How to Stop Tights From Laddering, Running or Tearing
You put on a fresh pair, you get out the door, and by lunch there is a line racing up your shin. Some people call it a ladder, some call it a run, and some just call it another pair in the bin. Whatever the word, it is the most common complaint about tights, and most of it can be prevented.
Here is why tights run, ladder and tear, and the simple habits that make a good pair last.
Ladder, run, snag or tear?
A ladder (the British word) and a run (the Canadian and American one) are the same thing: one broken loop that unravels in a line up or down the leg. A snag is a pulled thread that has not broken yet. A hole or tear is where the fabric has actually split.
Tights, pantyhose, nylons: the same rules apply to all of them. And a snag caught early never gets the chance to become a run.
Why tights run in the first place
Tights are made from very fine yarn, and fine yarn only needs one sharp edge. The usual suspects:
- Rough edges. Nails, rings, dry hands, cracked heels, a watch clasp, the Velcro on a coat, the corner of a desk chair.
- The wrong size. Tights that are too small spend the whole day stretched to their limit. That is why holes so often start at the thigh or the big toe.
- How they go on. Hauling them up by the waistband puts all the strain on a few centimetres of fabric.
- The wash. Hot water, a machine full of zips and bra hooks, and the heat of the dryer all wear down the stretch in the yarn.
- Very sheer styles. The lower the denier, the finer the yarn. Beautiful, but less forgiving.
Most runs do not start in the wash. They start in the first thirty seconds, while you are putting your tights on.
How to put tights on without snagging them
Take off your rings and check your nails. A quick pass with a nail file costs nothing. A new pair does.
Smooth your hands and heels. Dry, cracked skin catches fine yarn like Velcro. A little hand cream, given a minute to sink in, makes a real difference.
Sit down and gather one leg. Bunch the leg down to the toe with your thumbs inside, so you are holding a little doughnut of fabric.
Toe in, then unroll. Slip your toes in with the toe seam lying flat across them, then ease the tights up a little at a time: ankle, calf, knee, thigh. Never pull.
Repeat, then settle the waist. Do the other leg the same way, then ease the waistband up. If the crotch sits low, walk the fabric up from the ankles rather than hauling on the waist.
Want to go the extra mile? Plenty of dancers and stylists pull on a thin pair of cotton gloves for this. It sounds fussy until you try it.
Get the size right
This is the one people skip, and it causes more runs than anything else.
Tights that are too small are working at full stretch all day. Fabric at full stretch has nothing left to give when it meets a nail or a chair edge, so it gives way.
If you are between sizes, go up. A pair that fits properly will not slide down, and it will not wear thin at the thigh and toe.
"I was able to easily get them up my legs without pulls, holes or snags."
Jai, on our Gia 30 tights
How to wash tights so they last
- Hand wash in cool water. A gentle wash made for delicates, like Soak or Eucalan, does the job in a few minutes. Both are no-rinse, which means less handling.
- Using the machine? Put them in a mesh laundry bag, on a cold, delicate cycle, away from anything with zips or hooks.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the fibres and wears down the stretch over time.
- Never use the dryer. Roll them in a towel to press out the water, then lay flat or hang to dry, away from the heater.
- Wash them after every wear. Sweat and skin oils are hard on fine yarn too.
Store them like you mean it
A drawer full of bras, belts and costume jewellery is a snag waiting to happen. Fold or roll each pair and keep them together in a cloth bag or a drawer of their own, well away from hooks, zips and Velcro.
What about freezing your tights?
You have probably heard this one: wet a new pair, wring it out, and freeze it overnight to make it stronger. It is an old trick and some people swear by it. The honest answer is that the evidence is thin. Your time is far better spent on the size, the way you put them on and the way you wash them. Those make a real difference.
Caught a run? How to stop it spreading
Clear nail polish. Dab a little at both ends of the run and let it dry before you move. It seals the broken loops so the line stops travelling.
No polish? Hairspray. A quick spray on the run will hold it until you get home.
Just a snag? Do not pull or cut the loose thread. Gently ease the loop back through to the inside of the tights and it will usually settle.
Once a run makes it past the knee, that pair has earned its retirement from nights out. Keep it for under trousers and tall boots.
Start with a pair built to last
Good care helps any pair, but it helps a well-made pair most. When you are shopping, look for:
- A reinforced toe and panty, the two places that take the most wear.
- A cotton gusset, for comfort and breathability.
- Fabric that springs back when you stretch it, instead of staying baggy.
- The right weight for your day. A whisper-thin pair will not survive a day of chasing a toddler. A 30 or a 60 will.
Our own tights are made in Italy with exactly that in mind. The Gia 30 is our everyday sheer, the Shadow Dot and Blackout give you more coverage for colder days, and the Ginger fishnet is about as tough as tights get. We cat-tested her, and she came out with flying colours.
The pair in these photos is our Ellipse Net, and yes, that is the real thing being pulled. A good net stretches a long way and springs straight back. It is also the most comfortable pair we carry.
"My daughter loved the tights so much, really stood up (in the service industry, no less)."
A customer, on our Gia 30 tights
No pair of sheer tights is indestructible, and anyone who promises you one is selling something. But a well-made pair that fits, goes on gently and gets washed with a little care will outlast a drawer full of cheap ones.
Quick answers
Why do my tights keep running?
Usually one of three things: they are a size too small, something rough is catching them (nails, rings, dry skin), or they are being washed hot or tumble dried.
How do you stop a run in tights?
Dab clear nail polish at both ends of the run and let it dry. Hairspray works as a quick fix until you can get to the polish.
Can you put tights in the washing machine?
Yes, in a mesh laundry bag on a cold, delicate cycle. Hand washing is gentler, and the dryer is always a no.
Do better tights really last longer?
Yes. Reinforced toes, a proper fit and fabric that holds its shape all add up. The pair costs more once, instead of a little every couple of weeks.
Start here
The Gia 30. Sheer, strong, and one of our best-sellers for everyday wear.
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