When dressing my clients for weddings and other special events, the question of what undergarments to wear often comes up, especially since many formal dresses have tricky back and strap situations, making it difficult to wear a normal bra. As many of you know, I love the freedom and feeling of going braless when possible, but many of my clients want some support and coverage. Enter: sticky bras and nipple covers.
Sticky bras and nipple covers stay in place by sticking to your skin rather than using straps. They can be a bit intimidating to use the first time. Will it actually stay on? Is it comfortable having something stuck to my skin? Yes and yes! Below, I go through all the details of when and how to wear sticky bras and nipple covers, so you can wear them with ease.
Note: I’m especially excited to partner with Nood on this post, since they make excellent sticky bras and nipple covers that are perfect for the strappy and backless dresses so many of us like to wear to weddings. Nood is also dedicated to inclusivity and sustainability, with an emphasis on being as plastic-free as possible, which you know I love.
VSTYLE readers can get 15% off at Nood with code VSTYLExNOOD.
Who Can Wear Sticky Bras + Nipple Covers
Everyone! There are no size or body type restrictions when it comes to sticky bras and nipple covers. Nood has sizes ranging from 32A to 36H. They also make all of their bras and nipple covers in a range of colors, so you can find one that best matches your skin tone, which is essential for not having it show through fabric.
When To Wear Sticky Bras vs Nipple Covers
My clients usually wear sticky bras when they’re a bride, wedding guest, or when dressing up for special events, but sticky bras are vital for any back-revealing dress if you can’t go braless.
To go into more detail, Nood’s more traditional adhesive bras are ideal for small to medium breasts, while large-busted women will prefer their Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra, which is a breast-sized version of boob tape. It does require oil to remove it, so it’s best for special occasions like weddings or galas.
Nipple covers are often even more useful than sticky bras because they take up even less space on the skin, so they can be paired with all sorts of garment styles, including plunging necklines. Here are a few examples of dresses where I like using nipple covers…
- Slip dress
- One-shouldered dress
- Thin fabrics that show a bra cutting into back fat
- Backless dress
- Plunging necklines
Note! Bigger busted clients who want more support with nipple covers, will put them on first before applying the Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra (more details on that sticky bra below).
Best Nipple Covers: Did You Know There Are Nipple Covers That Lift?!
I detest bad nipple covers, and I adore good nipple covers! A bad nipple cover is too small and doesn’t reflect the actual shape of a breast. They often create a little dome on the center of your breasts that looks super weird — bad!
A good nipple cover is at least 3 inches wide and shapes the breast perfectly, like Nood’s nipple covers.
Nood also makes a version of their nipple covers that lift your breasts — I am obsessed! They are so easy to put on and make my breasts look great. I’m wearing them with the formal dresses featured in this post, but I can also wear them under thin t-shirts. These are also great for gals who want a look of bigger breasts.
Fun Fact: Unlike most nipple covers, Nood’s are plastic-free. They are made of a single layer of ergonomic medical matte silicone that lasts customers up to 100 wears vs normal nipple covers (silicone gel in between 2 plastic sheets) that only last 4-5 wears.
How To Apply Nipple Covers
To apply Nood’s normal nipple covers…
- Make sure your chest is clean and you’re not wearing any oils, moisturizers, or perfume since that can reduce the effectiveness of the adhesive.
- Take the nipple cover in your hand, center it over your breast, and apply. Yes, it’s really that easy!
For the No-Show Extra Lift nipple covers:
- To apply the extra lift nipple cover, hover the cover a little off center (towards the armpit) and apply the bottom of the cover first.
- Lift the breast as you apply the rest of it. This will give you a more secure hold and fit. Don’t put it on and then pull up with the tab — it won’t be as secure. Nood has a great video that demonstrates this. Definitely watch it before your first time using it.
To take off your nipple covers, you can just pull them off. Yes, it’s really that easy. No tricks or tips needed.
After every use, Nood also recommends rinsing your nipple covers with warm water and letting them air dry before re-applying the protective plastic film they come with and then putting them back in the box they came in. This will ensure your nipple covers last a long time, so you don’t constantly have to replace them — they can last longer than 6+ months with proper care, and depending on how often you use them.
How To Wear Sticky Bras: Nood’s Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra
Nood’s Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra is great for lift and support for big boobs. It can lift your breasts up to 5 inches — seriously! It’s made from a breathable hemp fabric that’s sweatproof and waterproof, and comes in one big chunk, unlike thinner breast tape, where you have to cut multiple strips.
Here’s how to apply it:
- Make sure your chest is clean and you’re not wearing any oils, moisturizers, or perfume since that can reduce the effectiveness of the adhesive.
- Apply your nipple covers first. You will be thankful you did when you’re taking off the sticky bra later.
- Each of the Game Changer cups is labeled with an R or an L on the back to indicate which side of your body it goes on.
- Apply half of each cup at a time by removing just the bottom half of the backing.
- Then hold your breast with the lift you want and apply the cup to the base of your breast.
- Smooth it in an upwards motion, which will help the adhesive stick to your skin.
- Next, peel off the rest of the backing at the top of the cup, and pull up and over your breast.
- Smooth the top into your skin.
- Repeat on the other side.
- You can customize it to fit whatever you’re wearing by peeling back any excess tape and cutting it off.
Nood has this amazing tutorial on their YouTube channel for a full step-by-step guide on applying the Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra for a G cup. There’s also a tutorial showing it used for smaller boobs too.
As I mentioned above, these babies are meant to stay on, so you’ll need to use oil to remove them. You can use any baby oil or Nood’s Boob Savior oil. Here’s how to remove the sticky bra…
- Saturate the tape with the oil. Don’t be afraid to soak the bra — you want it to break down the adhesive so it’s easy and painless to take off. Reminder: this bra is waterproof, so don’t try to use water to remove it. It won’t work.
- Let the oil sit for 15 minutes
- Start peeling away in small sections. If you feel any resistance, apply more oil.
The Game Changer Lift & Shape Bra is designed for single use, so you’ll throw it away afterwards.
How To Wear Sticky Bras: Nood’s Shape Up Adhesive Bra
If you’re looking for a sticky bra for small-to-medium breasts that adds cleavage, I recommend Nood’s Shape Up Adhesive Bra.
Here’s how to apply Nood’s adhesive bra…
1. Undo the clasp in the middle — you’ll now have two separate cups
2. Peel off the backing sheets
3. Take one of the cups and place it on the lower part of your breast, with the clasp pointing downwards towards the middle of your breasts at a 45-degree angle
4. Smooth over to get rid of any air bubbles
5. Repeat on the other side
6. Lean forward and fasten the clasp
There’s also a great video tutorial on Nood’s website if you want a visual!
