Heels are popular and for good reason: They add a few inches to your height and generally make you feel more confident about yourself. Although many people complain about heels being very uncomfortable to walk in, they aren’t necessarily that bad if you know the right tricks. Here are some tips you can use to make your next outing in heels more comfortable.
Get your basics right
The first thing to remember when you buy a pair of heels is to get your shoe size right. This might sound like a no brainer but many people try to squeeze their feet into shoes that are much smaller than their actual size. Doing this will hurt your feet while you’re walking and you will develop blisters—especially if you’re wearing heels.
Additionally, you should also not buy heels that are bigger than your actual size. Most heeled shoes are designed to curve snugly around the arch of your feet. Wearing a bigger size means the curve of the shoe fits your feet incorrectly so you will find it difficult to keep your balance. You should also remember that shoe sizes vary across different brands and manufacturers. You might be size 37 for brand A but size 39 for brand B. So, try wearing the shoes at the store and walk around a little bit in them before you make a purchase.
Heels get an interesting twist
Pick a shoe with heels that are curved in
Always look at the heels from the side before you buy them. If the heel of the shoe is all the way at the end of the shoe then when you wear the shoe, the ball of your feet will have to deal with all of your weight. This will add extra pressure onto the ball of your heels and they will start hurting very quickly. Instead, you should pick that pair of shoes where the heel of the shoe is a little curved in—towards the middle or the arch of the shoe. This way your body weight and the pressure will be distributed to all areas of your feet more evenly and you will find it easier to walk in those heels.
Be conscious of the arch of your foot
Everyone has a different type of arch. So, you should find shoes that support the type of arch your foot has in order to feel more comfortable while wearing heels. People with flat feet or little arches should opt for either platform shoes or wedges. These shoes have very little curve and have a flat bottom. On the contrary, people with high arches should avoid these shoes. In case you have to wear them, stick a silicone or moleskin pad under the arch of your foot to create additional support. Similarly, flat footed people should stick these support pads right underneath the balls of their feet if they have to wear heels with high arches and curves.
Dealing with foot pain
Your leg might be one of the strongest parts of your body but your foot is definitely one of the more delicate parts. So, if it has to deal with inconveniences or pain—both of which can be caused by wearing heels—on a regular basis then you will permanently hurt or injure your feet. You feel pain mainly on the balls of your feet when you are wearing heels. One way to avoid this pain is by using silicon or moleskin inserts—between the balls of your feet and the shoes. These inserts are generally soft and will cushion your feet when you are walking.
Another thing you can do if you get blisters while wearing a shoe is to cover that area with a band aid. Generally, blisters form on your skin if your foot constantly rubs harshly against your shoe. So, if you put something in between the shoe and your foot—in this case, a band aid—you can avoid getting blisters.
Prep new heels before you wear them
Most shoes are stiff when they are new. So, you should break into them if you want to feel more comfortable when you wear them for the first time. For this, put your heels in the freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes. Take them out and put them on immediately. This way as the shoe warms up, it’ll mold a little according to the shape of your foot making it easier for you to wear.
If your heels are made of a material that can be damaged when it gets in contact with water, then skip the refrigerating process and just wear them around your house for 30 minutes to an hour. This way you’ll familiarize your foot with the shoe, and you will also have the time to notice if something feels uncomfortable and find a way to deal with that problem before you wear them while going out. Also, you can put on a thick pair of socks when you are trying to break in a new pair of shoes so that it opens up a little.
