Sit down before you take sheer pantyhose off. Roll the waistband down over the hips and thighs with flat hands, keep rolling to the knee, then work each leg off past the heel a little at a time. Never pull from the toe. A tug at the toe drags the whole leg of the knit across your heel and nails at once, and a nail or a rough patch of skin is what catches a fine knit.
That's the whole method, and it's the same for every pair of sheer pantyhose we make for men. Putting a pair on is covered step by step in our article on why pantyhose rip and how to stop it.
Before you reach for the waistband
Take off your rings and your watch. A ring edge or a watch clasp can catch sheer knit just as a nail can.
Check your nails. Trimmed nails matter as much coming off as going on.
Every NYLO order includes disposable gloves for putting the pair on, so nails and rough skin don't catch the knit. Keep the gloves with the pair and wear them to take it off too.
Then sit. The edge of the bed or a chair will do. Standing on one foot, you are more likely to tug than roll, and the tug lands at the toe. With no chair in reach, lean against a wall and still start at the band.
How to take off pantyhose step by step
- Sit with both feet flat on the floor and your trousers already off.
- Hook your thumbs inside the waistband and fold it outward, so the pair starts to turn inside out.
- Roll the band down over the hips and thighs, both legs together, with your fingers flat and your nails away from the knit. Roll rather than drag, so no single spot takes the pull.
- Stop at the knee, lift one foot, and keep rolling down the calf until the rolled edge reaches the ankle.
- Take the rolled edge in both hands, slip it over the heel, and let the foot of the pair come away in your hands.
- Do the second leg the same way.
Where the waistband sits depends on the pair. On the 10D Sheer Tights, our 10 denier pair, the waistband sits above the navel, a high rise. On the 1D, our 1 denier pair, it sits around the navel, a mid rise. Denier is the weight of the yarn. Start at the band, wherever it sits, rather than reaching for the leg lower down.
After the pair is off
Rolled off this way, the pair ends up inside out. Reach into each leg, take hold of the toe, and draw the leg back through. Then hold each leg up to a window. A snag shows now, while you still know how it happened, and not while you're dressing for work.
Lay the pair flat in a drawer, or fold it once.
Wash it by hand in cold water, with no bleach. Air dry away from heat, and keep the pair out of the dryer. Every pair we make takes the same care.
A gentler hand for the 1 denier pair
The 1D Seamless Sheer Tights are 1 denier, knit on 512 needles, with a mid rise that sits around the navel. Needle count is the number of knitting needles. At 1 denier, the 1D is the lightest pair we make. The 1D is extremely delicate, so handle with care: trimmed nails or the gloves every time, and roll slower than you think you need to.
The 10D Sheer Tights are 10 denier on 1012 needles, woven with Lycra, and the 10D resists runs. Take the 10D off the same way. The 10D's run resistance is not a reason to pull from the toe.
| Pair | Denier | Needle count | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1D Seamless Sheer Tights | 1 | 512 | Mid, around the navel |
| 10D Sheer Tights | 10 | 1012 | High, above the navel |
Dress socks come off the same way
A below-the-knee sheer sock comes off the same way as a pair of tights. Fold the top outward and roll it down the calf to the ankle, then slip the roll over the heel. Our 1D Sheer Dress Socks 3-Pack is 1 denier on 512 needles, 80% nylon and 20% spandex, and wants the same care as the 1D tights. The 10D Sheer Dress Sock 2-Pack is 10 denier on 1012 needles with a reinforced toe, and like the 10D tights it resists runs.
Common questions about taking them off
What if the knit catches on the way off?
Stop. Find the spot, lift the knit off whatever caught it with a flat finger, and go back to rolling from the band. Don't pull through it.
Is taking off tights any different?
No. We use tights and pantyhose for the same sheer pair, made for men, and the steps above apply to every one.
Where to go next
If you haven't picked a pair yet, start with our size guide. We size by height and weight, not waist. If you are 5'7" to 6'2" and 145 to 210 lbs, the 10D is our usual first recommendation.
