Get Your Flippin' Shoe Shine Box

Author:

Desmond Kinlaw

July 23, 2012

Ever since the beginning of time, it seems to be that the more money you have, the less you do for yourself. Think about it, most wealthy people have someone cut their grass, clean their homes, wash their vehicles, and even drive them around in said vehicles.

In all honesty, when I get to that place in life, I will most likely follow suit. However, there is one thing that as long as I can help it, I will do for myself. I'm talking about shining shoes. Now honestly, I know there are those who never shine their shoes or apply any type of protectant to them. Needless to say, that's not very good for the leather. Think about where leather comes from. It's just animal skin with the hair removed. Now think about your skin. How would your skin look if you treated it the same as those shoes that you never shine. Why, it might just shrivel up and peel away. But that doesn't happen because we apply lotion multiple times a day. Now, am I saying that shoes are to be shined as often as you apply lotion? No. But at least once every 2-3 weeks you should be doing this. If you refuse to do it yourself, fine. You can typically find a shoe shine man in barber shops and most nice hotels. As for me, I insist on shining my own shoes. Not because I'm a super particular person (which I am), but because it just feels so therapeutic. I know some who pour a glass of wine, smoke a cigar, and play old Miles Davis records while doing it. But for me, a nice quiet room, a glass of 55 degree water (warmer than ice cold, cooler than room temperature), and I'm good to go. Here's how I get it done.

1. Shoes~Banana Republic, 2.Shoe Cream~Johnston & Murphy, 3. 100% Horsehair Brush~Johnston & Murphy, 4. Cloth/Old T-shirt~American Eagle

Step 1.

Take out the strings.

Step 2.

Use the cloth to remove any dirt or dust.

Step 3.

Take your cloth and wrap it around your index and middle fingers. Make sure it is nice and tight.

Step 4.

Put about a nickel-sized dollop of cream on the cloth, then begin to wipe the shoe in a circular motion. Be sure to get in all the cracks, grooves, and crevices.

The one on the right is what it should look like before you buff it. I like to let the cream sit on it for a few minutes.

Step 5.

Take the horsehair brush and buff it to a beautiful shine.

The one on the left is what it should look like when finished. Notice how it just looks "healthier" than the one on the right. Back to the lotion analogy, think about how it would look if you only put lotion on one arm. That is what thins kind of reminds me of.

Now, in the words of Stephen A. Smith, "Let's be clear," I am no shoe shine expert. Really, I just showed you the basics. Want to see what a real expert looks like? Watch the video below and prepare to drool...