A properly fitting pointe shoe is key to avoiding much of the pain and discomfort that dancers experience as a result of dancing en pointe. Although it may be tempting to save time and money by merely estimating your size and ordering shoes online, you should plan to be fitted in person by someone who is an expert in the proper fitting of pointe shoes. Only someone who understands how pointe shoes differ and who is trained to evaluate the strength and structure of a dancer's feet can correctly assess your particular needs. For this reason, some ballet teachers accompany their students when they purchase their first pair of pointe shoes. If your teacher does not join you on your first trip to purchase shoes, ask her to approve of your choice before you sew on the ribbons.
Generally speaking, dancers who have just begun to work en pointe wear their pointe shoes for a maximum of 10 to 30 minutes following a regular technique class. Beginners spend those few minutes doing basic, slow exercises that help them discover how to use the reinforced shank and toe box of the point shoe without becoming overly reliant on them. Don't expect to wear your pointe shoes for a full technique class until your second year of training en pointe.
Amidst the excitement of going en pointe, don't forget that you will need to maintain or perhaps build strength and flexibility. To achieve the beautiful lines that appear so effortless, you'll need to consciously build your core muscle strength. A conditioning program that includes crunches and planks to build the core can help to make pointe work easier and possibly safer by removing pressure from the ankles. At the same time, you should work to build strength and flexibility in your ankles and feet with the help of a resistance band.
As a beginner, you should only be dancing en pointe under the watchful eye of your instructor. Over the course of much time, you will develop a good sense of proper body positioning en pointe, but in the beginning, you'll need her highly trained eye to keep you safe from injury. You'll need her to monitor your movements and help you make the necessary corrections. If your knees are not sufficiently straight or your feet are sickled en pointe, you are inviting injury.
It may take time to figure out what works best for you as far as toe taping and padding, methods for breaking in your shoes and techniques for attaching ribbons and elastic. Apart from reading articles and books that tackle such topics, your best option is to speak to your more experienced peers to gather information and suggestions. In the end, however, you will have to be your own best judge of what works and what doesn't.