How to Be Comfortable in Heels

A good pair of heels can add height to your stature, length to your legs and confidence to your walk. Icons like Lady Gaga have popularized high heels and taken them to the extreme. Although most women aren’t wearing shoes with heels over five inches, a shoe with any type of heel can be somewhat uncomfortable and difficult to walk in. If you love heels, there are some ways to add comfort to your swagger.

• Practice walking in your heels before wearing them out, especially with a new pair. Every style of shoe is slightly different and you may find that they require you to adjust your body a little differently.


• Alternate wearing your heels with other styles of shoes during the week. Your feet occasionally need a break from wearing heels. 


• Make sure that the heels you wear fit your feet properly. Shoes that are too small can cause blisters, bunions and aching feet, while shoes that are too large can cause chafing and blisters as well. While the store may only carry a size 8 when you’re a size 9, don’t make an exception in this case! You only have two feet and want to treat them well—it isn’t worth the pain or health risks for the beauty or the bargain.


• Cushion your heels by adding bits of moleskin to places that rub or by using insoles. High heeled shoes are notorious for not including a lot of padding in their structure, so it may be necessary to add your own.


• Break in your new heels before wearing them for long periods of time. This can be done by putting them on for only a couple hours and walking in them or by using shoe stretchers or rubbing alcohol to stretch out tight spots.


• Rough up the bottoms of new heels with a bit of sandpaper to reduce the risk of slipping. New soles can be very slippery and can pose a falling hazard.