It's a little difficult to get your toes in the proper slots, but once they are in, the shoe keeps them separated. However, I would suspect that those with crooked or hammer toes would still need to use a toe separator for a pedicure. The shoes are great to wear to and from the spa. They are much sturdier than the fold-up spa shoes, but there is very little traction on the bottoms, so they can be a little perilous on slippery surfaces.