How to save your jeans from ripping in the thighs

What ruins your jeans in the winter and burns your thighs in the summer? Chub rub. If you’re tired of your jeans ripping at the thighs then you’ve come to the right spot!

We’ve put together some helpful tips on how to reduce thigh chafing as well as some ways that you can prevent your jeans from ripping at the thighs.

So what is “chub rub” or thigh chafe? Put simply,  friction between your inner thighs, due to movement or humidity, can cause irration to your skin as well as damage to your clothing.

Chafing can happen anywear – at the beach, on a bike ride, on a jog, or simply just on a walk!

Having to toss a great pair of jeans because the inner thighs have worn out is arguably one of the most frustrating sartorial experiences men and women can experience. Good jeans aren’t cheap and losing a pair that was once the bottom half of your go-to first date outfit is a mournful blow to the wardrobe and the spirit.

Want to avoid or at least reduce the burn and discomfort of “chub rub”? There are many different approaches in the fight against thigh chafing. Here are a few helpful tips that people swear by:

1. Apply a liberal application of deodorant to your inner thighs. Baby powder can also help prevent and relieve the symptions of thigh chafing. There are even some great anti-chafing roll-ons out there, which are perfect for on the go protection. A great way to reduce the risk of chub rub is to limit skin-to-skin contact – using products like these will create a barrier and hopefully protect your skin.
2. Wear bandalettes or thigh bands. Bandelettes let you feel confident and sexy while still protecting your skin against painful inner thigh abrasions. Another alternative is tried-and-true Spandex and shapewear. Thigh-covering shapewear not only protects your sensitive inner-thigh skin but will help you keep your curves exactly where you want them to be this summer.
3. Avoid friction and moisture. Keep the at risk area as dry as possible. If you’re at the beach, make sure that you are drying off completely and changing out of wet or damp clothing. Salt water can be especially triggering when it comes to thigh chafing.

So, how can you prevent “chub rub”and keep your favorite jeans from ripping at the thighs? Here are some fashion hack that might help:

• Only wash when absolutely necessary. The more you wash your jeans, the more the fibers in the fabric break down and become vulnerable to wear and tear. Contrary to what your mother says, you don’t need to wash your jeans after every use. Whenever possible, try to air dry your denim as overdrying them in a dryer can damage the spandex in the fiber that makes them stretchy. When you do throw them in the wash, do so on a short and cold cycle, and wash them inside out.
• If you’re spending a lot of money on your jeans and don’t want to chance the chub rub rip, you can sew denim patches into the inside of your jeans where your thighs most rub. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think. Cut out two palm-sized patches from an old pair of jeans, turn your current pair inside-out, and with a needle and thread, sew on the reinforcement fabric to protect the rubbing area.

1. Buy higher-percentage jeans. What does this mean? Ideally, look for jeans that are made from 100% cotton as their rigid material should translate to a longer-lasting life. A thicker pair of denim should also last longer than a thinner (read: cheaper) pair. Levi’s, Grlfrnd, Good American, and Re/Done all offer many cult-loved pairs of rigid denim that will last you longer than a cheap off-the-rack pair.
2. Some people swear by rubbing a dry bar of soap or spraying Scotchguard on the outside of their jeans’ inner thighs to prevent the chub rub rip. I have not personally given these a go but trying these methods shouldn’t do any harm to the fabric.
3. Rotate your jeans. Do you have one pair of jeans that’s absolutely incredible? Avoid your instincts to wear them every single day. The only absolute tried-and-true way to protect your jeans from chub rub ripping is to not wear them all the time.

At the end of the day, nothing can last forever, not even our $300 jeans. But if you remember to rotate your denim often, treat them with care, and throw on a skirt every now and again, we should be able to save them from the inevitable chub rub, at least for a little while.