How to Distress Jeans with a Razor

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Distressed jeans can be pricey, but with just a little effort, you can make a pair yourself. All you need is a razor and a sketch of what you want your jeans to look like. By making a few cuts along the knee and upper thigh of a plain pair of jeans, you can add a stylish pair of distressed jeans to your wardrobe.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Mapping out Where to Cut

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Put on your pair of jeans. Marking where you want to distress your jeans will be easier when you're wearing them. You can also get a feel of where the jeans would wear down naturally, like around your knees.^{[1]
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- Any pair of denim jeans will work, as long as you don't mind altering them!
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Use a washable marker to mark where you want to distress. Draw lines to mark where you want the top and bottom of the holes you want to make. Focus on areas that would wear down naturally, like the knees, over the front and back pockets, and the upper thigh.^{[2]
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- The size of the holes you make is completely up to you.
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3
Take off your jeans and place them on a flat surface. This will be your workstation. You can use any kind of sturdy surface, like a shoebox, a small footstool, or a table.^{[3]
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- Don't try to distress your jeans while wearing them or you could hurt yourself with the razor.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Cutting Your Denim

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Put a thick magazine inside the jeans under where you’ll be distressing. A thick magazine will help prevent you from accidentally cutting other areas of your jeans where you don’t want slits or holes. The magazine will also help keep the denim taut, making it easier for you to cut.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have a magazine lying around, a thick notebook or a piece of cardboard should also do the trick.
2
Use a razor blade to carefully make slits where you’re distressing. Add the first slit where you want the bottom of your hole to be. Then add horizontal slits at 0.5 in (1.3 cm) increments until you reach the top of where you want the hole to be. Make the slits as long as you want the holes to be. Do this for every area you want to distress.^{[5]
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- Be very careful when using a razor blade so you don't cut yourself. You might want to wear a pair of thick gloves for extra protection.
3
Pull the threads of the slits apart to create natural-looking holes. Once you’ve made slits with your razor blade, use some tweezers or a bobby pin to open the slits wider. Use your fingers to pull apart threads that become exposed. Keep pulling the threads apart until you get holes that are the size and shape you want.^{[6]
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Fray pockets and other areas with a disposable shaving razor. Move the disposable razor back and forth to scrape the area you want to distress. Keep scraping until you get the look you want. A disposable razor works great on the zipper area, waistband, pockets, and the hemline.^{[7]
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- Use caution when using a disposable razor.
5
Wash and dry your jeans twice. Washing your jeans will help clear out any loose threads hanging around. Washing and drying them twice will also help make the new holes look more worn. After this step, your new, stylish distressed jeans will be ready to wear!^{[8]
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Finished!

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make a high-low crop top?

Community Answer

Take a shirt that is a little too big and put it on. Mark with a pen where you want to start cutting (say, just above the navel), making sure you allow an inch for stitching the hem. On the back, make a mark where you want the shirt's lowest point to be. Take the shirt off, use the pen to sketch the rest of the hem to make sure you cut the fabric evenly, and cut along your lines. You can also simply cut a line between the two marks you made, but you will likely have an uneven hem.
Question

What can I make using jeans?

Siluni

Community Answer

You can cut the jeans into any size you want, and make stylish shorts by adding some accessories to them. You can also make purses or wallets out of old jeans.
Question

My new jeans have a big hole in them. What should I do?

Community Answer

First of all, when buying distressed jeans or any denim, don't go for the cheaper stuff. Buy high quality; if you don't, it will get ruined and look tacky after a few washes. To fill the hole, you could try adding a creative patch underneath. Simply pick out a patterned fabric (should be a more heavy-weight fabric for best results) and then sew it underneath the hole. This will give your jeans a creative, chic look. Don't be afraid to experiment, as this could be a fun experience and could turn out great!