Your new high heels may look fantastic, but you won’t want to wear them if they’re too uncomfortable! That’s why it’s so important to break them in as soon as you buy them. Rather than wearing them until you get used to blisters and pain in your feet, there are actually several methods to break in your high heels that are easy and painless. Peruse this article to learn the many ways you can break in your new high heels. You’ll be wearing those killer cheetah print pumps in no time!

1

Wear them around the house for a few hours.

  1. You can break them in while you watch TV, fold laundry, or do chores. The more time you spend wearing your heels, the more they will stretch. As they do so, they will conform to the shape of your feet. If they’re too uncomfortable to wear all day, consider wearing them for a few hours at a time.[1]
    • As they get more comfortable, try wearing them when you’re out and about! Take your heels to work and wear them while you sit at your desk.
    • Once you feel comfortable wearing and walking short distances in your heels, take them out. Wear them on a short trip to the grocery store or to your local bank.
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2

Put socks on first to stretch out the heels more.

  1. Socks can speed things up if you need to break them in fast. It may be a fashion faux pas, but no one has to know! Slip on a pair of socks and put on your high heels. Wear them around your house as you do household chores, work from home, or hang out watching TV. After a few days, your shoes will start to mold to the shape of your feet and stretch slightly due to the extra padding of the socks.[2]
    • For your socks to stretch your shoes properly, they can't be too thin or too thick. Try a simple athletic sock!
    • The protective cushion of the socks also helps your feet stay blister-free!
5

Freeze a bag of water inside your shoes.

  1. As the water freezes, it will expand inside the shoe and stretch them out. Fill a freezer bag halfway with water. Squeeze the air out of the bag and close it. Gently stuff the bag inside the shoe until it fills all of the empty space down to the toe. Next, put the shoes into the freezer and keep them there until the water freezes completely. Once the water is frozen, remove the bags and try on your shoes.[6]
    • Repeat the process if the shoes still feel too tight!
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8

Swipe your feet with deodorant to avoid friction.

  1. Reducing sweating prevents moisture from causing your shoes to slide. Less friction between your skin and your new heels means fewer blisters! Rub a stick of deodorant on the back of your heels, the top of your toes, the sides of your feet, and other blister-prone areas.[9]
    • You can also try an anti-blister stick for the same effect.[10]
9

Line your shoes with gel inserts to prevent friction.

  1. Stick the inserts to the inside of each shoe. For the best protection, apply the inserts to the back of the heel and the bottom of the shoe near the toe. These will prevent your feet from sliding and even add a comfy cushion to your heels.[11]
    • You can purchase gel inserts at shoe stores and most drugstores.
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12

Keep silica gel packets in your shoes when you aren't wearing them.

  1. Silica gel absorbs moisture and keeps your shoes from shrinking. Check the shoe box your shoes came in for a little white packet containing silica gel. Stick the packets in your shoes when you're not wearing them. This will help prevent your shoes from losing their stretch![14]
    • You can ask a shoe store associate for extras, if necessary.
13

Stick a peeled potato in your shoes.

  1. This may seem unusual, but it can help stretch out your heels quickly. First, select two potatoes large enough to puff up your shoes once inserted. Peel the potatoes first. Doing so will allow the moisture of the potatoes’ juices to soften the material inside your shoes. This will make the shoes stretch out even more! Next, stuff the potatoes into your shoes overnight.[15]
    • Wipe your shoes clean before wearing them to get rid of any potato residue.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How can I break in high heels fast?
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Fashion Stylist
    Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Fashion Stylist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    When you buy them, see if the shoe store is able to stretch them for you. That way, you can get a better fit.
  • Question
    How can I make high heels more comfortable?
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Fashion Stylist
    Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.
    Kathi Burns, CPO®
    Fashion Stylist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    If your shoes are too big, look for heel inserts you can put behind your foot to help fill the gap.
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Warnings

  • Don't buy shoes a size too small just to make your feet look smaller. It can cause foot pain, blisters, corns, and bunions.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • It's not a good idea to be adventurous in your new heels when first breaking them in. Wait to wear them out dancing until you've broken them in to avoid blisters and pain.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Don't buy a stiletto because it has 'roomier' heel space. An insecure wobbling heel will most likely lead to an injury such as a sprained ankle.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • High heels shoes
  • Socks
  • Blow dryer or small heater
  • Shoe paper and shoe rods
  • Rags or washcloths
  • Sandpaper
  • Moleskin
  • Water
  • Plastic freezer bags
  • Two potatoes
  • Handful of silica gel packets
  • Shoe stretching spray
  • Heel stretcher

About This Article

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Co-authored by:
Fashion Stylist
This article was co-authored by Kathi Burns, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow. Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University. This article has been viewed 585,223 times.
8 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 37
Updated: January 7, 2023
Views: 585,223
Article SummaryX

To break in high heel shoes, try wearing them around the house while you do chores to give them a chance to stretch and conform to your feet. You can also gently warm the heels with a blow dryer before wearing them with a pair of socks, which will stretch them out even more. Alternatively, try placing a freezer bag half full of water into your heels and putting them in the freezer so the water can stretch the shoes as it freezes. If the bottoms of your shoes are too smooth, use a piece of sandpaper to rub the soles for about a minute to make them less slippery. For tips on how to keep your high heels stretched out after you’ve broken them in, read on!

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