This is how you learn to walk on high heels

You want to learn to walk in heels: how do you go about it? All beginnings are difficult, but a few tips will make it a little easier. It may not become less painful right away, but you will avoid losing heart and never manage to do it in the end.

We explain to you how to learn to walk in heels. And more importantly, how to get off to a good start. That way, you will ensure the ideal preparation and then build it up step by step.

The ideal preparation

A good start is half the battle. With the right preparation, you can make it a lot easier on yourself. So do you need to be walking in heels soon for a special occasion? For example because you need to attend a graduation ceremony or a wedding? Or is it just simply about time that you learned to do so, in general? A good preparation will definitely help you with that.

Wedge heels

Wearing shoes with a wedge heel is the easiest way to start off practising. You will notice that you stand a lot steadier on these than a regular heel. Above all, do not make it too difficult for yourself, to avoid giving up quickly. Once you've graduated from wedge heels you can try a block heel.

Closed shoes

For practising with, closed shoes are the best pick. These will provide much more support than a pair of pumps or a pair of other types of open stiletto heels. So choose a pair of beautiful ankle boots.

The right size

Another important tip for learning to shop in heels is to choose the right size. Above all, the shoes should not be too big or too wide. You will start sliding around in them, so you won't find stability. Too small, the heels are eventually going to hurt, but that is less of a problem at first than sliding and wobbling.

Pick a round nose

Finally, consider the shape of the nose of shoes you want to walk on. With a pointed nose, your toes will be firmly pressed together. This certainly isn’t the best feeling, even for experienced people, so it does not contribute to the ideal preparation for learning to walk in heels.

Learn to walk in heels: 4 useful tips

With the following four tips, you will learn to walk in heels like a true model in no time. It will still take you several hours or more of practice. Still, these will help you avoid going off the deep end right away, making it a little easier:

1. Start low and build up
2. Practice on a flat surface
3. Ease your pain points
4. Don’t walk too far right away

1. Start small and build up

It is especially important not to start too high if you want to learn to walk in heels. Your first bike wasn't the greatest either, so preferably start nice and low. A low block heel may not look sexy yet, but it is the best way to start.

Keep in mind that a higher and narrower heel makes it increasingly difficult. In this respect, the high stiletto heel is the ultimate goal you could work towards. A lower and wider heel is easier to walk on, so start with that. That way, keep going a little narrower and higher, just until you want to go and it no longer feels comfortable.

2. Practice on a flat surface

Also, practise learning to walk in heels on a flat surface. Choose a stable and firm floor, such as your living room. This will prevent you from having to suddenly correct or put extra pressure on ankles and tendons such as the Achilles tendon.

3. Relieve your pain points

After you’ve practised, feel where you have pain while learning to walk in heels. Next, you should try to ease those points. So do you notice a sore spot above the heel or on the instep of your foot? That's where you can stick a blister plaster if necessary, to relieve some of that pressure. On the ball of your foot or under the heel, unfortunately, you cannot.

Tip: tape the third and fourth toe (from the big toe) together. By doing so, you relieve an important nerve, which in many cases leads to the pain. You can use the same kind of tape that physiotherapists use to treat sports injuries. It should be elastic as to not restrict your blood flow and also stick well to the skin.

4. Don’t walk too far right away

Walking on a pair of low heels might feel a bit dull, or soon seem easy. Use that time to learn to walk on them better and better. Your feet will get used to it and your muscles will adjust to it. As a result, you will learn to walk well on them so well that you will soon be able to do so on other surfaces. Perhaps even on a catwalk! Don’t go too far too soon on heels that are too high, or you will definitely make regret it afterwards. The sore muscles you’ll get from walking on high heels for too long without experience are no joke. You might also want to hold off on practising if you know you’ll have  a busy day tomorrow where you’ll need your feet to feel okay.

Extra tip: don't walk too far on heels. In the beginning, practice at home, in the living room. Only when you can walk on them comfortably do you take them outside. The ground is probably less stable there and distances are often longer than you think.

Walking in heels: how to do it properly

So do you want to learn to walk in heels? The tips above will help you do so. Do you love fashion and reading about the latest trends and the best tips? Then you’ll also want to check out the amazing selection of our other helpful blogposts.