As a follow-up to my 'how to color/tan' videos, here are tips to avoid weak results from shoe cream dye. Apply the minimum amount of cream that can cover the entire body and restrain from adding extra during task. This may seem counter intuitive, but it will lead to stronger results. Toward the end of an application, cream will dry and form into sticky granular flakes across the body and your latex gloves. Flakes are in fact better able to stain TPE than cream while it is moist. Press them into the body as much as possible before they fully dry. Work time between flake formation and disappearance is no more than 5 minutes so do not stop. For extra flakes, use what has fallen as well as dried cream stuck along the sides of your gloves. If too much cream is initially applied or extra is added, that added moisture content will lengthen your process. Your task is complete when the flakes no longer stick. Rinse body and gloves with dish soap then fully dry upon every application.
The 'overnight' method is one that may also better stain TPE. First, massage the cream onto the body with some pressured rubbing. Then and only then, coat the body with cream using fingertip or brush. Leave no gaps. Be warned, if you skip the massage, the resulting color may be patchy. Stand the body upright using forwardly extended arms as a crutch against a wall. Leave it to dry overnight then finally rinse. This method is only advisable for additional applications in the aim of deep coloration and not for a subtle tan etc. With subtle shades, patchiness can be an issue whereas with darker shades, added layers may correct it.
Hands colored with Tamiya Lacquer LP-59 mixed with a drop of black. Palms lightened with a dab of 'Ivory' from Tamiya Weathering Master H set sealed with a clear matte topcoat.