Lingerie manual: what you didn't know you were doing wrong
70% of women do not buy the right bra and many others wonder if wearing a model with hoops will be harmful in the long term. Glamor responds.
It is the garment that we use the most and, however, to which we pay less attention. Statistics have encrypted this oversight and more than half of women (70%) do not know how to choose a bra. It is no longer just that we do not know the hue or the model that favors us the most, but that we err in the choice of the size or the cup, we rely on myths above scientific data and we fail to adjust and carry it as much as in Your treatment and care. If lingerie is our second skin, we should start pampering it. How to wash underwear? How many bras should you have? You ask Google and Glamor responds.
- Underwired bra yes or no?
If there is a myth about the use of the bra is that the rings are harmful to health. However, this is not true. As science has been responsible for disassembly on multiple occasions, there is no direct relationship between the use of a model with rings and the probability of suffering from breast cancer. Moreover, it is better to pay more attention to other factors that have been shown to have to do with the possible development of this disease. As Dr. LucÃa González Cortijo, a specialized breast oncologist at the Quirón Hospital, pointed out, the implementation of a healthy diet or the appropriate prevention measures can do much more for our health than underwear. This, first of all, must be comfortable to avoid other problems such as mastodynia (breast pain resulting from hormonal cyclic changes) and stretch marks. Thus, the choice of a model with hoops is more a matter of taste than convenience and, of course, the degree of support you are looking for.
- How often and how to wash underwear?
With bras happens as with jeans: we all have a favorite and sometimes it is hard to get rid of it because of the change of season or a fluctuation in weight, as the need to send it to the washing machine. However, there are those who wash it with the same frequency as other single-use garments, such as all those that include a bottom and, however, experts argue that a bra should not be washed every day. Lingerie brands recommend doing it after 5 or 7 times depending, of course, on the activity for which it was used. And it is not the same to take it to do sports than to go to the office. Therefore, it is advisable to pay attention first to its state and then to the manufacturer's instructions. On the label you will find the specific clarifications for each model but, as a general rule, avoid the high temperatures that spoil the fibers and degrade the color; wash the lingerie by hand and, if you do it in the washing machine, let it be in a program for delicate garments, less than 30º and separating the underwear from the rest of the garments by inserting it in a protective bag such as Intimissimi (5, 50 €). In this way you will also prevent the multi-position braces from being lost through the drum of the washing machine or that the rings end up clogging a drain.
- How many bras are there?
Again, many factors that include personal preferences, lifestyle and trends come into play, but lingerie manufacturers put the 8 basic ones that every woman needs. With the number one, the flesh-colored bra, for obvious reasons that have more to do with functionality than with seduction. Secondly, one without straps followed by another multiposition with interchangeable straps, one black, another sports, some with a front closure for dresses with a back neckline, a model without rings and, finally, a sexy one with lace.
- How to choose underwear for sports?
When choosing the most suitable bra for our sporting activity, the first thing is to determine to which category this activity belongs, since sports bras are divided into high, medium and low impact. The first group would include cardiovascular activities such as running or aerobics; to the second, to walk, to ride a bicycle or to skate and, within the third, we would include disciplines like yoga or pilates. On the other hand, we must choose the degree of support based on two elements - compression and withdrawal - which, combined, make up the perfect sports bra but, if you choose, the first is better for athletic busts, while the second is indicated for a chest more bulky.
- How to know your bra size?
Statistics say that 70% of women wear a bra of the wrong size which affects the health of the back and chest. Maybe it's time to use the tape measure? To determine your size you must first take measurements under your chest to obtain the contour (between 83 cm and 87 cm your contour size is 85; between 88 cm and 92 cm it is 90 and so on). Then you must take your measurement on the chest and the difference between this number and that of your contour will determine the cup: the standard is 15 centimeters, which corresponds to cup B, 20 cm C cup, 25 cm D cup etc.
- How to detect that your underwear is not adequate?
Among the most common mistakes is choosing too large bras - when you can pass a hand between the closure and the back - or tighten them too much - when the regulator is higher than the chest contour line. And most importantly, the hoop can never go over the chest, but remain tight on the skin without squeezing it just as the cup should be at a comfortable height that does not split the chest.
-What panties should be worn with each garment?
In this case, it is not enough to take into account only the model that most favors each silhouette but the garment or the look that will accompany it. On the one hand, the culotte type are the most comfortable and versatile and, depending on the top of the seams, they are advisable for loose or tight garments. Its mid-glute cut favors all constitutions but, depending on the fabric, they will be marked or not under clothing. Thus, while a cowboy admits almost all designs, a tight dress demands a smooth texture with laser cut. On the other hand, the high-rise are discarded for pants or skirts that fall to the hip, but are recommended both to promote greater support in the abdomen area and to draw curves in athletic or small bodies.
- What color of underwear favors you?
There are three fundamental factors that you should consider when choosing the tone of lingerie: the color of your skin, your eyes and your hair. While women of pale complexion, blue eyes and blonde hair favor pastel tones and, especially, the aquamarine range; those that tend towards brown tones in eyes and hair, look better with light ocher tones. For brunettes, earth or eggplant tones tend to sit very well and, finally, there are few colors that do not feel good on dark skin. Finally, it should be remembered that the rules are to be broken so do not forget to try on a garment of a certain color because the best way to know how it looks is to wear it.
- What form of bra favors each type of chest?
If you have little chest, you can dispense with the extra support provided by some models and opt for triangle or bandeau type bras to achieve a natural result and a modest but elegant neckline, or, for a push up effect for those garments that highlight the neckline.
If you have a medium chest, yours are balconette bras or triangular models with foam but without rings.
If you have a large chest, choose underwired bras and high cup to enhance it and, at the same time, ensure good support. Under no circumstances resort to a smaller size to try to hide it since you will get the opposite effect.
- When should you start wearing a bra?
There is no specific age to start wearing a bra, however, the range is between 11 and 14 years and is associated with the changes that occur in the body of girls during prepuberty coinciding with the first menstruation. As a first bra it is advisable to choose a bralette model, without rings, which is especially comfortable in those years when growth can be especially annoying.
- Is it bad to go without a bra?
As we have already mentioned, there is no proven relationship between the use of the bra and the development of diseases and not vice versa. Wearing a bra or not doing it is almost a personal choice that should be based solely on comfort. In this way, women with a lot of chest are recommended to provide extra support to which they perform their ligaments to conserve their strength and relieve the load on the back, but this does not mean that they always have to carry it. Experts have set the recommended average use in 7 hours a day and discard it to sleep except in particular cases and using specific models.
