Quick answer

Most slipping glasses are fixed by tightening the hinge screws, adjusting the nose pads so they sit flush, and gently bending the temple arms inward. If the frame is cracked, the screw hole is stripped, or the fit still fails after a careful adjustment, stop and see an optician rather than forcing the frame.

Start with the screws, not the frame

Before you bend anything, check the hinge screws. A loose screw lets the temple arm splay outward, which makes the whole frame slide forward. Use a jeweler's screwdriver that matches the slot; a too-large blade chews the screw head. Turn clockwise until snug, then stop. If the screw spins freely without tightening, the threads are stripped and no amount of turning will hold it.

  • Work over a table with a light-colored cloth so dropped screws are visible.
  • Tighten both hinges, then both nose pad screws if your frame has them.
  • Do not overtighten; you can crack the hinge or strip the threads.

Adjust nose pads for a stable bridge

Adjustable nose pads for glasses are the most forgiving fit point. If the pads sit flat against your nose, they offer no grip. Gently pinch each pad arm so the pad angles slightly inward and rests on the side of your nose, not the flat top. Both pads should touch evenly; one pad doing all the work will tilt the frame. Frames without adjustable pads, such as many acetate styles, cannot be tuned this way, so the temples become your main adjustment point.

  • Clean the pads first; skin oils make them slippery.
  • Move each pad arm in small increments and try the glasses on between adjustments.
  • If the pad arm feels stiff or creaks, stop; the metal may be work-hardened.

Reshape temple arms with heat and patience

Temple arms control how tightly the frame hugs your head. If they flare outward, the glasses slide down when you look down. For acetate or wooden frames, warm the temple arm with a hair dryer on low for a few seconds, then bend it inward slightly above the ear. Hold until cool. For titanium or thin metal, bend cold but in tiny amounts. Never heat titanium or metal frames; you can damage the finish or the weld. Work in small steps and recheck the fit.

  • Bend only the last third of the temple, near the ear.
  • Keep the bend symmetrical on both sides.
  • If the frame feels brittle or you hear a crack, stop immediately.

When the problem is the frame, not the fit

Some frames slip because they were never the right size or shape for your face. A frame that is too wide at the hinges, has a shallow bridge, or lacks adjustable nose pads may never stay put without professional help. Handcrafted frames such as Nina Mûr's ADELA and LYNCH use layered birch wood, which is lightweight but less forgiving of repeated home bending than metal. The Gazal Eyewear Jekyll uses titanium with an acetate brow and a specific temple design; titanium resists bending, so a poor fit here usually needs an optician's tools rather than a hair dryer.

Jekyll

Jekyll

Symptom, cause, action, stop point

  • Glasses slide down when you look down: Temple arms flare outward or nose pads sit flat. Tighten hinge screws, angle nose pads inward, and bend the last third of each temple inward slightly. If the frame still slides after two small adjustments, stop and see an optician.
  • One side sits lower or the frame tilts: One temple is bent differently from the other, or one nose pad is higher. Compare both sides against a flat surface and adjust the higher side down in tiny steps. If the tilt returns immediately, the frame may be twisted and needs professional alignment.
  • Screw spins but never tightens: The screw threads or the hinge hole are stripped. A slightly larger screw may hold temporarily, but it is a short-term fix. Stop turning. A stripped hinge needs a replacement screw or a new frame.
  • Frame creaks or feels brittle when bent: The material is work-hardened, too dry, or already cracked. Further bending will break it. Stop immediately and take the frame to an optician.

Frames and fit: what the catalog tells you

  • ADELA: Nina Mûr ADELA is handcrafted in Madrid from responsibly sourced birch wood using multi-layer lamination, with Color, Nosepad, and Temple options. The Nosepad and Temple options let you choose a fit configuration at purchase, which reduces the need for home bending later.
  • LYNCH: Nina Mûr LYNCH is also handcrafted birch wood with Color, Nosepad, and Temple options. If you need a different temple length or pad style, ordering the right option is safer than reshaping wood at home.
  • Jekyll: Gazal Eyewear Jekyll is a titanium rectangular frame with an acetate brow and the original Wicked temple, handcrafted in Japan with fewer than 100 pieces per color. Titanium is strong but not very bendable, so fit adjustments on this frame are best left to an optician.