Choose a pair of jeans you are willing to distress
Wash and dry the jeans first
Mark the areas you want to tear or fray
Insert a piece of cardboard inside the leg
Use sandpaper to roughen the marked areas
Use a razor, scissors, or craft knife to make small cuts
Pull out horizontal threads with tweezers for a frayed look
Rub the edges of the cuts to increase distressing
Make small tears first and enlarge them gradually if needed
Distress the knees, thighs, pockets, or hems as desired
Wash the jeans again to soften the look
Let the jeans air dry
Trim any loose threads if needed