Football gloves come in various colors and styles. But, even if there's a wide variety of options, they might not appeal to you. So, the best thing to do would be to decorate them yourself! Though, you might be hesitant to do it because it might seem difficult to do. If you'd like to customize your gloves, let's go over the details. 

Customizing your gloves is not an easy task. A few simple mistakes could ruin them. The main area you can decorate is the back of the glove. You can start by removing any logos that are there. From here, you will need to:

1. Prepare the glove for paints or decorations.
2. Apply any symbols or logos you want with a hotfix tool.
3. Paint the leather and spandex areas. 
4. Use a spot remover to remove paint from the palm. 

The difficulty in customizing football gloves comes from the materials it uses. Not all brands are the same. They use different materials for their gloves. Therefore, you might not be able to do it in some cases. But, if you want to have an idea of what's in store, keep reading ahead.

Are All Football Gloves the Same?

Before you think about decorating your gloves, it's important to note that some types will not be able to do it. Not all gloves are the same. Unfortunately, it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to decorate your gloves if you play a more defensive position. 

The reason is simple. There will be padding that likely won't be friendly to any paints. So, if you play as a lineman, you might be better off ordering a custom pair from a commercial shop. 

Does that mean you won't get the gloves of your dreams? That seems to be the case for now. Some brands allow you to order custom gloves for about $150. But, they only seem to cater to speed players.

However, you can always purchase these gloves if fashion is essential. Though, you have to be sure that you're comfortable playing without the extra padding for protection. In any case, it's an alternative option to consider.

You wouldn't want to ruin a pair of gloves in an attempt to customize it. That's not to mention the tools you'd have to purchase to do it. So, keep this option in the back of your mind for now.

Customizing the Gloves

There are a few ways to customize the football gloves you are using. The more expensive option would be to paint them. You'll need tools like paint for leather, softeners, leather preparers, and more.

You'll need these tools to make sure the quality of the glove remains intact. Additionally, the tools are helpful to ensure the paint stays. After all, it wouldn't be worth the effort if it scrubs off after a few games. 

The other way to customize your gloves would be using heat transfer foil. All you need for this procedure is an iron and a design in mind. However, this is a more risky option because some irons can damage the glove. If you'd like, you can do both. 

Let's go over how the process will go. 

Prepare the Gloves for Paint or Decorations

To start the process, you will need to prepare the gloves. Of course, this depends on the brand of gloves you own. Some of them will have logos in the middle that you'll have to remove. 

Others will be lucky because the area will already be a blank canvas. If you have to remove a logo, you will need a light acetone solvent. Be careful with using 100% acetone as it can hurt the spandex on the gloves.

Click here to see this deglazer on Amazon.

Angelus deglazer seems to do a well enough job for this task. You can also use it to prepare the leather. Some people claim it's less harsh than pure acetone. It holds a ratio of 70% acetone and 8% ethyl alcohol. 

Regardless, if you don't want to purchase it, you can use nail polish remover. Still, keep in mind that it may ruin your glove. 

Applying Symbols or Logos with a Hot-Fix Tool

For this step, you'll need a piece of paper and a pencil. You'll want to make a design. Some ideas include a dripping Nike logo, a Nike swoosh with layers, etc. 

Whatever it is, take your time to perfect the symbol you want to use. Then, retrace that symbol to a stiff piece of paper. Finally, cut it out. You will use it as a stencil for the heat transfer foil.

Click here to see this heat transfer foil on Amazon.

Trace it on the foil and cut it out. Your symbol or logo should be ready to imprint on the glove. You will need a hotfix applicator. 

Click here to see this hotfix applicator on Amazon.

Any iron will do. However, be careful not to burn through the glove. Line the foil to the area you want to place it in. 

Apply heat all over the heat transfer foil with your design. After a few minutes, you can remove the protective film. Repeat the steps for any other logos you want to apply to the glove. 

Here's a YouTube video demonstrating the process:

Paint the Leather and Spandex Areas

Now, it's time to paint the glove. Choose any color of paint that you want. All you need is a paintbrush.

Acrylic seems to work reliably on leather regarding the type of paint you can use. It also works on fabric. However, you will need an acrylic medium to prevent it from hardening onto the spandex area of the glove. 

This way, you can keep the performance of the glove the same. The Angelus brand seems to be perfect for this situation. Of course, you can look into other avenues. But, you might not be guaranteed success. 

Click here to see this fabric medium on Amazon.

Click here to see this acrylic paint set on Amazon.

Use a Spot Remover To Remove Paint From the Palm

The last step will depend on how careful you are applying the paint. If there are a bunch of paint stains on the palm of the glove, you'll want to remove them. You can use a spot remover to help. 

This way, you don't reduce the stickiness of the palm. Otherwise, there's nothing else to do. Enjoy your customs gloves!

Click here to see this spot remover on Amazon.

If you want visual guidance on the process, here's a YouTube video to help:

What Type of Paint Do You Use on Leather?

Sometimes a budget is what limits what we can do creatively. Let's say you don't want to purchase acrylic paints for leather. Are there other types that you can use? 

Unfortunately, you can't use any random paint. The paint needs to contain a formula that lets it work with leather. However, you don't have to limit yourself to acrylic. 

There are also metallic paints, pearlescent paints, and dyes that you can use instead. 

Are Wooter Football Gloves Good?

Customizing your gloves is a long and arduous process. After getting an idea of how it will go, you might not want to waste your time. That's especially the case if there's a potential to ruin them. 

Another brand that specializes in delivering custom football gloves is Wooter. If you're wondering if they're a good brand, customers seem to like them. Though, they won't do single orders. 

If you're a coach that needs equipment for your team, Wooter seems to be a good, cheap alternative. Prices range from $23-$32. Otherwise, Invictus is the other option if you're looking to purchase a single pair.

Can NFL Players Wear Any Color Gloves?

Custom athletic gear is one way to express yourself out on the field. You might find yourself looking for styles that you like. But, one detail you might have noticed is that NFL players don't tend to wear custom gear. 

Unfortunately, that's because of the strict rules that the NFL has in place. Players can wear gloves with plain colors or the colors of their team. Otherwise, they have to abide by endorsement deals. So, they get to wear specific brands with team colors.

Apart from that, black or white gloves seem to be the standard. For some people, the rules might seem silly. Why do players have to wear neutral or team colors?

It concerns professionalism and uniformity. Officials don't want a clash of colors between two teams. In addition, it can also help special team uniforms for causes like breast cancer stand out more. So, there are some arguments for it.

In any case, it doesn't stop fans from nicknaming the league the No Fun League.

In Closing

When you want to show off your unique flair, customizing your gloves is one way to go about it. However, it's not an easy task. You'll have to mess with materials that can ruin them. Will it stop you from considering this project? We hope you found the information above helpful!

Before you go, do you have other football glove concerns? Are you wondering if they lose grip? To find out more about the topic, check out:

Do Football Gloves Lose Grip?

Do you want to use them for other sports? Maybe baseball? To find out if that's a good idea, check out:

Can You Use Football Gloves For Baseball?