DIY Denim: How to Distress Your Own Jeans the Right Way

By: Ellie Cook

Destructed jeans are always in fashion, but chewed edges and high-low hems have been making a splash in recent street style. The raw, unfinished look can be pricey to snag in stores; the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Follow this easy playbook, and you’ll be on your way to DIY denim in no time!

Source: Live About

1. Gather Your Tools

You’re going to need a pair of jeans (duh), chalk, a ruler or measuring tape, scissors, tweezers, and sandpaper or a pumice stone. I grabbed a pumice stone at the nearest Harris Teeter, but your can also find them at Target or Sally Beauty Supply.

Source: Maja Wyh

2. Chop, Chop, Chop!

Put on your jeans, stop to admire how great you look in them, and make a chalk mark on your ankles where you want to end the hem (2 inches above the ankle should look great). Use the ruler or measuring tape to cut evenly across.

Source: Live About

3. Destroy the Denim

Pull out a few loose threads with your fingers or tweezers. For an even more distressed look, brush the hems with your sandpaper or pumice stone, then use your hands to scrunch up the edges and rub them together.

Source: Sincerely Jules

4. The Holy Jeans

To add a few holes to your denim, start by again marking where you want your patches. Then lay the jeans flat and rub them with the sandpaper or pumice stone until worn. Finish them off by scraping the worn areas with the edge of your scissors until you see wear and tear – or simply cut a small hole and start ripping. You can add to the look by using your fingers or tweezers to fray the remaining threads.

Show us your best DIY denim masterpieces on Insta- don't forget to tag @theedgemag!