Wearing a bra might be a necessity in order for your ~girls~ to feel supported when you're running around, but that doesn't mean that they aren't super annoying sometimes. Finding the right size, dealing with falling straps, trying to hide poking wires, and matching the right bra to a tricky neckline — dealing with bras can be totally tricky.
But you don't have to live with uncomfortable bras any longer. We've gathered the best tips and tricks to solve all the most common bra questions and issues, from sticky sports bras and how to store your bras while traveling to sports bras that are just too thin. Whether you need to figure out how to make a strapless bra in a pinch or just can't seem to find a bra that stays hidden under your square-neck tops, you'll want to check out these life-changing bra hacks.
1. Convert an old bra into a backless one. All you have to do is cut where the bottom of the strap meets the back and where the back meets the cup (if you're confused, check out this YouTube video). You'll be left with the cups of the bra with two loose straps. Then, you're going to sew the bottoms of the straps to the bottom of the cups so you can wear it almost like a backpack.
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2. Hand-wash your bras so they last longer. Frustrated by how quickly your bras get stretched-out and in need of replacing? Undergarment Educator Kimmay Caldwell suggests a more gentle wash method: hand-washing your bras at home with soap and water. "Use a bucket or basin in the sink or in the bathtub. It's super easy to fill up and dump out the water in the tub," she explains. "If you must wash your bras in the machine, make sure you hook the back first so the hooks and eyes don't snag onto things, put them in a mesh bag, and use the most gentle cycle possible."
MDSXO Mesh Laundry Bags for Delicates
3. Sew a tab into your tank top so the straps won't poke out. "You can always wear a bra with a pretty strap that you don't mind showing," says Caldwell. "But if you want your straps to not show, use fashion tape to move the strap in and attach it to the inside of the blouse." This hack works best for straps that are only slightly showing.
You can also make a little holder in the underside of your tank to hold the straps in place. Simply sew a small piece of ribbon with a metal fastener onto your shirt that'll hold your bra strap underneath and prevent it from slipping out. TikTok user @portsidedestinations shows an example of a hidden strap holder that you can recreate yourself with a needle, some thread, and a few buttons.
4. Use products to help take off your sports bra. Athletes know the struggle of trying to peel of a sticky, sweat-soaked sports bra after a long workout. Removing a really tight bra is practically a workout in itself. Caldwell recommends waiting for your sports bra to dry, and then rolling it up from the bottom if it's a pull-on style — or buying sports bras that have a back hook and eye clasp for easy removal.
Gym Shark Sweat Seamless Sports Bra
Lululemon Align Reversible Bra
5. Store bras by stacking them or hanging them up on a multi-level hanger. As tempting as it might be to invert or fold your cups on top of each other, you want to avoid doing so as it'll warp and dent the cups. Instead, Caldwell suggests simply stacking them or hanging them up, if you have space to do so.
6. Instead of buying a racerback bra, just use a bra clip to pin your straps together temporarily. You can also keep an eye out for a convertible racerback bra. "Many come with a J-hook in the back to link straps together for an "X" shape. Just be sure to lengthen your straps first so you don't choke yourself!" explains Caldwell. Or, get crafty and use a ribbon, twist tie, or a large paperclip to create a makeshift racerback shape. Caldwell notes that you'll want to steer clear of using tape, explaining that it leaves a sticky residue on the skin.
7. Modify your bra for a square-neck top. Tired of having your bra poke out ever-so-slightly from under your square-neck shirts? Try out TikTok user @carolinafreixa's hack. Slip the strap off your shoulder, twist it once, and then place your arm through the hole of the strap. This pulls your bra strap closer to the side of your shoulder rather than having it sit at the center, allowing you to wear your square-neck tops with ease.
AdoreMe Amellia Contour Plus
ThirdLove 24/7® Classic Uplift Plunge Bra
8. For low-back dresses and tops, DIY a bra strap extension. Low-back dresses are super flirty, but if you don't have a bra that sits low enough to stay hidden under your dress, you can create a DIY version. According to a tutorial posted by @stylethesemoments on TikTok, all you have to do is grab your favorite bra with removable straps and extend them as long as they'll go before wrapping them around your shoulders and pulling them to the front. Then, hook the two straps together under your bust.
9. Sew an old bra into a backless dress for built-in support. Just chop off the straps and back clasps, and then hand sew the outline of the cups into any dress. Be sure to use a matching thread and sew the inner lining (not the outer dress layer) so you don't have stitches showing in the front.
10. Relieve pain from your straps digging into your shoulders by sliding silicone bra strap pads under your straps. They relieve the pressure caused by strap tugging, and prevent grooves in your skin. While they're great for quick relief, if this is a constant problem, you might want to look into a professional bra fitting as your straps might be working too hard to overcompensate for the wrong band or cup size. "The band provides 90% of the bra's support so if that doesn't fit, it will cause all sorts of issues like digging straps," notes Caldwell.
11. After washing them, lay your bras flat to air dry. Don't hang them as they dry or they'll lose their shape. And never put them in the dryer! The heat will cause the elastic to wear away faster in the band and in the straps, meaning that you'll have to replace them more frequently.
Pepper Lift Up Bra
Harper Wilde The Base Unlined Bra
12. Turn your regular bra into a strapless bra that actually stays up. Take a regular bra and extend the straps as far as they'll do. Put your bra on, and then pull each strap over your head so it wraps around your ribcage, and voila — your straps are no longer visible under any strapless clothing. Check out TikTok user @bobrownn's video for a visual guide.
This method is super easy as a last-minute fix and ensures that your bra will stay up, but you'll only want to use this hack in a pinch as Caldwell recommends sticking with real strapless bras or a stick-on bra for the best fit.
13. Stuff your bras with socks in your suitcase when traveling. To prevent your cups from losing shape while they're being stored in your suitcase, Caldwell suggestions using a rolled-up tank top, socks, or other soft material inside the cups to help them keep their shape. You'll avoid having to smooth out lumpy, dented cups when you land at your destination.
14. Use moleskin to fix an underwire bra. You don't have to buy a whole new bra if the underwire starts to come out and poke you in the side. Grab some moleskin padding from any drug store and super glue it around the small hole in your bra to keep the underwire in place.
Dr. Scholl's Moleskin Padding, 3 Count Package
Dr. Scholl's Moleskin Padding, 3 Count Package
15. Add makeshift padding to your sports bra. Sometimes the cutest sports bras are too thin, which is frustrating especially if you'd prefer for your nipples to not show through. If your sports bra is double-layered, take some scissors and make a small slit on the inner fabric layer before measuring out a bra pad and slipping it between the layers for extra coverage.
Hannah is the Assistant Fashion & eCommerce Editor at Seventeen, covering style, shopping, trends, and money.
