Love the heels, hate the blisters!

pixiedingo

pixiedingo

Runt
Mar 20, 2013
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Chicago
So I'm sure I'm not alone in this... But some heels just destroy my feet!

Last week I scored a pair of pumps that I absolutely loooove (these ones! aren't they pretty?), and I foolishly decided it'd be perfect to go shopping up and down Michigan Avenue while wearing them, to break them in and such... TERRIBLE idea. I looked great of course, but oh dear heavens within an hour my feet were destroyed. I have a few pairs of heels just as high as these that I wear a few times a month maybe (though I'm not a pro at them yet like I'm sure lots of you gals are!), but these are my first pointed-toe pumps, so maybe that's why they were so difficult?

I had to make an emergency stop in walgreens to buy bandaids, and then sit awkwardly on the dirty, icky curb in the middle of downtown to bandage up my feet. NOT COOL.

So ladies, what do you do when you need to get used to a new pair of shoes that seem hell-bent on destroying your feet? Just suck it up until your feet develop callouses? Tape up the insides so they don't rub against your skin? Tell me your secrets!
 
New flats DESTROY my feet... idk maybe I have weird feet? But for new shoes, I wear them around the house for a bit to get a sense of 'pressure points'... then I stick a million skin-colored bandaids until I break the shoes in :run:
 
Shoes in general destroy my feet until I break them in (I have really weirdly shaped feet).

I pretty much have a way to break them in quickly now (well, as quickly as possible)-
1- wear thick socks and the shoes, walk around in them in the house
2- if you cannot get the feet+thick socks in, stuff the said monsters with a damp (not dripping) rag overnight, and try the 1st point
3- after that's done, repeat until the shoes fit correctly
 
As a model, I should have figured out the secret to not getting blisters, but not yet :nervous:

I tagged some VIP's :sneaky:
 
If they're your shoes and you can do what you like to them...

(Note that my advice is primarily for natural materials as I rarely buy synthetic shoes!)

Wear them around the house; start at ~30mins and build up until they're broken in. Walk around, sit at the computer, make a cup of tea in them. Wear socks of increasing thickness each time if they need extra help stretching out.

If you have a really tight pair (this can apply to shoes in the wrong size... I've been guilty of buying a size down because the shoes were pretty/a bargain/last pair/all of the above), first of all protect them with waterproofing spray or other such treatment, in and out, for the appropriate material. Then, using damp (not sodden but malleable) newspaper, stuff the shoes and leave them for a few hours before repeating above steps. This will help soften and stretch them and make them more able to mold to your feet.

Hope this helps! :kiss:
 
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To pre-break in my shoes, I put on a thick pair of socks that are damp but not wet, and then put on the shoes. I run my blowdryer over the shoes from a distance and it helps soften the shoe and mold it to my foot. (Be careful with cloth/synthetic shoes, so far I've only done this with leather and patent).

I also put in inserts, if it seems that will help, like heel grips or gel petals. I've also tried Dr. Scholl's blister defense anti-friction stuff, which helps a bit, and I carry bandages. Sometimes though, it just takes time.
 
Yes to all the above.
I've learned to buy shoes 1/2 size big and them stuff them with inserts.
I've been wearing my wedding shoes in slowly over the last several months and slowly adjust the inserts every time I find a pressure point if.
foot petals- i like their variety
Dr scholls also has good products, my fave is shoe tape you can glue around any spot that causes blisters.
Hope that helps. and defiantly wear your shoes in at home next time!
 
dont even talk to me about painful heels
 
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I used to get blisters SO bad (I started wearing heals very young), now my feet are ridiculously calloused up that nothing can bring them down :twisted:
(Ballet) Flats really hurt my feet though, no blisters just the pressure points get me after a while.
 
I don't have a problem with heels but flats. Oh my goodness.

I would recommend anyone to never ever wear flats for the first time outside to walk in. I wear mine inside for a few days just to get a feel of it for a couple of hours each. I usually wear tights or socks with me. I don't wear thick socks because sometimes I find that they would be too loose on me if I wore them out. So I would wear them I normally wear flats. If it doesn't get better return the shoes.

I would try and avoid synthetic flats - they're just not worth it. They are usually really uncomfortable.

I've also heard that you wear thick socks and use a hairdryer to stretch them out slightly and that does the trick. I've never done this so I don't know.
 
I just stick a Band-Aid on the inside of the shoe where there's pressure. I haven't had a blister in years, though, just a bit of bleeding.

You might also want to try these for healing whatever blisters you already have, after you've come home and taken your shoes off.
 
If they aren't strappy heels I always wear toe-socks for cushioning and to help the shoes last longer and not stink. Also inserts are a girls best friend.
And definitely make sure the first time you wear them isn't on a day where you will be walking a lot.
I also always keep cute and comfy flats in my purse for when I have to walk to or from somewhere.
 
pixiedingo said:
So ladies, what do you do when you need to get used to a new pair of shoes that seem hell-bent on destroying your feet? Just suck it up until your feet develop callouses? Tape up the insides so they don't rub against your skin? Tell me your secrets!
Click to expand...

If you think new shoes are bad, try skates. :nopity: I just ordered a new pair, and am bracing myself for the month or two of bleeding, blistering and bone pain that will happen until I break them in.

Here are my tricks, though, that ease suffering:

On "hot spots" (areas you can feel where a blister is imminent) try bandages that have "Compeed" technology. These are weird, flat bandages that respond to areas with pressure and rubbing by expanding over the spot, forming a tough, blister-looking spot on the bandage instead of on your foot. They can be a lifesaver and aren't terribly visible - double win.

Otherwise, I put moleskin/molefoam padding in areas where I feel ANYTHING moving or rubbing. Moleskin is great over stitch lines in shoes, molefoam is the same thing with foam backing that can be attached to areas with slipping or where you need extra padding in the shoe. They are usually sold in packs of flat sheets you can cut to fit, and have an adhesive back that stays put well.

Beyond that, take them to a shoe repair shop and have them stretch them if needed. It is usually fairly inexpensive, and it can make a huge difference if you need a little extra room.
 
My favorite tricks would have to be the Vaseline or the ice trick. If you "ice" the heels for about ten minutes, it is supposed to stretch them out. Also, I usually put vasaline on the area that is hurting my foot and the pain eases up. I don't know if these tips work well or they just trick my mind into thinking they are working... :)
 
MaigreToujours said:
My favorite tricks would have to be the Vaseline or the ice trick. If you "ice" the heels for about ten minutes, it is supposed to stretch them out. Also, I usually put vasaline on the area that is hurting my foot and the pain eases up. I don't know if these tips work well or they just trick my mind into thinking they are working... :)
Click to expand...

Put ice or vaseline on my shoes and I will leave marks on you
 
I wipe out in Soho (cobblestones) all the time. And NewYorkers, not known for their sense of humor, just glare at me like I have contagious idiocy rather than giggling. :oops:

I also have long toes (and fingers, and legs . . . and arms . . . and freaky neck) meaning cute teeny toe boxes from the likes of Chanel and Choo require an army of interns (my ugly feet send the gay further into gayness) to get on me. Even then my toes are roll-up (seriously) inside of them.

Pity me. :nopity:
 
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