Protecting Your Christian Louboutin Heels

After splurging on a wardrobe investment piece it is common to want it to stay looking new as long as possible and, when it comes to Christian Louboutin, there are a number of ways to protect those famous red leather soles. After completing the 75 Hard Challenge I rewarded myself with a pair of pumps that had been on my wishlist for years.

Option 1: Protective Stickies

The easiest way to protect your soles is to use a set of stickies. I used a pair of Dr. Foot Shoe Sole Protectors I found on Amazon. I know Solemates is also popular. They are essentially a sheet of cut-to-fit protective stickers you stick on to your soles. 

You just line up, outline, cut, peel, and stick. 

The option I purchased added some traction which is great. The plain sole was surprisingly slippery!

Pros: Easy to apply. Infinitely replaceable. May add traction to soles.

Cons: May need replacing more often depending on frequency of wear.

Option 2: Repainting

If you have already broken in your CLs and the red lacquer has worn off the sole you can refresh the soles by repainting them. You can find a near-identical CL red paint on Amazon for a very modest price. Gently sand or buff the bottoms with a nail file or sandpaper until the edge (the one between the original laquer and the worn out sole) is smooth. 

Then add a couple of coats of red paint to the bottoms, allowing each coat to dry completely between applications. Once dry add a clear acrylic paint on top to help protect it further. Your heels will be as good as new. I recommend only painting the worn part of the sole not the entire sole up to the heel.

Pros: Cheapest option. Can redo time and time again as needed.

Cons: Can be messy. May wear again quickly.

Option 4: Professional Repair

The Christian Louboutin website has an entire section about Care and Repair for their shoes. If you do not want to try repainting the heels yourself you can take them to a number of reputable cobblers recommended by CL. There is one in New Jersey which is great. You can also try taking your shoes into a local cobbler in your area to see what services they can provide. 

Pros: It's a professional result.

Cons: May be expensive. 

There are so many ways to keep your shoes looking good as new. I hope you keep your red bottoms for years to come as valued parts of your wardrobe.