There’s nothing that can ruin a night out like an uncomfortable pair of heels. So when I recently heard model Ashley Graham’s tip for how to wear heels without pain backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, I was intrigued.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Graham shared her trick for pain-free heels. When asked about her pre-runway show rituals, Graham first showed off her fuzzy socks, then excitedly whipped out a can of lidocaine spray and showed it to camera. Judging by her enthusiasm, it’s safe to say the placement wasn’t sponsored.
“I have lidocaine for when I have to put the heels on,” Graham says in the video. “That’s what you spray on the bottom of your feet. That’s a pro tip for the shoes.”
I watched Graham and her lidocaine spray in amazement and immediately questioned: Why didn’t I think of that before? As someone who loves wearing very high heels (I’m 5’3″), I’ve been resigned to suffering in silence for the sake of the lewk. I also refuse to take off my shoes at an event or go barefoot, so I’ve hobbled home in pain countless times with my toes blistered and battered.
For those unfamiliar, lidocaine is a class Ib antiarrhythmic agent used for local and topical anesthesia. It blocks nerve signals for temporary numbing or pain relief, and can be used to treat conditions like minor burns, scrapes, and insect bites.
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Aspercreme Lidocaine Dry Spray
It turns out that lidocaine spray has been a longtime style secret weapon. If you’ve wondered how celebrities get through red carpets or hours-long concerts with their towering high heels, there are subreddits dedicated to the topic, with many users pointing to lidocaine spray. Glamour digital director Perrie Samotin, who is also a frequent high-heel wearer, has used lidocaine spray on her feet for years and swears by it.
According to the Cleveland Health Clinic, it’s generally safe to use lidocaine spray on your feet. However, you should not overuse lidocaine—which can potentially mask serious harm like blisters or fractures—nor should you use it on open wounds. If you don’t want to risk using lidocaine spray while you’re wearing heels, it can also be applied once your shoes come off to mitigate aches and pains.
Sold on the idea, I purchased a can of Aspercreme Lidocaine Dry Spray from Amazon ahead of two big events where I would be wearing heels for hours. I first tried lidocaine spray before Glamour’s Women of the Year event, where I wore a pair of Manolo Blahnik 50-mm kitten heels. Although the heel is small, the pointed and narrow toe can be very uncomfortable with prolonged wear. I’ve worn these heels to a lot of events, and it usually takes about an hour on my feet before I start to feel the pinch.