Golddiggers Boutique · The Locker Room
Break In Your Pleasers.
Not Your Feet.
The complete guide to stretching, softening, and surviving your Pleasers without destroying your feet in the process.
New Pleasers straight out of the box are stiff, tight, and unforgiving, especially on the toe strap. Every dancer has limped through a shift in fresh platforms and sworn never again. There's a better way. Here's everything you need to break them in before they break you.
In This Guide
Know Your Shoes
The brands, and what you're working with.
Not all platform heels are built the same. The big three you'll see on the floor:
Pleaser
The industry standard. Time-tested, dancer-loved, and built for hours on your feet. Great for regular and wider feet. Clear platforms are the go-to for a first pair.
Ellie
Making a strong push in the dancer world. Tends to run narrower than Pleaser, so better for girls with slimmer feet. Growing fast in popularity for good reason.
Hella Heels
Australian brand with a cult following in the pole and exotic dance world. Known for comfort and style variety. Worth trying once you know your platform size.
Sizing tip from Polepedia: for open-toe heels, size down. For closed-toe boots, size up. Wide feet? Always size up regardless. And know your material: Pleaser's patent finish is a PU coating, not real leather, so don't expect leather-level give from any of it. Patent styles soften a little with wear, matte PU barely moves. Between sizes in either one, go up.
Thick thigh girls, this one's personal: standard thigh high boots do not fit all of us and the disappointment is real. If you have strong thighs or wider calves, look specifically for wide-calf and wide-thigh styles. Pleaser does carry them under their wide calf collection. Don't order standard thigh highs and hope for the best. Ask me how I know.
Start Here
Before you start, prep your feet.
Breaking in platforms is as much about your feet as it is about the shoes. A little prep goes a long way.
- Pre-tape your pressure points with moleskin or blister prevention tape. The ankle strap and the toe strap are the two spots that will get you first. Tape those before session one, not after you already feel the burn. Moleskin, Leukotape, and foam prevention tape all work. Cut it a little bigger than the spot you're covering.
- Antiperspirant on your feet the night before. Sweat is what turns friction into a blister, and nobody's wearing socks on the floor. Roll it on, let it dry, sleep on it.
- A little petroleum jelly on the hot spots, not cream all over. A greasy barrier cuts friction where a strap sits. Regular foot lotion does the opposite: it softens your skin, and soft skin blisters faster. Save the foot cream for after your shift.
- Keep hydrocolloid blister pads in your bag for after. Those are for a blister you already have, not for stopping one. They grip dry skin hard, so if a blister forms underneath one, peeling it off can take the top layer of skin with it.
- Grab a pair of thick socks. You'll need them for the hair dryer method and for general house wear sessions.
Expect the break-in process to take 3 to 5 wears for noticeable improvement, and up to two weeks of regular use to fully soften. There is no shortcut that skips the time. There are only methods that make the time more comfortable.
How to Actually Do It
The break-in methods.
Use one or combine a few. Most girls end up doing the hair dryer method first, then switching to house wear to let the shoes mold over time.
The Hair Dryer Method
Put on thick socks, lace up your Pleasers, and aim a hair dryer on low heat at the tightest areas, usually the clear toe strap. Hold for a few minutes per spot, then keep the shoes on while they cool completely. The material molds to your foot shape as it cools. Don't overdo the heat. Too much and you can warp or cloud the clear plastic.
Wear Them Around the House
The simplest and most underrated method. Put on thick socks, lace up your Pleasers, and walk around at home for 20 to 30 minutes a day. Watch TV in them. Do your makeup in them. Anything that gets time on your feet without the pressure of a full shift. Consistency beats intensity here.
Heat and Sun Method
No hair dryer? Set your Pleasers in a sunny window for 15 to 20 minutes to warm the material, then wear them with thick socks while it's still warm and pliable. Let them cool on your feet. Less precise than the hair dryer, and don't leave them baking all afternoon, because long sun exposure can yellow clear plastic.
Take Them to a Cobbler
If a strap is genuinely too tight and heat isn't getting you there, a cobbler can spot-stretch it with proper equipment. This is the move for boots and closed-toe styles especially, where the problem is fit and not just stiffness. Usually cheap, usually same week, and a lot less painful than white-knuckling six more shifts.
Focus on the toe strap first. The front strap is almost always the most restrictive part of a new Pleaser. Concentrate your heat or stretch efforts there before worrying about anywhere else on the shoe.
Learn From Everyone Else's Pain
Break-in mistakes to avoid.
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Going straight to a full shift in new shoes. This is how you end up limping to your locker at midnight with bleeding heels and a bad attitude. Wear them at home for several sessions first. At least. Non-negotiable.
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Getting the wrong size thinking it'll stretch. PU does not stretch enough to save you if you've gone too small, and Pleaser's patent finish is a coating, not real leather, so it has less give than you'd think. Know your material and size accordingly. When in doubt, size up.
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Freezing them to stretch them. This hack goes around constantly and it's meant for canvas and leather. Pleasers are plastic, and plastic doesn't stretch, it thins. Cold makes it brittle and can loosen the glue holding your platform together. Heat works on these shoes. Cold doesn't.
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Taping too late. By the time you feel a hot spot, the damage is already starting. Pre-apply moleskin or prevention tape to the ankle strap area and over your toes before every break-in session, not after you're already limping.
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Overheating with the hair dryer. Low heat, short bursts. Too much heat can warp or cloud the clear plastic and there's no fixing that. If the material feels very hot to the touch, you've gone too far. Warm, not hot.
Keep Them Alive
Keeping your Pleasers fresh.
Once they're broken in, the goal is keeping them that way. A few habits that make a real difference:
- Dryer sheet inside each shoe after every shift. Platforms in a club environment get sweaty and start to smell fast. Tuck a dryer sheet into each one before you put them away. Cheap fix, big difference.
- Lysol spray in your car. Spray the inside of your shoes before you put them away after every shift. Your future self will thank you.
- Store them in the original Pleaser box. It keeps the shape, protects them from getting scuffed against everything else in your bag, and keeps them clean. The box is part of the system.
- Wipe down the footbed with a wet wipe. If you have a light-colored footbed, it will get grubby fast. A quick wipe after each wear keeps it from becoming a permanent problem.
- Socks during floor work practice. If you're tracing or skating on your platforms during practice, socks over the platform protect the finish from wearing off prematurely.
When Things Go Wrong
Damage control: fix it or take it in.
Pleasers take a beating. Here's the honest breakdown of what you can fix yourself and when it's time to see a professional. And yes, the word is cobbler. A cobbler is a shoe repair specialist. Most cities have at least one, and they can handle things a YouTube tutorial can't.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sole peeling away at the platform | E6000 adhesive. Apply, press, and let it cure fully before wearing. If it's really bad, take it to a cobbler. |
| Scuffs on the finish | The Sharpie trick: grab a Sharpie in a color that matches your shoe as closely as possible and color directly over the scuff. Black shoes are easy, a standard black Sharpie blends almost perfectly. For chrome or colored finishes, get as close as you can. It won't hold up forever and will wear off with more floor work, but from a few feet away under club lighting nobody can tell. Good enough to finish your shift. |
| Broken or detached ankle strap | Replace it. Pleaser sells detachable clear replacement straps. Simple swap, no cobbler needed for a basic strap replacement. |
| Torn PVC finish | Small flap still attached: super glue. Torn away completely: glossy black nail polish as a cover-up, or take it to a cobbler for a proper fix. |
| Structural damage (heel, platform, serious sole separation) | Take it to a cobbler. Seriously. A good cobbler can fix things that would otherwise end a shoe's life, and it's usually cheaper than a new pair. |
Mid-shift survival rule: if the E6000 or Sharpie trick can get you through the rest of your shift, use it. Deal with the real fix after. If the shoe is structurally broken and you can't work safely in it, swap to your locker backup and take it to a cobbler when you're home.
FAQ
Pleaser questions, answered.
How do you break in Pleasers fast?
The hair dryer method is the fastest way to soften the material. Put on thick socks, wear the shoes, and apply low heat to the tightest areas for a few minutes. Keep them on while they cool so the material molds to your foot. Follow up with regular house wear sessions. There's no instant fix, but this gets you there faster than walking cold.
How do you stretch Pleaser heels?
Two methods actually work on these shoes: the hair dryer method (low heat on the toe strap while you wear them with thick socks), and consistent house wear until the material molds to your foot. Skip the freezer hack you've seen going around, that one's meant for canvas and leather, not plastic. If heat isn't cutting it, a cobbler can spot-stretch them properly.
Can you use the freezer method on Pleasers?
Not a good idea. The bag-of-water-in-the-freezer trick works on canvas and leather because those materials have give. Pleasers are plastic, and plastic doesn't stretch so much as thin out. Cold also makes plastic brittle and can weaken the adhesive holding the platform together. Use heat on these, or take them to a cobbler.
Why are my Pleasers hurting my feet?
Almost always the toe strap or the ankle strap cutting in, which is normal with new platforms and eases as the material softens. Make sure you're in the right size too, because PU doesn't stretch much and no amount of break-in saves a shoe that's too small. Pre-tape both pressure points with moleskin or prevention tape before you put them on, and keep working the methods above.
How do I stop getting blisters in my Pleasers?
Tape before, not after. Moleskin or blister prevention tape on the ankle strap line and across your toes, applied before you put the shoes on. Antiperspirant on your feet the night before helps too, because sweat is what turns rubbing into an actual blister. Save the hydrocolloid pads for treating a blister you already have. They're a healing product, not a prevention one.
How long does it take to break in Pleasers?
Generally 3 to 5 wears for noticeable improvement, up to two weeks of regular wear to fully break in. The hair dryer method can speed up the initial softening. Consistency matters more than intensity, so short regular sessions beat one long painful one.
Should I size up or down in Pleasers?
For open-toe styles, size down. For closed-toe boots, size up. Wide feet? Size up regardless. If you're between sizes, go up, because Pleaser's patent finish is a PU coating rather than real leather and none of their materials have much stretch to them.
What's the difference between Pleaser and Ellie heels?
Pleaser tends to fit better for regular and wider feet. Ellie runs narrower and may suit girls with slimmer feet better. Both are built for dancers and designed to handle hours on your feet. Most dancers try Pleaser first and branch out from there.
How do I stop my Pleasers from smelling?
Tuck a dryer sheet inside each shoe after every shift. Spray the inside with Lysol before storing. Let them air out fully before putting them away, and never seal sweaty platforms in a bag or box while they're still warm.
How do I fix a peeling sole on my Pleasers?
E6000 adhesive is the go-to fix. Apply, press together, and let it cure fully before wearing. If the sole separation is extensive, take them to a cobbler. A cobbler is a shoe repair specialist and can do a proper fix that E6000 alone can't.
Can a cobbler fix Pleasers?
Yes. For anything structural (serious sole separation, broken heel, significant damage) a cobbler is the right call. Most cobbler fixes are cheaper than buying new shoes, and a good one can significantly extend the life of a pair you love.
What do I do if my Pleaser ankle strap breaks?
Pleaser sells detachable clear replacement straps, so it's a simple swap you can do yourself. If the strap broke mid-shift and you need to get through the night, tuck it or tape it and swap to your locker backup pair. Replace it properly when you're home.
How do I get scuffs off my Pleasers?
The Sharpie trick. Match the Sharpie color to your shoe as closely as you can and color directly over the scuff. Black Sharpie on black shoes blends almost perfectly. It'll wear off with more heavy floor work but holds up well enough for a shift and looks fine under club lighting. For clear platforms there's no great fix for deep scuffs, so prevention (storing in the original box) is really the only answer there.
What's the best way to store Pleasers?
In the original Pleaser box with a dryer sheet inside each shoe. The box keeps the shape, protects from scuffs, and keeps your bag clean. Spray with Lysol and let them air out fully before boxing them up after a shift.
I'm struggling to walk in platforms. What do I do?
Start with platform ankle boots instead of open heels. The boot holds your ankle in place so you're not fighting for stability while you're still building your platform legs. A lot of dancers learn in boots first and switch to open heels once they're comfortable. Walking in platforms at home daily, even just 20 minutes, builds the balance and muscle memory faster than anything else.
Are Pleasers good for beginners?
Yes, they're the most recommended first platform for a reason. They're built for dancers, widely available, and hold up to real use. Start with a 6-inch clear platform with an ankle strap. Break them in at home before your first shift. Check out our first night guide for more on choosing your first pair.
You've Got This
The shoes shouldn't be the reason
you had a bad shift.
Break them in at home. Pre-tape your pressure points. Keep your locker backup ready. And when a pair is genuinely done, take it to a cobbler before you write them off.
Golddiggers has the dancewear side of your shift covered. Sets, bodysuits, thongs, pasties, garters, and accessories. All $40 to $70. Ships worldwide.