Your Bras, Your Breasts, Your Health

Bra Stretch….Have Your Heard?

You are probably asking me what is Bra stretch. Well, Bra Stretch is literally when your bra stretches out. This happens over time due to how often you wear your bra. But there are other factors that can impact on the longevity of your bras.

Band Size

Are you aware that having the incorrect band size can impact the elasticity of bra life? The elasticity that are built into bras for our comfort, will eventually wear out, as they work hard to support our ‘girls’. If you have the wrong band size, this can put more strain on the fabric than is necessary. According to Rebecca Strong from Parfait Lingerie , bras really only last from about six months to a year. Bras can stretch up to three (3) inches in its lifetime. That is a lot if you ask me, hence why the hooks and eyes are there.

Did you know that when you purchase a bra for the first time, you should always hook it on the last hook and not the first? The reason for this is to accommodate when the bra stretches. Over time you will get the same support even when the bra starts to wear and tear. Moving the eyes to the middle hooks and eventually the first hooks will give continuous support.

Tip:

If you find yourself hooking the bra on the first hook at the beginning, then that band is too big for you. You should go down a band size!

Now, when you purchase your bra for the first time, the band should sit snugly in the middle of your back. Your back band should never ride up between the shoulder blades, it should always stay in line with the underwire to the front of the bra. If that happens with a bra you have had for a while then you know it’s time to start looking for a replacement. Sad I know.

Wash, Wash, Wash

The way you wash and dry your bras, affect the longevity also. Depending on the type of detergent used, the elasticity can break down faster than normal. If you have to machine wash, please use a lingerie bag. A cold wash setting helps the elasticity to bounce back, but never place them in the dryer. In this short EHOW video, you can see the effects of using a dryer.  Air drying is the best way, and also not hanging them by the straps. With Bra Care being important, check out a previous post for more details.

Having a number of bras to wear is key to keeping your favorite bras for longer. Always remember to rotate your bras and not wear the same one everyday. That can be quite hard to do if you (1) are a larger bust size and have limited bras and (2) have your favorites wink. Give your bras a day in between wear or more if you can help it. This gives the elastic time catch itself and last longer for your support. Your aim should be a minimum of three (3) bras per week, with a wash every two (2) to three (3) wears.

I trust this information was helpful and I hope you can keep your bras with you for as long as possible. See you at the next post!

2 thoughts on “Bra Stretch….Have Your Heard?”

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