Ease your toes inside carefully. You should have enough room at the tip so your toes remain supported as you move across the stage. Check the sides of the shoe as you put your foot in it. The fit across the front should be snug but still allow you to move each toe separately. The toe box of the shoe will not show from the outside for a visual inspection, so wiggle your toes a few times.
Pull up the rest of the shank across your foot. Some shanks are flexible to allow for softer movements during a specific piece of choreography. Others are more rigid to allow for support during multiple turns.
Wrap the ribbons in opposite directions around your ankle. The ribbons will form a cross in front and help secure the shoe during a performance. Tie the ends of the ribbons in a knot at the inside of each ankle, and tuck them underneath the fabric of the shoe. They should not remain visible during a performance.
Walk around in the shoes. The shoes should enhance your movements, not impede them. Go on demi point a few times, then on to full point. If you feel the toe shoes do not provide sufficient support, take them off and try refitting and re-tying them.
Break in the shoes. Most dancers need to break in their ballet pointe shoes before they can feel comfortable. Different dancers accomplish this task with different methods. Some will gently smack them against a hard surface. Others might wet the shoe slightly to help reduce the amount of glue. You might even prefer to tolerate the problem for a day or two until the shoes feel better.
Use accessories if necessary. Some dancers insert lamb's wool to make the ballet pointe shoes feel more comfortable. Toe spacers can help you separate your toes and increase your control during a performance. Inserting a gel pad can reduce friction if you have a sore spot on your foot.