraits, faces, hands, figures, characters, and realistic shading.

Painting Different Shoe Materials

Different parts of the shoe need different prep and primer choices. Use this quick guide before you start.

Material	Prep	Recommended KixKote Product	Application Tip
Leather	Clean and deglaze with acetone	Adhesion Promoter	Apply thin coats and allow proper flash time
Synthetic Leather / Vinyl	Clean with acetone and lightly scuff if needed	Adhesion Promoter	Airbrush for best OEM-style finish
Rubber	Clean aggressively with acetone and scuff if needed	Sole Flex	Use Sticky Icky in paint for added performance
Plastic	Clean with acetone and lightly scuff	Sole Flex	Apply very thin coats
Nylon	Clean carefully and allow to dry	Sole Flex	Use light coats and avoid flooding the fabric
Fabric / Canvas	Clean and dry completely	Soft Feel optional	Use thin coats to avoid stiffness
Midsoles	Clean with acetone, scuff, and remove contaminants	Sole Flex + Sticky Icky	Use multiple light coats and allow full cure

Material note: Always test in a small hidden area when working on delicate, unknown, or unusual materials.

Drying & Curing

Between coats: 10–15 minutes flash time with airflow.
Before applying Finisher: allow painted shoes to dry for at least 24 hours.
Optional heat assist: use a hair dryer or low heat gun from 6–8 inches away.
Full cure: allow 72 hours before heavy wear.

Avoid heavy flexing, soaking, or hard wear during the cure window. The longer the coating cures, the better the final durability.

Seal with KixKote Finishers

After your paint has dried, protect the artwork with KixKote Finisher. Mix in approximately 5% Sticky Icky for best durability.

Finisher 1 – Flat
Finisher 2 – Factory Matte
Finisher 3 – Gloss

All three Finishers are intermixable, so you can create anything from a dead-flat look to a high-gloss custom finish.

Read the Finisher Guide

Absolutely. Here is Part 1 of 3.

How to Mix & Apply KixKote Shoe Paint

A complete guide for airbrush and brush painting custom sneakers, leather shoes, midsoles, restorations, and detailed artwork using the KixKote system.

Why KixKote Paint Is Different

Water-based urethane formula
Flexible for shoes, sneakers, and high-movement surfaces
Works by airbrush or hand painting
Paint lines can be mixed for custom colors and effects
Designed for leather, vinyl, synthetic materials, rubber, midsoles, fabric, canvas, and more when prepped correctly
Compatible with Sticky Icky, Brush Boost, Soft Feel, Thick Sauce, Adhesion Promoter, Sole Flex, and KixKote Finishers

The goal: Thin coats, proper prep, the right primer, and the correct additives. That is how you get a cleaner, more flexible, longer-lasting custom shoe finish.

Choose Your KixKote Paint Line

KixKote is more than one bottle of paint. It is a complete shoe paint system with different paint lines built for different types of custom work.

WALK101 Series

The main opaque color line with 101 full-coverage colors for custom sneakers, restorations, panels, logos, midsoles, and everyday color work.

Shop WALK101

UV Blaze

Neon, UV-reactive colors built for bold effects, black light reflection, accents, and high-energy custom designs.

Shop UV Blaze

ChromeFlex

Flexible metallic colors for reflective details, logos, accents, trim work, and statement pieces.

Shop ChromeFlex

Studio Skintone Paint Palette

Realistic skin tone shades for portraits, characters, figures, restorations, shading, and detailed custom artwork.

Shop Studio Skintone

MatchMade Custom Color Match

Custom-matched shoe paint for special projects, restorations, brand colors, team colors, and hard-to-match shades.

Shop MatchMade

Before You Mix: Prep Comes First

Great paint work starts before the first coat. Make sure the shoe is clean, properly prepped with acetone, and ready for the surface you are painting.

Remove laces and insoles.
Wipe down the entire shoe to remove loose dirt, oils, and surface contaminants.
Use acetone to prep the whole shoe and remove the factory finish where paint will be applied.
Work in small sections and wipe until the surface has a clean, slightly matte feel.
Lightly scuff slick surfaces if needed.
Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth and allow the shoe to fully dry.
Mask off any areas you do not want painted.
Use the correct primer for the surface.

Primer guide:

Adhesion Promoter: leather, vinyl, and synthetic panels.
Sole Flex: rubber, plastic, nylon, midsoles, and sole areas.

Acetone Tip: Use acetone carefully and avoid soaking the shoe. Apply with a cloth in controlled passes, especially around plastics, glue lines, painted factory graphics, and delicate materials.

Read the Prep Guide

Mixing KixKote Paint with Sticky Icky

Sticky Icky is KixKote’s urethane binder. It helps improve durability, flexibility, adhesion, and long-term performance when mixed into paint or Finisher.

Step 1: Shake the Paint

Shake the bottle thoroughly before use. Make sure pigment is fully mixed from the bottom of the bottle.

Step 2: Pour Only What You Need

Pour a small amount into a clean mixing cup or palette. Only mix what you plan to use during that painting session.

Step 3: Add Sticky Icky

Mix Sticky Icky at approximately 5% by volume for most projects.

1 oz paint = about 0.05 oz Sticky Icky
2 oz paint = about 0.1 oz Sticky Icky
4 oz paint = about 0.2 oz Sticky Icky

Step 4: Mix Thoroughly

Stir gently for 1–2 minutes until the mixture is uniform. Avoid whipping air bubbles into the paint.

Step 5: Watch the Pot Life

Once Sticky Icky is added, use the mixture within 4–6 hours. After that, mix a fresh batch.

Important: Do not pour mixed paint back into the original bottle. Once Sticky Icky has been added, keep that mixture separate.

Here is Part 2 of 3.

Airbrush Instructions

Airbrushing is recommended when you want the smoothest OEM-style finish, clean fades, even coverage, and less visible texture.

Nozzle: 0.3–0.5 mm
Pressure: 20–25 PSI for most colors
Distance: 6–8 inches from the surface
Coats: 3–5 light coats
Flash time: 10–15 minutes between coats

Airbrush Application Steps

Shake and mix your paint thoroughly.
Add Sticky Icky if desired for added performance.
Strain paint if needed for detailed airbrush work.
Test spray on a card before spraying the shoe.
Apply light passes while keeping the airbrush moving.
Build color gradually with multiple thin coats.
Avoid spraying too close or too heavy.
Use light airflow or gentle heat to help flash between coats.

Reducing tip: KixKote can be reduced with small amounts of water if needed for airbrush flow. Start small, test first, and avoid over-thinning.

Do not flood the surface. Heavy coats can lead to texture, runs, tackiness, weak adhesion, or reduced flexibility.

Hand or Brush Painting with Brush Boost

KixKote can also be applied by hand with a brush. Brush Boost is the key additive for smoother brush painting because it helps improve flow, leveling, and control.

Brush Boost Mixing Ratio

Add 1–2 drops of Brush Boost into approximately 8–9 drops of paint. Mix gently before brushing.

Brush Painting Steps

Use a soft synthetic detail brush.
Place a small amount of paint on a palette or in a cup.
Add Brush Boost using the ratio above.
Mix until the paint feels smoother and easier to brush.
Apply thin coats in one direction when possible.
Do not overwork the paint once it starts to tack.
Let each coat dry before applying the next coat.
Build coverage with multiple thin coats instead of one heavy coat.

Brush Painting Tips

Use smaller brushes for edges, seams, logos, and detail work.
Use wider soft brushes for larger panels.
Avoid loading too much paint on the brush.
If you see brush marks, use lighter coats and more controlled strokes.
If the paint feels like it is dragging, add a small amount of Brush Boost.
For tiny details, use Thick Sauce when more body and control are needed.

Best practice: Brush painting works best when you stay patient. Thin coats will almost always look better and last longer than one heavy coat.

Mixing Colors and Effects

KixKote colors can be mixed to create custom shades, fades, highlights, shadows, and special effects.

WALK101: Mix colors together for custom opaque shades.
UV Blaze: Mix with compatible colors for neon accents and glowing effects.
ChromeFlex: Mix metallics for custom metal tones and accents.
Studio Skintone: Blend shades for portraits, realism, shadows, highlights, and character work.
MatchMade: Use when a project needs a specific custom-matched color.

Pro Tip: Always test custom mixes before applying them to the shoe. Write down your ratios so you can recreate the color later.

Helpful Color Tips

Use white or light bases under UV Blaze colors for brighter neon impact.
Use black or dark bases under ChromeFlex colors for stronger metallic depth.
Use WALK101 colors for blocking, outlines, undercoats, and solid coverage.
Use Studio Skintone colors for portraits, faces, hands, figures, characters, and realistic shading.

Painting Different Shoe Materials

Different parts of the shoe need different prep and primer choices. Use this quick guide before you start.

Material	Prep	Recommended KixKote Product	Application Tip
Leather	Clean and deglaze with acetone	Adhesion Promoter	Apply thin coats and allow proper flash time
Synthetic Leather / Vinyl	Clean with acetone and lightly scuff if needed	Adhesion Promoter	Airbrush for best OEM-style finish
Rubber	Clean aggressively with acetone and scuff if needed	Sole Flex	Use Sticky Icky in paint for added performance
Plastic	Clean with acetone and lightly scuff	Sole Flex	Apply very thin coats
Nylon	Clean carefully and allow to dry	Sole Flex	Use light coats and avoid flooding the fabric
Fabric / Canvas	Clean and dry completely	Soft Feel optional	Use thin coats to avoid stiffness
Midsoles	Clean with acetone, scuff, and remove contaminants	Sole Flex + Sticky Icky	Use multiple light coats and allow full cure

Material note: Always test in a small hidden area when working on delicate, unknown, or unusual materials.

Drying & Curing

Between coats: 10–15 minutes flash time with airflow.
Before applying Finisher: allow painted shoes to dry for at least 24 hours.
Optional heat assist: use a hair dryer or low heat gun from 6–8 inches away.
Full cure: allow 72 hours before heavy wear.

Avoid heavy flexing, soaking, or hard wear during the cure window. The longer the coating cures, the better the final durability.

Seal with KixKote Finishers

After your paint has dried, protect the artwork with KixKote Finisher. Mix in approximately 5% Sticky Icky for best durability.

Finisher 1 – Flat
Finisher 2 – Factory Matte
Finisher 3 – Gloss

All three Finishers are intermixable, so you can create anything from a dead-flat look to a high-gloss custom finish.

Read the Finisher Guide

Here is Part 3 of 3.

Common Issues & Fixes

Issue	Likely Cause	Fix
Brush marks	Paint too thick, brush too stiff, or overworking the coat	Use Brush Boost, softer brushes, and thinner coats
Orange peel texture	Spraying too close, too heavy, or wrong PSI	Spray lighter coats at 20–25 PSI from 6–8 inches away
Fish eyes or separation	Surface contamination, oil, silicone, or poor cleaning	Stop, clean and re-prep the surface before continuing
Poor adhesion or peeling	Improper prep or wrong primer	Use Adhesion Promoter or Sole Flex based on the material
Cracking on flex points	Coats too thick or no Sticky Icky used	Use 5% Sticky Icky and build several thin coats
Tacky paint	Heavy coats, cold conditions, or not enough cure time	Increase airflow, use thinner coats, and allow full cure
Weak coverage	Too few coats or base color showing through	Apply additional thin coats and use the right base color
Runs or sagging	Too much product applied at once	Use lighter coats and longer flash time

Recommended KixKote Products

Sticky Icky

KixKote’s urethane binder for added durability, adhesion, flexibility, and long-term performance.

View Sticky Icky

Brush Boost

Improves brush flow, leveling, and control for hand painting and detail work.

View Brush Boost

WALK101 Series

Full-coverage opaque colors for custom sneakers, restorations, panels, and detail work.

Shop WALK101

UV Blaze

UV-reactive neon colors for bright effects, black light reflection, and bold designs.

Shop UV Blaze

ChromeFlex

Flexible metallic colors for chrome effects, accents, logos, and custom details.

Shop ChromeFlex

Studio Skintone Paint Palette

Skin tone shades for portraits, characters, realism, shading, and restoration work.

Shop Studio Skintone

Adhesion Promoter

Primer for leather, vinyl, and synthetic materials.

View Adhesion Promoter

Sole Flex

Primer for rubber, plastic, nylon, midsoles, and high-flex areas.

View Sole Flex

KixKote Finishers

Finisher 1 – Flat, Finisher 2 – Factory Matte, and Finisher 3 – Gloss for protecting your artwork.

Shop Finishers

Thick Sauce

Thickens paint for stencil work, controlled details, and precision brush application.

View Thick Sauce

Keep learning:

Shop the Full KixKote System

FAQ

Do I have to use Sticky Icky?

Sticky Icky is recommended for best durability, adhesion, flexibility, and long-term performance. Mix approximately 5% by volume into paint or Finisher.

How long does paint last after Sticky Icky is added?

Once Sticky Icky is mixed in, use the material within 4–6 hours. After that, mix a fresh batch.

Can I brush KixKote instead of airbrushing?

Yes. Use a soft synthetic brush, multiple thin coats, and Brush Boost to improve flow and reduce brush marks.

How much Brush Boost should I use?

Add 1–2 drops of Brush Boost into approximately 8–9 drops of paint. Mix gently before brushing.

Can I use water to thin KixKote paint?

Yes. Small amounts of water can be used to adjust airbrush flow. Start small, test first, and avoid over-thinning.

What PSI should I use for airbrushing KixKote?

For most colors, use 20–25 PSI with a 0.3–0.5 mm nozzle. Always test spray before painting the shoe.

Can I paint midsoles with KixKote?

Yes. Prep with acetone, scuff if needed, apply Sole Flex, then paint with thin coats. Sticky Icky is recommended for added performance.

Can I mix KixKote colors together?

Yes. KixKote colors can be mixed to create custom shades, effects, highlights, shadows, and specialty finishes.

How long should I wait before applying Finisher?

Allow painted shoes to dry for at least 24 hours before applying KixKote Finisher.

How long until the shoes are fully cured?

Allow 72 hours for full cure before heavy wear, bending, moisture exposure, or hard use.