So, you’ve got your very first set of hosiery. Hooray! But now you’re staring at them, trying to figure out how on earth to put them on without causing a mess. What seemed like a simple task suddenly feels super tricky — not to mention, hosiery looks impossibly tiny out of the package. How are they actually going to fit?

Have no fear! We’ve broken down our favorite tips and tricks for putting on, caring for, and styling your favorite hosiery so you can skip the stress and look as cute as ever.

The biggest hurdle you’ll likely run into when putting on hosiery is causing a tear or a run. These annoying snags are usually caused by long nails, sharp hangnails, dry skin, or jewelry catching on delicate threads.

Here is how to prep before sliding into your tights:

• Remove jewelry: Take off any rings or bracelets from your hands, as well as any anklets from your legs, so nothing catches on the fabric.

• Moisturize your skin: Apply lotion to both your hands and legs. Hydrating your skin prevents dry patches, cracked skin, or dead skin from catching on the thin material.

• Prep your toenails: Taking care of your toenails is just as crucial as managing your hands. Sharp toenails will easily rip through the toes of your tights. If you wear tights regularly, you might want to consider options with reinforced toes to save yourself the extra worry.

• Try the glove trick: If you want to play it extra safe, wear a pair of dishwashing gloves while putting them on to completely shield the delicate fabric from accidental scratches.

Always sit down while putting on your hosiery. Standing up makes it much harder to adjust the material and increases your risk of tearing them.

1. Gather the leg: Pick up one leg of the hosiery and scrunch it all the way down from the waistband to the toe so the leg is bundled together with the toe opening right at the top.

2. Slide your foot in: Guide your foot into the opening and gently pull the scrunched material over your toes and heel up to your ankle.

3. Slowly work your way up: Gently unroll the fabric up your leg, smoothing out any wrinkles as you go. Be patient and avoid pulling too hard. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for your other leg.

4. Final touches: Once both legs are covered, stand up to make your final adjustments. Gently smooth out the fabric and pull the waistband up over your hips.

• Rolling waistband? If your waistband keeps rolling down, it’s usually a sign that your pantyhose are a bit too small. Try sizing up or looking for a style with a wider waistband.

• Tights slipping down? If you find that your hosiery isn't staying up and keeps falling, you can use a garter belt or a little sock glue to keep everything securely in place.

• Emergency tear fix: Be mindful around sharp furniture or objects when moving around. If you do snag your tights, dab a tiny bit of clear nail polish or hairspray over the hole to temporarily stop the tear from spreading.

To keep your tights lasting as long as possible, proper washing is essential:

• Handwashing is best: Gently handwash your hosiery and always hang them up to dry.

• Machine wash with care: If you must use a washing machine, make sure to pop your hosiery inside a mesh laundry bag and run them on a delicate cycle.

• Pair with skirts and dresses: Hosiery looks amazing with flowy skirts and dresses, especially during chilly winter months when you want extra coverage without sacrificing style.

• Layer under pants: Heading out into freezing weather? Wear your hosiery underneath your jeans or trousers as a hidden base layer to trap extra warmth all day long.