Grasp the shoe in one hand, and with the other, gather the pom-pom threads. Gently twist the entire pom-pom near the base a few times both clockwise and counterclockwise—think of these as half turns rather than complete turns that come full circle. The goal is to evenly spread the threads of the pom-pom across the entire base. 

Using your thumb, start at the base of the pom-pom and rub in small circles, moving outward from the area where the pom-pom is most crushed. If your pom-pom leans forward, start at the front and work backward. If your pom-pom leans to the left, start rubbing on the left and work your way to the right. You don’t need to be gentle with your thumb—don’t be afraid to get in there and open up that pom-pom so it’s at maximum puff! It may take a couple of rounds of twisting and massaging to get your pom-poms exactly how you want them.

Proper storage is crucial to keeping your pom-poms looking fresh and perky, and our Songbird slides like room to breath. For that reason, we recommend storing them outside of their box. If you like a more lively puff (as shown above), store your slides with the toes pointed up and the pom-pom falling backward. You can use a shoe rack, a rolled hand towel under the toes, or you can simply prop them up against the side of the Birdies box. Then when you wear them, the pom-poms will spread out and be at their most voluminous. If you prefer a more subdued puff, store your Songbirds with the toes pointed at a downward angle. This will make the pom-pom fall forward evenly.