Wear your shoes at home. Rise onto demi-pointe and walk around the house in them, forcing the shoes to conform to your own arches.
Stand in first position facing a ballet barre or the back of a sturdy chair. Grasp the barre or chair back with your hands, bend your right knee and press your right foot up to demi- and then full-pointe. Press your toes into the floor and the arch of your foot out over the top of the toe box. Repeat on the left side.
Stand in parallel first position facing a ballet barre or the back of a sturdy chair. Grasp the barre or chair back. Press onto demi-point and then full-pointe. Reverse the direction, working from full-pointe to demi-pointe to flat. Repeat 10 to 15 times in a slow, deliberate manner.
Grasp the middle portion of one shank. Bang the bottom of the toe box against the floor to loosen the glued layers of canvas and to render the shoe quieter and more flexible. Repeat with the second shoe.
Grip the sides of one toe box with your hands. Gently massage the sides of the box to soften the layers of canvas and glue that lie beneath the surface. Repeat with the second shoe. Avoid this procedure if you prefer a stiff box.
Grasp the shank of one shoe. Gently bend the shank back and forth at the area that bends when you are on releve. Repeat with the second shoe.
Dip a cotton ball in alcohol or water and squeeze out the excess. Determine which area inside the toe box you wish to soften, based on where you tend to experience pain or discomfort. Locate the corresponding area on the outside of the toe box and touch the cotton ball lightly to the spot to soften it.