The oldest tried and true method of softening jeans is simply wearing them and letting the fibers stretch and soften. When you first buy jeans, wear them every day or at least as often as you can. They'll soften up faster if you wear them for a week straight than if you wear them once a week.
Try a DIY Softening Solution: Mix equal parts of water and hair conditioner. Soak the jeans in this mixture for about 30 minutes, then wash them as usual. This can help soften the fabric significantly. Iron with Steam: If your jeans are still itchy after washing, you can try ironing them with steam.
Simply wear them! The initial rigid feel will soften after a few weeks and only continue to get better with time.
The dyes are stiffening, along with other stiffeners added to make the jean fabric easier to sew at the factory. Anyone manufacturing stiff dark denim expects you to wash out the excess chemicals before wearing them. Jeans become softer with age.
Denim fabric naturally stretches when you wear it. However, if it's too tight, consider wearing your jeans while damp and move naturally in them to stretch the fabric.
Jeans should be comfortably tight at first.
WEAR HARD & WAIT
Many denim brands say to wait at least six months, some even a year. The key is holding out. If they start to get a little funky you can steam them, hit them with some Febreeze, and hang them outside to air-out.
Put on your jeans: Wear the jeans you want to stretch and sit in a bathtub filled with warm water for about 10-15 minutes. The water helps relax the denim fibers. Move and stretch: While the jeans are still wet, keep moving and stretching to ensure they mold to your shape perfectly.
By hand: soak the pants overnight in a bathtub full of clear, cold water, then rinse them. This removes the finish from the pants and makes them more flexible. In the washing machine: opt for the longest cycle, cold and without detergent, low spin at 600 rpm. Iron the slightly damp pants.
Soft jeans are more comfortable and flexible, as compared to the hard denim. They are perfect if you need to wear your denims for longer parts of your days. They are very soft and will feel like a second skin.
If you really cannot resist the temptation of drying your jeans in the dryer, make sure you air dry them first. Only then put them in the dryer at low temperature – this will soften them up.
Soak Your Jeans
It's true that not everyone will want to immediately soak their jeans after bringing them home. But for those who are willing to sacrifice some immediate fades, soaking is a great way to expedite break-in. After giving them an initial cold soak, let them air dry to a slightly damp level.
And because of the way denim is dyed, the colour changes as you wash and wear your jeans. Over time, they mould to your body, you create your own aged look, and the denim gets softer.
The process of breaking in raw denim can take a few weeks to several months. But the break in period really hinges on one thing: how much you wear the jeans and what you do in them.
White distilled vinegar softens clothes through its natural acidic properties. The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves mineral deposits, detergent residues and hard water buildup trapped between fabric fibers.
Soak denim in vinegar, then rinse with baking soda for enhanced softness. Wash jeans inside out with cold water and fabric softener to soften fibers. Dry jeans with clean tennis balls on low heat for a massaging effect that softens the fabric. Soak jeans in a warm water and hair conditioner mix for a softer feel.
Jeans are a staple in most wardrobes, but they can feel stiff and uncomfortable when new. Wash Them with Fabric Softener: Add fabric softener to the washing cycle when washing your jeans. This will help break down the fibers and make them feel softer.
Duck or Firm Duck: Made from stiff, ring-spun cotton, duck is Carhartt's cornerstone fabric. While technically still part of the canvas family, pants made from this woven fabric are snag-proof, windproof and downright tough.
The longer you wear a pair of jeans, the softer the denim becomes. This isn't something that happens overnight. Rather, it takes months — sometimes even longer — to wear in a new pair of jeans. The good news, however, is that there are ways to break in a pair of denim jeans in less time.
Wet the jeans with warm water and stretch them by hand. Put on your jeans and soak in the tub, then stretch in them. Stuff your jeans with objects like foam rollers while storing them. Use a waistband stretcher or wooden hanger to expand the waist.
Jeans are made of durable denim fabric, which often means that they are stiff and uncomfortable at first. If your jeans are especially stiff, soften them by washing them with fabric softener and drying them with dryer balls.
The Long Straight (50-150 wears)
When you reach the Long Straight, the jeans have started to relax around the waistband and behind the knees.
New Denim: If you've ever bought a new pair of jeans and found them stiff and tight right off the rack, you're not alone. Raw or rigid denim is often unwashed and untreated, meaning it hasn't been broken in yet. This can make new jeans feel stiff and less forgiving until they've been worn a few times.