It’s a make-or-break moment when it comes to pairing a bra with your outfit. You want undergarments that let the ensemble shine, but sometimes the match just can’t be made with the bras you own. In a perfect world, you’d have the perfect bra for every single top you own, but most people don’t have the budget (or the drawer space!). While some may choose to go bra-less and #freethenipple (and you should if you want to!), not everyone is comfortable with having their nipples peek out.
Enter: nipple covers. Nipple covers are adhesive wardrobe solutions that you can wear instead of, or with, your bra. Nipple covers come in all shapes, sizes, materials and can be reusable or disposable. So let me lend you a hand: here’s how to find the perfect ones for you, how to use them and how to take care of them, plus answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
“When do I use nipple covers?”
The use cases for nipple covers are vast and varied! Many people wear them in place of their bra, with tops and dresses that have tricky necklines, sheer fabrics or are backless. If your nipple covers are waterproof, you can also wear them when wearing a bathing suit. Wearing nipple covers on their own (in place of a bra) is probably the most common use case but many people actually wear them with a bra. Whether sheer, unlined, or both, many of our customers wear stickies with their unlined bras, if they want some extra nipple coverage.
“How do I find the perfect nipple covers for me?”
Finding the perfect pair is a matter of personal preference: every body is different! Here at Threads, we decided to do a little digging. After polling 200 people, we found that most people are looking for the following things:
- They have to be sticky: There is nothing worse than them falling off mid-wear. Stickiness is key!
- Seamless: People want the look of a smooth curve (not pepperoni nipples through their shirt!)
- Won’t irritate your skin: This is really important!
- Reusable: It’s so much more convenient to have a pair that you can wash and wear over and over again, instead of stocking up on the disposable, single-use kind (which are not as friendly for the environment).
We designed our Invisible Reusable Nipple Stickies to make sure it checks all these boxes! For more info on them, check them out here. P.S.: They were featured as one of the Best Bra Alternatives of the year by The TODAY Show! See how they compare in their article here.
“How do I take care of my nipple covers and make them last a long time?”
Some nipple covers out there are disposable, so they only last one wear, after which you have to throw them out. Our Invisible Reusable Nipple Stickies are reusable for more than 30 wears. To keep them sticky and clean, we recommend washing them with warm water and hand soap after each use (to get rid of your body oils!), then laying them face up to dry. When they’re not in use, we recommend you store them in their original case.
Answering Your Most Commonly Asked Questions
“I have really large breasts. Can I still wear nipple covers?”
Absolutely! Nipple covers are breast size agnostic and are suitable to use for all shapes and sizes. If you’re looking for an extra lift, you can check out our Lifting Breast Tape, or better yet, our Stickies + Breast Tape bundle.
“Can men wear nipple covers?”
A common misconception about nipple covers is that they are for women only. Not true! Nipple covers have no gender. Lots of our male customers will buy nipple covers, either to fight chafing during physical activity or for everyday wear (with shirts that are more sheer, like white dress shirts).
“Are nipple covers waterproof?”
Not all nipple covers are waterproof: this depends on the make and material! Our Invisible Reusable Nipple Stickies are waterproof and sweatproof (as long as you apply them to clean, dry skin). This is a huge upgrade to under-swimsuit coverage, especially due to the finicky nature of those removable foam cups.
“Can nipple covers cause irritation?”
There is a huge range of nipple covers out there, so it’s important to be careful which ones you buy. The key is to find ones that are made with “hypoallergenic material”. Even then, if you have sensitive skin, we recommend a skin patch test before wear.
“Why do I need to cover my nipples? They’re a natural part of my body and I want to show them off.”
You definitely don’t need to! Wearing nipple covers is a totally personal choice. If you feel like you want to show off your nipples, that’s great! But many people are not comfortable with it, whether it’s personal preference or due to the specific setting (if they’re at work, at a formal event where it’s less appropriate, etc.).
We hope you found this informative and helpful. If you have any other questions, either about nipple covers in general or our Invisible Reusable Nipple Stickies, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@yourthreads.co.