While women have been told for centuries that beauty is pain, we’re getting rid of that old and outdated narrative. You no longer have to sacrifice comfort to feel powerful, confident, and sexy.
Since this idea is so prevalent, you may have been putting up with uncomfortable bras your whole life, thinking this is normal. But first things first: Your bra should never be painful! Bras should support, enhance, or add a touch of flare to your outfits. Your bra should be lifting you (excuse the pun), not dragging you down!
There are a few simple reasons why your bra is irritating you. A major one is that you’re wearing a bra that’s the wrong size or style for your body. A bra that isn’t supporting you, doesn’t feel comfortable, or doesn’t provide the shape you want, is likely the wrong size. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details.
7 Most Common Issues with Bras
You may be on auto-pilot when wearing your favorite bras, used to the pinch of your straps or the riding up of your bra strap, so take a minute to consider the following issues.
1. It’s Too Tight
Is your bra leaving indentations in your skin? Red marks and welts on your shoulder straps or around your rib cage? When your bra is too tight, it can’t properly support your breasts. You may find that the bra doesn’t sit smoothly under your clothes.
An easy way to tell whether your bra is too tight is to check your bra band. The band should lie parallel to the floor. The bra is too tight if it’s riding up between your shoulder blades. A too-tight band can constrict breathing.
When you first buy a bra, it may feel a bit snug, especially if you are transitioning from an old, worn-out bra. However, a well-fitted bra should feel comfortable initially, and any tightness should subside as you wear it. Allow a short break-in period for a new bra to adjust to your body. Sometimes, the fabric and elastic need a little time to stretch and mold to your shape.
2. You’re Wearing Underwire Bras
While underwire bras can provide tons of support, most women have a love-hate relationship with wearing them. Why? The sturdy plastic or metal wire that differentiates this bra style and is meant to provide support can dig into your ribs or squeeze your breasts.
This mainly happens when you’re wearing an ill-fitting bra, a poorly constructed bra, or an old and falling apart bra. For example, in poorly constructed bras, the wires may not be encased with enough fabric, leading to poking and prodding. Or when your bra is too old, the wires may shift and not fit properly in the cups.
This can happen after general wear and tear or not washing and caring for the bra properly. Certain body shapes – like folks with rib flares or shorter torsos – may generally find the wires more uncomfortable.
3. Slipping and Digging Straps
Are you waging a constant battle with your bra straps? Constantly readjusting your straps is downright annoying and low-key distracting. Your straps play an important role in supporting
your breasts, so slipping straps aren’t just irritating; they mean you don’t have the lift you need. This can lead to your bra band having to carry more of the load, resulting in the band digging. You may also over tighten your straps to try to fix this problem, causing them to dig into your shoulders, resulting in shoulder and neck pain, plus nasty red marks.
Choosing the right bra style for your body may help solve this problem: folks with narrow or sloping shoulders should shy away from balconette bras as they have wide-set straps that can easily slip off or dig.
Or you may just need a new bra; straps stretch out over time, causing them to slip off your shoulder and resulting in uneven support.
Like all the issues on this list, wearing the wrong bra could be the root of these problems. When your bra band is too loose, the straps have to do more work, causing digging.
4. You’re Spilling Over the Cups
There’s a difference between cleavage and not fitting into your bra. You’ll know your breasts aren’t properly fitting into your bra cups if your bust is spilling over the top edge of the bra cup, creating a bulge. Your cups should match the natural shape of your breasts; if the cups flatten or smush the breasts, they are likely too small or the wrong shape.
You won’t be surprised to learn that this issue is uncomfortable because the edges of the cups can dig into the breasts and put pressure on the tissue, leaving red marks and indentations. This can be especially uncomfortable for folks with larger breasts.
Like the slipping straps, you may find yourself constantly adjusting and annoyed by this issue. Spillage may be visible under clothing, which may make you feel self-conscious. You're likely wearing the wrong cup size.
An easy fix: get resized to ensure you’re comfortable and supported.
5. Wearing Bras That Are Worn Out
We all have a favorite bra; maybe it’s that perfect shade of nude that works under all your clothes, or it’s a super flattering shape, and you feel confident when you wear it. But unfortunately, like all good things in life, bras eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
The bra may lose its elasticity, resulting in a lack of support and structure. Or the cups can get stretched out from repeated wear and washing. The hook-and-eye closure (the back clasps that connect the bra) can easily get destroyed in the washing machine or the dryer, which is another reason to properly care for and maintain your bras.
You’ll want to replace bras after nine to twelve months of wear to ensure that the fabric, straps, seams, and hook-and-eye closure are all in good condition and working properly.
6. Inconsistency in Sizing
Just like shopping for jeans, just because you’re a size 34 at one store doesn’t mean much at another one. Unfortunately, the same is true when shopping for bras. There isn’t a universal standard of bra fitting across brands.
If all your bras are the same size but from different stores, you probably have a few that aren’t fitting right. Some bras may be too tight, or you may be wearing a loose bra. Different brands may design bras with varying cup shapes, depths, and widths.
The elasticity and tension of bra bands can differ between brands. The placement and width of bra straps can even vary between brands. With all these differences, you may feel frustrated, like no bra fits you.
7. Limited Bra Size and Style Options
It is so frustrating to find the perfect bra only to realize that they don’t carry it in your size. Limited size options may mean you have to knowingly buy the wrong size bra because your size isn’t available. Wearing an ill-fitting bra can cause skin irritation from chafing, lead to a lack of support, and may not provide the shape and structure desired.
Plus, you may feel discouraged and emotionally uncomfortable every time you get dressed, which is not the way to start your day. On the other side of the coin is limited style options.
What to Look for in a Comfortable Bra
Here’s the truth: you shouldn’t even notice you’re wearing a bra; that’s how comfortable bras should be. If that sounds like it’s a bit of a fairy tale, then learn how to achieve that magical result now.
Correct Bra Size
Okay, so you’re convinced. You’re wearing the wrong size. What now? You can start by measuring yourself at home with a tape measure and a little math. Consider this a jumping-off point rather than the definitive answer to your forever bra size.
Since you understand how uncomfortable wearing the wrong size can be, getting professionally measured can ensure that you’re in the right size and the right fit for your body.
As an online retailer, we know making a bra purchase online can be especially daunting. That’s why we developed our virtual fit program to help measure your bra size from the comfort of home.
What to Expect from a Knix Virtual Fitting:
We’ll connect you with one of our expert Knix team members for a one-on-one fitting session over video chat. For your bra fitting, we recommend you wear a bra with little or no padding and a fitted t-shirt to ensure we get an accurate measurement.
You’ll also need either a) a soft measuring tape or b) a piece of string or cord and a tape measure or ruler.
With different styles and sizes for 30A to 42G in the world’s most comfortable and supportive wireless bras, our fit experts can help you get into something you will love to wear every day.
Choose a Wireless Bra
If you’re looking for next-level comfort, wireless is the way to go. Made with soft, stretchy fabrics and lacking a rigid underwire, wireless bras naturally conform to the body. Your sports bra is likely wireless since the thick, flexible fabric makes it ideal for movement.
Sleep bras, lounge bras, and bras for everyday wear are also wireless. There’s a much lower likelihood of chafing when wearing wireless bras, and of course, no need to worry about poking for pesky underwires.
Go for Seamless Construction
Seamless bras are more comfortable due to their design, which eliminates seams, wires, and other potential irritation points. The seamless construction provides a smooth and sleek appearance, reducing the likelihood of chafing or rubbing against the skin. The absence of seams means no rough edges or stitching can dig into sensitive areas, enhancing overall comfort.
Seamless bras also conform more closely to the body's natural contours, offering a snug yet gentle fit without creating pressure points. This seamless design is particularly beneficial for individuals with sensitive skin or those looking for a bra that feels barely there.
Additionally, seamless bras often use soft and stretchy fabrics, allowing for a more flexible and adaptable fit, accommodating the body's movements without compromising comfort. Overall, the seamless construction of these bras contributes to a comfortable and irritation-free wearing experience, making them a popular choice for various daily activities.
Choose a Brand with Size Inclusivity
In 2024, it should be standard that brands are size-inclusive, making folks feel comfortable and confident when they get dressed. We provide an extensive range of A-H cup sizes to be as inclusive as possible. Since comfort in a bra is closely tied to proper fit, size inclusivity allows individuals to find bras that provide the right support, coverage, and shape for their unique bodies. We hope to promote a more positive and empowering experience.