There's nothing that can ruin a good night out like a painful pair of heels. So when I recently saw model Ashley Graham talking about lidocaine spray 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.”
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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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It turns out, 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 over-use 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 50mm 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.
I sprayed it onto the bottoms and sides of my feet, making sure to cover the areas that are usually the most painful, including my pinky toe and the ball of my foot. It dried down quickly and had no odor, which I greatly appreciated. I didn't feel results instantly (some people say they do) so I slipped my shoes on and hoped for the best.
Following a cocktail hour, ceremony, and after party, my feet didn't hurt at all. I was on and off my feet for a total of five hours and felt totally fine by the end of the night. I was afraid the numbness might interfere with my ability to walk, but I was able to navigate stairs and steps with ease. I also appreciated that my feet didn't feel completely numb—I was aware my senses were dulled down, but it didn't freak me out and make me feel like my feet had gone missing. I definitely could have gone longer into the night if I wanted to. For once, I went home because I was tired—not because my feet were hurting too much.
The next time I tried the lidocaine spray was with a much more intense heel: slingback sandals from Zara with a five inch stiletto. They are definitely one of the most painful heels I own, with my toes aching pretty much from the moment I start walking. I sprayed on the lidocaine using the same method and headed off to my holiday dinner. I definitely felt the pinch sooner, but instead of the pain spiraling into sharp aches, it didn't go any further than that. I even felt game enough to go to a bar afterward with a friend and easily navigated a flight of stairs to get to the bathroom.
Lidocaine spray is definitely something I'll be using for occasions only, but consider me a full-on convert. Best of all, it's affordable (the can I bought cost just $11) and can be picked up from most drugstores, making it a god-send when you're traveling for parties or weddings. If you have any holiday events coming up, I highly recommend (just remember not to overdo it and be careful with your feet!) You can thank me—and Ashley Graham—later.