How to Stop Feet Sliding Forward in Heels

Last Updated on January 10, 2026 by Martina McKeough

High heel shoes are great until you realize that gravity has a habit of making your feet move forward causing your toes to be squashed at the front of the shoes. From my past experiences, this doesn’t just make the shoes uncomfortable but unwearable. So what can you do? Well, I have some solutions you can use to help you learn how to stop feet sliding forward in heels.

I’m going to give you some helpful tips that I have picked up over the years to help prevent feet from sliding forward and increase comfort. Most of my tips are also relatively cheap and easy to do which means you don’t have to waste money on buying lots of expensive products to solve the problem.

So let’s dive in and teach you some tricks on how to keep feet from sliding in heels.

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How to Stop Your Feet Slipping Forward in Shoes

The problem with high heels is that they are always going to present a bit of a challenge because of the angle of the shoes. Unlike ordinary flat shoes, your feet are working against gravity and are angled downwards which makes them naturally want to slide forward.

In order to counteract gravity I’ve learned that you need to use some tricks to keep them in a fixed position.

But before I dive into how to keep feet from sliding forward in heels a really simple answer is to always make sure that the shoes you are buying are a secure fit. Loose or ill-fitting shoes are going to prevent feet from staying in a fixed position as they have more room to move around.

Buy high heels that fit you well from the start and you are going to have a much easier job of stopping the problem because your feet have fewer places to move to.

How To Stop Feet From Sliding Forward In Heels DIY Tape Method

If you have bought shoes that are a secure fit then it is highly likely your feet are sliding forward because the insoles of your shoes are too slippy or your feet are. I’ll talk about how to deal with slippery feet later but for a slippy insole, double-sided tape is a possible temporary solution.

Sticking some double-sided tape into your insole is going to make the inside of your high heels have more grip. That means when you place your feet into your shoes they are going to be less likely to move around.

There are plenty of body tapes you can use to stick your shoes to your body or clothing. This is preferable to using just any old sticky tape. Just note that you may need to replace the tape after you have worn your shoes as naturally, the tape will get less sticky as dust, dirt, and fluff stick to it.

Wear Foot Lotion To Stop Sweaty Feet

My next tip to prevent feet from sliding in high heels solves the other half of the problem which is sweaty feet.

If your feet sweat then it causes them to slip and slide inside your shoes and as I said earlier gravity will cause the entire foot to slide forward. A great solution to this is using an antiperspirant foot lotion to stop the slippery feet.

Normal foot lotions actually are more likely to make your feet slide forward in heels because the moisture will lubricate your foot causing movement. Foot lotions are designed to help stop your feet sweating in heels so they don’t move around inside the shoes.

My number one solution to this is a product that I rave about called Carpe Antiperspirant foot lotion. You only need a tiny amount to stop the slippery feet which helps them stay put inside your shoes.

Wear Inserts to Keep Feet From Sliding Forward Such As Shoe Insoles

If you want to know how to stop feet from sliding forward in heels then consider the fit of your shoes as well as the slippiness of the insole.

If you have a pair of shoes that is a little too loose because of sizing issues or your foot shape then insoles are a good solution. I use them all the time in my shoes for comfort and to stop my feet moving around.

Whilst some people recommend heel grips to create a better fit they are not my favorite solution. That is because they often unstick which is annoying plus heel grips in high heels also just push your feet further forward in your shoes.

Instead, choose high-heel insoles. Insoles come in all shapes and sizes depending on your particular problems. You can buy foam insoles for comfort or orthotic insoles to solve a mechanical foot problem.

Dr. Scholl’s High Heel Insoles are a good choice to solve the sliding feet issue and they are comfortable as well. They are also the solution for how to stop feet sliding forward in sandals as well as you can’t see the shoe inserts when you are wearing them.

You can also buy high-heel insoles with arch support as well. Arch support is important if you have flat feet and insoles that have this in high heels can keep your feet stable inside your shoes.

Buy Shoe Bumps for High Heels

If you have never heard of shoe bumps you are not alone as they are a slightly obscure product but they do work well for stopping your feet from moving around in shoes.

These are much smaller than inserts and are just a strip of raised bumps that you place in the insole of your shoe just where your toes join the foot. The bumps help to stop the foot from moving forward because they are raised so your feet stay in place.

Stop Slippy Feet With Ankle Straps

My next solution involves wearing heels with ankle straps on them.

Ankle straps on your high heels can be a great fashion statement but they also do the job of keeping your feet from slipping forward in your shoes. The extra strapping stabilizes your foot which helps you to walk without any problems.

I have seen high heels with one ankle strap or criss-cross strapping for an even better way to prevent feet from sliding forward.

Stop Feet Moving Around Shoes with Foot Talcum Powder

Knowing how to stop feet from sliding forward in heels isn’t complicated especially if you have sweaty feet. Apart from the foot lotion I mentioned earlier foot powder that absorbs moisture is also a great solution and also can keep your feet smelling nice as well.

There is no need to put too much in your shoes. Just a small sprinkling of powder on the insole of your shoe should be enough to help your problem. Foot Sense is a great natural product for the job and it is an inexpensive solution to the problem.

Wear Shoe Callus Pads To Keep Feet From Sliding Forward

Using callus pads to stop feet from sliding forward is an alternative type of insert that can work for heels.

Foot callus pads are smaller shoe inserts that tend to be placed where your toes are in your shoes and they cushion the ball of your feet and are a great way to stop feet from moving forward in shoes and sandals.

Toe callus pads are great for high heels because they make them so much more comfortable to wear and you are able to target the shoe inserts at the section of the shoe that really needs help.

You can buy gel inserts or foam-style shoe inserts that both work well to make wearing high heels a little easier.

Wear a Pair of Tights

How to keep your feet from sliding in heels can often involve products that you already own such as tights.

If you have been wearing high heels with bare feet then tights with grip can help. Don’t think about using tights that are too sheer or silky or it will make the problem worse. Instead, find a pair of thicker opaque tights or ones that have grips on the soles to prevent feet from moving in shoes.

Opaque tights are probably the best solution but because of their thickness wearing them in the summer might not work as well as some of our other solutions. They also don’t work well with sandals. If you do want to try them then Wolford does some of the best quality tights on the market.

If Your Shoe Insoles Are Slippery Try Hairspray

Learning how to stop feet sliding forward in heels can be relatively simple and one of the products I love that is cheap and cheerful is hairspray. I use it already on my hair so why not my shoe soles?

Spray a little into your high heels and you should find it makes the inside a little tacky which is enough to stop the slip. This is a good solution if you haven’t got time to buy any of the other products but remember it is temporary and will wear off.

If Your Foot Slides In Your Shoes Use Toe Filler Inserts

Finally, my last solution is great if you have a pair of high-heeled shoes that have a gap in the front of the toes that is causing you a problem. That gap means that your feet can slide down in your shoe until they start hitting the front of the toe area. That isn’t just annoying it can also give you foot pain.

To solve the problem toe inserts work. Toe filler inserts are made from EVA foam which is placed right in the front of the high heels. This foam helps to fill the gap and prevents slipping.

For some people, this is a miracle cure but for others, it can feel uncomfortable. As with all of my tips and strategies to help you learn how to stop your feet sliding forward in heels you might have some trial and error before you hit on the magic solution that solves your problem. However, as most of my suggestions are really inexpensive it shouldn’t cost you the earth to find a solution.