A new pair of jeans is sort of like a new pair of shoes: They rarely fit perfectly and you'll have to break them in. Sure, there's a time and place for tight jeans that look painted on, but no pair of denim — under any circ*mstances — should cut off circulation or leave you gasping for air. To avoid this, you just need to learn some easy methods for how to stretch out your jeans.
We rounded up 10 of those methods from stylists, clothing store owners, and denim experts. Their tips range from somewhat obvious — like wearing the pair over and over again — to unconventional, like giving your jeans a bath. Whether you're looking for more room in the leg, the waist, or the foot hole, there are a handful of tricks you can try to stretch out jeans.
Wet Your Jeans, Then Stretch Them
Take a spray bottle, fill it with warm water, and liberally mist your jeans front to back, says Katie Brown, owner of Rytina Fine Cleaners. Once they're wet all over, strategically pull on the fabric in the areas you're hoping to stretch. Afterward, for good measure, wear the damp jeans until they dry.
Utilize the Power of Heat
No spray bottle? No problem. Brown tells InStyle a blow dryer can do the trick, too. "Simply blow heat directly onto the areas you want to stretch," she says. Once your jeans are nice and warm, use your hands to pull and stretch tight areas.
Use a Waistband Stretcher
Yep, that's a thing. According to personal and fashion stylist, Lana Blanc, waistband stretchers are similar to the device used to stretch shoes, and she swears they're magic for stretching jeans. "I've had clients gain up to an inch on their waist and a lot more in their wallet," Blanc says. "All you have to do is wet the waistband with lukewarm water, insert the stretcher, and turn the handle to expand. I like to leave it inserted overnight, or if you need more than an inch, you could check back in and give it a few more turns every few hours."
Use a Pants Extender
Blanc says she came across this hack during pregnancy when, after her first trimester, she could not longer fit into any of her jeans. "I didn't want to retire to leggings full time and I wasn't ready to shell out almost $200 for a pair of maternity jeans so I [searched] pant extenders and found a pair on Amazon," she says. "They were an absolute game changer."
Use Your Head (Literally)
If your jeans are too snug because they shrunk in the wash, founder of Horton Lane Chrissy Horton, recommends using your head to stretch jeans back out. Yes, really. "I lay the jeans over my head and pull them. Think of a scarf draped over your head, each end covering your ears," Horton tells us. "I then grab the ends of the jeans with one hand, use the opposing hand to hold the other half of the material steady on my head, and then stretch and pull!"
In Horton's experience, your head provides balance and strength that enable you to pull with more force and further. Tug on the jeans as hard as you can, hold it, release, and repeat about five times per leg.
Try a Foam Roller
In order to stretch your jeans in the thighs, stylist Amber Alexandria recommends laying your jeans out flat on a table first. Then, wet them from the bottom of the pocket to the knee, front and back, with a spray bottle, and insert a foam roller into the leg for approximately 10 minutes. Repeat the process on the other leg.
Give Your Jeans a Bath
In the mood for a nice soak? Might as well take your denim for a dip while you're at it. According to celebrity stylist Soneca Guadara, wearing your jeans in the tub is a classic, though, not exactly practical way to stretch your jeans. Relax in the warm — not hot — tub for roughly 15 to 20 minutes, Guadara instructs, then let them air dry.
'Bake' Your Denim
From cakes to makeup, you can bake pretty much anything these days, even denim. According to Daniel Sanchez, creative director of Blush Mark, "baking" jeans dates back to the 1970s. It involves wetting your jeans by generously spritzing the garment with a spray bottle full of lukewarm salt water or vodka, slipping on the damp pair, and enjoying some time in the sun until they fully dry on your body.
"Make sure to break them in throughout the 'baking' process. Squat, bend down, stretch, and practice cartwheels/handstands if you can," Sanchez says. "The end result will be a pair of stretched jeans that are now molded to your body."
Wear the Same Pair Over and Over Again
What happens when you wear the same pair of jeans multiple times throughout the week? They feel less snug. So, if bathing in denim isn't your style, and you don't have time to sit around with a blow dryer, you could just rely on the power of time, according to Alissa Friedman, PR and marketing manager at denim brand Mavi.
"With some patience and persistence, and holding off on washing them for as long as possible, [jeans] will break in to be extremely comfortable and conform to your body," she tells InStyle. The key is to focus on the areas that feel most stiff and increase movement in those areas (i.e., bending your knees, doing lunges, etc.), she adds.
Do Some Stretches
No matter the area you're hoping to expand, there's an exercise suited to stretch out your denim, says Vanessa Chu, co-founder of Stretch*d. (Bonus: You get a workout in, too.) For example, to expand the waistline, stand or sit and place one hand behind your head while reaching your other arm straight down along your other side, Chu instructs. Reach down as far as you can, then come back up to open the side body, hip flexors, and obliques, giving you extra room at the sides of the waist.
"Just like your muscles, your jeans need to ease in and ease out of the stretch to safely create space," says Chu. "Movement helps lubricate and ease the joints, muscles, and even inseams." Hold each movement for two or three seconds and repeat six to eight times, Chu adds.
