Adjusting the sheen of leather

Why does leather become shiny?

Most new car leather is originally matt, and many older furniture and vehicle leathers once were too. Through use, the leather surface becomes polished over time: clothing rubs against it when getting in, hands polish the steering wheel and door handles, and after just a few years the driver's seat looks noticeably shinier than the less-used rear seat.

Leather from shiny to matt

When leather has become undesirably shiny through use, two steps help: clean with Colourlock Leather Cleaner strong and then care for it with Colourlock Leather Care. The cleaner loosens the polished layers; Leather Care is tailored to matt leather and returns the surface approximately to its original condition.

For very heavily polished areas, this process may need to be repeated.

Deliberately changing the gloss level

Sometimes the gloss level needs to be deliberately adjusted, for example when, after partial reupholstering, the new area differs in gloss from the rest of the vehicle and no matching material is available.

Preparation: first thoroughly degrease the leather with Leather Cleaning Spirit. Then apply Leather Fresh neutral in thin, even layers and dry with a hair dryer between layers. Repeated treatments increase the effect.

• For more gloss: apply Leather Fresh gloss and build it up in layers.
• For a more matt finish: apply Leather Fresh matt, using a sponge on smaller areas and preferably spraying on larger areas.
  • Matt areas develop wipe marks more easily than shiny areas. Please work carefully and evenly.

Larger areas where an absolutely even result is required should be professionally treated by spraying. We offer this in our leather workshop.

The right gloss during care

Care products also influence the gloss level:

Leather Care is tailored to matt car leather and barely changes the gloss level. In contrast, Colourlock Elephant Leather Preserver promotes gloss. It is suitable for older, dry leather and classic cars, which are naturally shinier.

For very dry leather, both products can be combined: first apply Leather Care, as it is absorbed better, then Elephant Leather Preserver. Use both products sparingly.

Protect new, matt leather after treatment with Colourlock Leather Shield – it keeps the gloss level stable and prevents the surface from being polished too quickly through use.

Product recommendations

Note:
(Clicking on products adds them to the shopping basket, after which they can be ordered)

• Leather Cleaner strong 250 ml
• Leather Care 100 ml
• Elephant Leather Preserver 125 ml
• Leather Cleaning Spirit 225 ml
• Leather Fresh neutral

Please select an effect:

• Leather Shield 100 ml

Colourlock Leather Cleaner strong 250 ml

C015219 CHF 37.00

Select Qty

Colourlock Leather Care 100 ml

C015205 CHF 19.00

Select Qty

Colourlock Elephant Leather Preserver 125 ml

C015292 CHF 24.00

Select Qty

Colourlock Leather Fresh 100 ml

C0150XX from CHF 27.00

Select Qty Colour selection opens before adding to cart.

Colourlock Leather Shield 100 ml

C015320 CHF 19.00

Select Qty

COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Spirit UN3295, 225 ml

11018 CHF 15.00

Select Qty

Add selected products to cart

Bonus:

The physical explanation for the differences in gloss: leather is matt because under a microscope, its surface cross-section looks like an Alpine landscape. Light reflected from a rough surface is scattered and appears matt to the human eye. Shiny surfaces reflect light in parallel and appear shiny. When matt leather is polished smooth, it becomes shinier.