How to Mirror Shine Your Shoes

In this Mirror Gloss Shoe Shining Guide, you will learn how to get a mirror shine on your favorite shoes using the Saphir line of shoe care products.
Products used in this video:
Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish: www.kirbyallis...
High- shine cotton chamois: www.kirbyallis...
Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax polish:
www.kirbyallis...
Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish:
www.kirbyallis...
Shop on The Hanger Project Website:
www.kirbyallis...
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This video teaches you how to create a high-gloss mirror shine on a pair of dress shoes. Steps below:
STEP 1 (3:07): Prepare the shoe
Lightly brush the shoe to remove any surface dirt, then apply one coat of Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish with a chamois cloth to clean the surface of the shoes and prepare the leather to take the mirror gloss wax polish. Remember, with shoe polish, less is more.
Let the cream polish dry until it starts fogging/clouding. Once the polish has begun to fog, spritz a bit of water onto the chamois cloth and buff of the cream polish using light pressure and buffing in a circular motion. Repeat this step until the fogging disappears.
STEP 2 (3:48): Apply the mirror gloss wax polish
Apply the wax to the shoe; this will require several coats of wax and lots of water. Use a cotton chamois cloth to rub the polish into the shoe, spritzing water using a water dispenser to apply the wax. Use as much water as possible in order to lubricate the chamois cloth so that it glides across the shoe. Make sure to only apply the mirror gloss to the hard countered areas of the shoe such as the toe box and the rear of the shoe.
STEP 3 (11:55)Finish with the Pate De Luxe wax polish
Take the Pate De Luxe wax polish and apply a tiny amount of wax polish (using no water), rub onto the toe box and hind quarters of the shoe. Continue this process until you're satisfied with the high shine.

[@sarahmcdonnell4417]

don't polish your shoes if you plan to wear a kilt

[@usernamemykel]

...and don't squat if you're wearing spurs!

[@tellodoroteos5976]

Especially polish your shoes if you're wearing a kilt ..Chicks love it!

[@Lalonde79]

I was once asked what i was wearing under my kilt...my response, lipstick on a good day

[@dr.kai-thorstenbrasch9778]

😂

[@hbsong9964]

Just used your method here to mirror shine a pair of black boots which are almost identical to the ones in this video, rubber sole though. Got the mirror shine and ready for that interview, thank you Mr Allison!

[@dennisonwant1808]

Boy lookin like Mr. Rodgers still bringing us knowledge

[@kirbyallison]

I try my best...

[@lullemans72]

wow, coming back to this old video i can really see how much your video quality has improved over time. good work, and keep at it, kirby.

[@kirbyallison]

Thanks! Hopefully you'll say the same in another 6 months!

[@timothyhutchins2646]

Very helpful video(s)! 🙏🏻Your tutorial takes this to the top level. I tried this first as a young teen. It got results with the nice comments from my young lady friend. I think it is natural and very positive when people take some care of all these sorts of things. It is positive, gratifying and good for a healthy self-esteem. 👍

[@Iverness-l8h]

Pretty amazing. I remember spending hours on hours getting a mirror shine on my boots using kiwi for Monday morning inspection. Sir you have really great videos and I appreciate you for putting them out there.

[@slape54]

Well just finished my black shoes with the process in the video. I will say what a mirror shine, best shine I have ever been able to get on these shoes. i think I might have not waited enough time between applications of Mirror gloss but still came out with excellent results.

[@kirbyallison]

Doug slape awesome!! Thanks for sharing! If you are on Instagram, post a pic and tag @hangerproject and #shoeshinesunday

[@victorrasilla]

I’m very happy to have found this channel and the website.

[@ben2mx]

Good job. Reminds me of the youtube channel where a guy in suit reviews fast food "The Report Of the Week"

[@ConfusedWonkie]

Same

[@tabishkhan2966]

Boss: Why are you late ? Employee: Sir, I was polishing my shoes. Boss: Good Lord !

[@Handles-R-Lame]

Boss: Good Lord! Those are some shiny shoes! *proceeds to give you a raise*

[@Alexander3487]

I have watched several of your videos and I like the way you present all the information. I have been polishing my shoes like a "pro" for many, many years and since I started using Saphir I noticed that some whiteish color started to appear on certain spots, but only on non-black shoes, to which I don't apply Saphir but a cheaper brand. Here, you clearly explain the reason but the question remains, why isn't the issue present in my black shoes? Perhaps is because of the specific characteristics of the Saphir wax? Anyway, I solved the issue by applying the cream before the wax! I like your videos, I believe you do a good job!

[@patriotsailor]

Kirby, Great Video. Missing...the clear coat. I have used Kiwi Neutral, or the Kiwi liquid neutral with just the lightest (one drop) layer to keep the mirror shine looking absolutely wet and high-definition reflective. Also, Meguar's Quick Mist will put a clear glaze on the shoe shine, but must be buffed to ensure the Carnauba does not bead up, dry white and look "chalky". A clear coat will add some protection and keep the waxes from oxidizing as quickly.

[@HolysMoly]

Shoutout to this guy for getting me through inspection lol

[@antonioraffa123]

Saphir high gloss black wax polish just arrived in the post and I have to say it is fantastic. Thank you for introducing me to Saphir's line of products sir.

[@kirbyallison]

I'm super, super happy with the Mirror Gloss!

[@francischoo1812]

Love your channel. Very informative and good demonstration.

[@brianduyn6359]

Great video! Thanks for posting, I’ve been doing the polish in the wrong order.

[@eveb843]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@komotion]

Thank you for these very helpful videos. Precise, concise, accurate! (The foundational pillars of Pulitzer reporting)

[@kirbyallison]

Razvan Neagu Hardly Pulitzer level, but certainly fun! More great videos to come! Make sure you subscribe! 😎🙏

[@skhosanamathiyane]

Wow man, i am so impressed about mirror gloss, thank you,,,,South Africa

[@whosyourdaddy4579]

Thank you! You answered a lot of questions!

[@KevinJohn556]

Found your videos and like them. They could be good for teaching military and police recruits to shine their boots. Would you ever do a pair of combat/ patrol boots because somethings they need some extra care due to wear and tear?

[@lchmarco]

Hi Kirby, I have followed the tip to mirror shine and it works extremely well. May I know how you can polish/take care a pair of bookbinder to keep it long lasting?

[@OscarMedina-xi8fd]

Mr. Rogers came to mind right away

[@ashrafurrahmanahmed3666]

Great cardigan!

[@kirbyallison]

Ashrafur Ahmed Thanks! It's from Inis Meain!

[@joanakonova6078]

Could you please explain how to best care for patent leather? Does the renovateur help patent leather as well?

[@carlosc3768]

Thank you Kirby, great video...

[@angelorosario7526]

Nice video on Shoe care and maintenance!👞 Thanks for posting!"Spit shine Tommy"!" Oh he'll make your shoes look like freakin mirrors"" Now go home and get your freakin shine box" lol!

[@camerontait9132]

Maybe you didn't hear about it, you've been away a long time, he don't shine shoes anymore.

[@mikhasan2]

Do you recommend removing the old wax with stain remover before applying new cream and wax?

[@kirbyallison]

Only occasionally

[@hayfire2]

By the way: D'or is not pronounced: "Deoor" But: "Door" just like a door you enter through in any given building. ;)

[@amberkennedy5448]

How long does it typically take you to go from bare leather to mirror shine?

[@Jonny94669]

I use Pate de luxe and it takes me about 20 minutes per shoe.

[@MrWhite-ip9hw]

I recently purchased the Pâte de Luxe and Medaille Dior clear polishes. I was wondering if you could illustrate the difference between using clear polishes vs. black polishes as it pertains to mirror shine?

[@drebodollaz3504]

The color

[@ConfusedWonkie]

I already get a mirror shine but I know if I purchased all this fancy stuff I'd get too attached to my cadet boots

[@BobSmith-wq8mx]

angel wong what do u do to get the mirror shine, I’m a jrotc Cadet and it’s difficult

[@A_Marine_and_his_rifle]

@@BobSmith-wq8mx I use black kiwi and isopropyl alcohol

[@saccor1984]

Patience is the key to a mirror shine. You can easily obtain a mirror shine by using kiwi polish, some water, and a T-shirt. You don’t need the stuff he says in the video, although I will say, I’m former military and used to use kiwi for all my boots. But for very nice leather dress shoes, in my opinion the shoe cream as a base layer and using high gloss polish(like Sapphir) is noticeably better to work with.

[@BobSmith-wq8mx]

Thank you

[@brandonbentley8532]

@@A_Marine_and_his_rifle that is what my late father who was in the Navy used to get a true mirror shine but im not that gifted and after many layers I just can't get these results. So i ordered these Saphir products...wish me luck!

[@MapleLeafMopar]

Glassage.. Love it!

[@chefdeprestigellc8855]

Mr Rogers DID! Have a Son after all ... RIP Mr. Rogers Pittsburgh PA

[@Snappic]

Mmm yes, night before ROTC inspection

[@leopoldofernandez6143]

Great job

[@CarlosPerez-yu3dj]

Great video thanks

[@josephgrn2818]

My old leathers with Kiwi had a hard wax shell. I realize I want them to breathe and be supple for a lifetime (rather than just a few years). I'm surprised with the quality of Saphir. Smells great too....like a minty menthol rather than industrial smell. My leathers are 10 years old. I realized that the plastic dress shoes scuff easily, are consumable, retain odor, and are not as comfortable. I'd rather maintain what I have than waste. I just got the creme too. Gonna try that on a brand new pair that I hope to alternate with.

[@arnoldarnoldsson9572]

It would be intresting looking into a resoling of bespoke shoes from cleverly for instance and the result...... That is something that hasn't been showcased in the youtube community before... at least not what i know of.

[@Matt-yn6os]

@kirby Allison is there any difference in the 2 mirror shines? I have one which is white, can that be used on black shoes?

[@michaelggallagher]

What is the best way to clean 'hi-shine' shoes - so not a patent leather but a more glossy finish?

[@ralphgar3690]

SPENT 6 YRS IN THE US NAVY , AND WE WERE TAUGHT DIFFERENT AND OUR SHOES SHINED SO MANY WOMEN WERE AFRAID WE CAN LOOK UP THEIR DRESSES BECAUSE OF HIGH GLOSS SHINE LOL ITS TRUE

[@Merck088]

Informative, as are all your videos

[@patrickmitchell100]

Thank you

[@Diegosees]

Question for Kirby and all: I've applied the mirror glass product to two separate shoes now and it stripped the pigment from both shoes. Anyone have a suggestion or have run into this issue and solved it? Thank you!

[@kitwannen]

Hey Kirby, love the videos and appreciate your responses. Here's another question/scenario: I wear a nice high shine pair to work. Mirror toes and heals, nice shine everywhere else. They hold up well, wear them again, get a couple scuffs in the mirror shine. Will the cream polish take off the mirror shine? Should I just add more mirror shine to the toes and heals? Trial and error never hurt, but was wondering about how to maintain the mirror once it's started.

[@kirbyallison]

Depending on how badly the mirror gloss is scuffed, you might have to strip all the wax off using the Saphir Reno'Mat and start over... part of the pain of maintaining a proper mirror shine! But, otherwise, I've seen people apply a little cream polish to clean the top few layers of wax off of the Mirror Gloss, then re-polish using the Mirror Gloss.

[@joelwinderweedle4125]

I like how you sprayed two sprays onto the shammy and said three sprays

[@kirbyallison]

Approximately... 😂

[@enterusername7746]

I wish I had a high shine shammy.

[@kirbyallison]

Your wish can come true: www.hangerproject.com/hanger-project-high-shine-cotton-chamois.html

[@christopherbyrd3773]

I have a question. I just bought a pair of Corcoran 1525 Leather Field Boots. I’ve not polished them yet. I was wondering if it would be acceptable or a good idea to apply a conditioner to the boot( minus toe cap and counters). Also since the boots are 10” in height what would you use as far as tree shoes for them?

[@snowblow2]

One of my shoes already had a tip with an already lighter dark brown factory finish defect. While rubbing on cream polish the dark lightened further to a light brown. The other shoe stayed the same dark brown. How can I get this tip back to dark brown? Thanks in advance

[@WillScarlet1991]

Hey, it's Mr Rogers!!

[@helloworldwassup]

Will Scarlett 😂😂😂😂🖒🖒🖒

[@TraumaER]

Will Scarlett exact same wardrobe 🤪

[@joshdskater]

uh oh, normies detected, looks like their only exposure to a man wearing such common classic menswear items such as shirts, ties and cardigans is on the television where they spend most of their life. For such people everything has to be related to or compared to something on the TV, because it's all they know. Newsflash! millions of people from the golden era and onward have worn cardigans.

[@brandonbentley8532]

Mr Roger's was a truly great man...watch his biography.

[@AndroidSpirit]

Mr. Rogers was a gentleman. Someone to aspire to.

[@SamV1105]

Mr. Allison, can you shine black shoes/boots with the Saphir neutral mirror shine?

[@kelvinthenedy]

Hey Mr. Kirby, I just want to ask when is it better to use Mirror Gloss first and Pate de Luxe second, and when is it better to use Pate de Luxe first and Mirror Gloss second? Thank you

[@caozhang3332]

Hey Kirby, I have a question about the vedio. As we apply several layers of wax on the shoes, those wax may cause problems when we clean the shoes after several times of wearing, right? I mean, the renovator would have to penetrate those wax to condition the leather, and that just does not make sense tome. So my question is: would you use Reno Mat every time when you clean a pair of shoes that has been mirror polished? If not, when do you determine that it comes to the right moment to remove all the wax with Reno Mat, and re-do the whole process again? Thank you. You chanel have been really helpful and I absolutely enjoy them.

[@stblake4630]

Hi; Great video. I have several cans of Allen Edmonds hard wax that have dried up and cracked inthe can. Is there a method or restoring the wax so it is not so hard and dry? Thanks.

[@donhaher1539]

How would you alter the steps if you were doing this on a brand new pair of shoes?

[@marcosdelgadojr4327]

Hi Kirby! Just wondering, I really love your black oxfords. I’m surprised no one has asked you what maker they are? Thanks for all your helpful videos!

[@BangNguyen-ux4ie]

He said it was custom made by George Cleverly

[@drakkar_night3346]

Where do you buy saphir products in the US?

[@Shepard2295]

Where can I find a cardigan like yours? It looks fantastic!

[@Boomer636]

Kirby, Thanks so much for you videos. One question. I assume that you do nothing more to the vamp of the shoe other than polish it. Is that correct? Thanks and keep up the great work.

[@dennischua2502]

Great Videos! I was just wondering have you ever encountered stripping off the patina off a shoes while doing the mirror gloss on the toebox?

[@BeefcakeBrazos]

I have. To prevent that from happening I put on the first layers of mirror gloss with my fingers instead of a chamois, then let it dry, buff, and then you can use your chamois again without stripping patina off. It’s a technique I have seen in the shoe shine polish world championship on KZbin.

[@josepha9498]

I'm just curious if you could use pate deluxe first and the mirror gloss. I am just curious as that is how I was taught in basic training.

[@Roberto6991]

Mr. Allison, for those of us that want to get one or the other which would you recommend? Black mirror or neutral. Logic would dictate neutral but I have heard that the black outperforms despite it being tinted. Respectfully,

[@Pilot_JB]

Do you know the result if you just use Mirror Gloss after Saphir cream polish?

[@bradpeterson2626]

Great demonstration, I'm slowly getting the hang of this. One question, though. Are the high shine chamois cloths washable? After several sessions I envision not being able to find a clean spot for buffing.

[@kirbyallison]

You can absolutely wash them. And they get better the more they are washed. You can hand wash with light detergent or some Reno'Mat.

[@ethanielethaniel]

Hi Kirby and thank you for your amazing videos! I get lots of compliments on shoes that are not even that expensive just because they are so shiny and dapper. My question to you is which order would you use the Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax polish, Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish, Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish? Is the purpose of Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish to protect mainly from water? Thank you!

[@kirbyallison]

A well-shined pair of shoes will definitely take you far! Thanks for sharing! In order: cream polish (for nourishment), Saphir Mirror Gloss (for hard wax foundation), then Saphir Pate de Luxe (for final buffing and polishing)

[@hsveen1]

6 years later; is this still the correct order? (In saphir’s own mirror gloss guide, they recommend pate de luxe first, then mirror gloss second.

[@socobbb]

Please answer this question. I tried to follow this instructions using the mirrow gloss and the pate de lux,followed by the pate de lux, and I got a dull finished. I was told that it should be done the other way around. Thst I should do the pate de lux first, and then the mirrow gloss Second question :is this layering required every time I polish my shoes?

[@proegde161]

Can i use transparent Gloss on diffrent colour of shoes?

[@KMaybach1]

Dear Mr. Allison, I have a problem with my mirror shine. Whenever I apply the Saphir mirror gloss wax and even after a nice mirror shine is created, as soon as I put another layer of mirror gloss wax on the shoe, the entire wax built up is almost completely removed. Do you have an idea, why after giving the wax even a day to dry, another application of wax is removing and not building up a stronger wax foundation?

[@i.o.3563]

Thank you for your amazing videos. Can you explain the difference between saddle soaps that are presented on your site. And how to use them properly? What they actually can do and when to use them? Are they safe for a fine leather?

[@kirbyallison]

I.O. Thanks for the question! All of our Saphir products are safe for fine leather. The Leather Clean Soap is the most gentle. It is similar to a traditional Saddle Soap, but contains ingredients that help nourish the leather to counter the natural drying of the leather that occurs when soaps are used. I recommend using leather cleaning soaps anytime the leather visibly appears dirty. You shouldn't shampoo the leather every time you Polish - it would be too much and could unnecessarily dry the leather. Always condition afterwards with the Saphir Renovateur.

[@azlansharom7011]

Kirby, do corrected/polished leather shoes lend themselves to a mirror shine or are they pretty much 'done' as they are? TQ.

[@TheBooban]

On your webpage for the mirror gloss, it says to use the pate de lux wax polish before the mirror gloss polish.

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

TheBooban I noticed the same thing!

[@iMattCi89]

In my opinion, using the pate de luxe first makes more sense in the long run, because the mirror gloss polish doesn't have the nourishing properties that the pate de luxe has, right?

[@OOOOOOOKKKKKKK69]

Just ignore the sapphire maejdor part and it makes a lot more sense.

[@TheBjjninja]

So just stop after mirror gloss? Thx

[@MohammadRauf1]

curious ... out of the 3-4 products ... what's the minimum one can get by for a solid polish? saphir cream and mirror gloss?

[@amgee007]

I got a funny spot that had a different texture to it. It appeared on both shoes and I was able to polish it away on one shoe, but on the other it ended up looking like a water spot. At first the texture was more tacky. I figured that it was a build up of wax. Any tips to avoid this and to fix it?

[@Harooboo]

what's the difference of buffing with a brush as opposed to buffing with a shammy?

[@NE2353]

Thanks for introducing the mirror gloss. May I know what can I do if the build up of the mirror gloss cracked ?

[@kirbyallison]

NE2353 Try buffing with some Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish. The solvents should help repair cracking. If that doesn't work, you'll have to strip the he'd waxed off with the Saphir Reno'Mat and then start over.

[@rebeccahicks3554]

Hey kirby love your vids. I have been a devoted polisher since my teens and take great pride in mirror shining my footwear. Traditionally i used kiwi religiously but after seeing your vids have invested in saphir products. Unfortunately it appears i have a mix of products medal d'orm beaute de cuir and amiral . my question is can they be mixed. thanks again for your vids even if they are for gentlemen.

[@aaronholmes8568]

Nothing to say that a lady can't polish her shoes 😉

[@michael_anthony]

Kirby - do you recommend putting any wax polish on the soles to protect from scratches and dents from forming due to pebbles, rocks, glass, etc.?

[@devorator724]

You shine them a little, but keep in mind you may slip more

[@evansclafani2256]

I have the standard wax polish, clear, so that I can use it on all my shoes- I didn’t want to have to buy a cream and wax polish in every color that I have. Is it possible to achieve a mirror shine with only the standard wax? Obviously I wouldn’t expect it to be as good, but can it be done? Water or no water?

[@1j007zm]

hi Kirby, I would like to know what kind of saphir shoe polish would I use on burgundy shoes? thank you

[@ShoeShineMex]

I have seen some japanese shoe shine videos where they work a mirror shine with patte de luxe and whiskey!! What do you think about that combination, make any diference?

[@janeb9986]

Can I mirror shine gold heels?

[@Stockmarket_times5]

Which materials are you used Give me details

[@8RaNDoM8]

I lve been trying to find this saphir mirror gloss and its difficult stuff to find, im in the uk do you have any ideas?

[@huevosplash216]

How do you clean the chamois cloth after a lot of use?

[@alijibran5954]

In my opinion it also depends on the quality of leather if it is hard leather it will be harder to achieve a mirror shine

[@socobbb]

Would I have to do it every time I use the shoes? I mean, they get dirty at the end of the day..?

[@phus2001]

what do you use to remove wax coating from shoes. Thank you for posting your videos!

[@kirbyallison]

phus2001 The Saphir Reno'Mat is best for removing old wax coatings. You can also use the Leather Cleaning Soap, but the Reno'Mat is better if just being used occasionally. It isn't something you'd use every time you Polish shoes. For routine polishing, just some Saphir Renovateur or neutral Saphir Pate de Luxe is enough to provide gentle cleaning.

[@phus2001]

Thank you!!!👞👞💪💪

[@lerontehubbard]

Can you polish a pair of white leather dress sneakers?

[@johndally7994]

Thank you for all your videos. Can you use neutral Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish on black shoes? BTW, I followed this same procedure on my high quality handmade wallet with excellent results. I wasn't going for a mirror shine because it is flexible, but the creme polish followed by the wax polish and a layer of Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish gave the leather a very rich, deep color and finish.

[@kirbyallison]

Absolutely. I use the neutral Saphir Mirror Gloss for most of my shoes.

[@jmdylan4448]

How do you clean those fine woven shammys?

[@kirbyallison]

By hand or even a washing machine

[@josefsbeach]

With a layer of hard wax on the toe/heel counter, would those areas still benefit from the conditioning of the pommadier or the renovateur? Or would you have to use renomat on those areas for the conditioners to properly permeate the leather?

[@kirbyallison]

Best to occasionally use the Reno''Mat to pull off hard waxes so conditioners can penetrate into the leather. Something I would for sure do a few times a year, at least. But not necessary every time you polish your shoes. Because these areas will never flex, they are less prone to cracking.

[@MrJking065]

Hey it is Mister Rogers Neighborhood!

[@slape54]

again I assume using the Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish is the best for the "soft areas of the shoe. I put one layer but need to do more on those areas. Toe box and heel good incredible.

[@kirbyallison]

Yes. The Saphir Pate de Luxe Wax Polish is perfectly fine for the rest of the shoe, but you want to make sure that you do not apply more than one or two applications. Anything more with the hard wax polish will crack once you wear the shoe. You should still use a cream polish before the wax polish, though, because it does a much better job conditioning the leather.

[@hayfire2]

So when you are finished with the tasks - then how does one maintain the shoes after that? Can you freshen the shoe up with the horse brush or do you need to something else? Thank you.

[@kirbyallison]

Stay tuned... we have a video coming out on the topic that we've already shot. The short, is that you definitely don't want to use a horsehair brush... instead, you want to rebuff using the same technique that the shine was created with originally.

[@TeensierPython]

My shoes crease right on the cap. What do I do?

[@paulmills169]

Would this spit shine process work on Kangaroo leather?

[@johnrauer1]

Is it possible to mirror shine shell cordovan?