8 Tricks to Help Find the Right Bra Fit

Finding the right bra for you can be hard, especially when it's your first real bra. You should listen to your mother, if she is there, and your fitting expert, if there is one available, but you should also know a few tips an tricks to make sure you get the right bra fit.

1) Bra Measurement - This is very important. You should definitely be measured before you start trying on. Some moms will estimate or guess your size, get a handful of bras, and tell you to try on all of them. While you may find the right size that way, it's easier and better for you to get an exact measurement. Without it, you'll be searching blindly, and may walk out with the wrong size for you.

2) Straps and Bands -If you're thicker set, or have large breasts, you want to look for bras that have thicker bands or straps. If they are too thin, they may not support you correctly and may become painful over time. For short girls, look for straps that can be adjusted the entire length of the strap; some straps only adjust to halfway, which causes them to fall over the shoulder on shorter girls. When you have your bra on, check in the mirror to make sure the band is horizontal to the ground. If it is pulling up closer to your shoulder blades, you need a smaller band size.

3) Cups - If you have breast tissue squeezing out of the top of the cups, either you need to get a larger cup, or you can try loosening the straps. If you the wire of the bra is poking into your breast tissue at all, you definitely need a bigger cup size, as this can cause the wire to wear down the fabric and cause some serious pain, as well as damage to breast tissue. If you have a gap between the bra cup and the skin of your breast, you need a smaller cup, or you can try tightening the straps. The cups should like smoothly and seamlessly along the skin of your chest and breasts.

This cup size is definitely too small, you can see the wire is poking into the tissue of the breast. NOT GOOD!

4) The Ear Test - Once you have a bra you like and that fits you well, there are some tests you can do while wearing the bra to make sure you have the right bra fit. For the ear test, grab your strap and pull straight up on it to lift it off of your shoulder toward the ceiling. If the strap stretches all the way to where your ear starts, it's too loose and you need to shorten it. Otherwise, it will not give the right amount of support.

5) The Pull Test - For the pull test, turn sideways so that you can see your right of left side in the mirror. Reach behind you and pull your bra band back towards the other wall. If it is stretchy enough to stretch more than 2 inches, you need to tighten it to the next hook, or get a smaller band size. The band does most of the supporting work, and if it's to loose it won't be able to support you properly.

6) Arms Up Test -For this test, lift your arms straight up in the air while wearing your bra of choice. If the bottom of the bra comes up and exposes the bottom of the breasts, then the band is too lose and needs to be tightened, or you need a smaller band size.

7) The T-Shirt Test - This is important to determine the functionality of your bra. A bra may look really cute and seem to fit perfectly while you're wearing it, but putting on your t-shirt over it will be the real decider. Check for any visible marks or bumps caused by lace, make sure that there are no definite lines or obvious gaps where the fabric of the cup connects with your chest, and make sure you get a color that won't be obvious under light clothing.

Nobody told Britney how to do the t-shirt test! :( This bra is toooo small.

8) Find the Right Style - While it may be tempting to go for the sexiest bra you can find, you should start off with bras that will be comfortable and functional while you get adjusted to wearing them, such as t-shirt bras, and other full-coverage, comfort based bras. They may be nothing much to look at, but they will train you how to take care of them, and wear them properly. Then you can go shopping for bras that fit your personality as well as your wardrobe.

If you need more tips about finding the right bra fit, and even how to measure your own bra size, visit www.AWomansGuidetoBoobs.com!

Buying My First Bra: Help!

When it's time for a girl young woman to get her first bra, there can be a lot of trepidation. Puberty in general is kind of an awkward subject, and this is one of the defining moments of puberty for women, so naturally there is some awkwardness involved. That's completely normal. Most tweens define "my first bra buying experience" as trusting and trying on whatever mom says, since of course she should know, right? Well, that's not always true. In fact, most women only know what their mothers taught them about bras, and things have come a long way since then. This doesn't mean that young women buying their first bra should not listen to their mothers, but there are some tips and guidelines to follow to make sure that this experience is a good one. Being informed is key.

Tip 1: Don't Skip Training

A lot of girls think of their developing bodies with excitement; the thrill of growing up and finally getting a bra can be so exciting! For others it's a nightmare, and an embarrassing one at that. Everyone is different. Everyone also develops differently. In the early stages of development a training bra can be a real saving grace. It's not a complicated and, well, grown up as traditional brassieres. It's usually a sportier version, similar to a sports bra. It's not constricting, but is meant to keep the budding breasts contained while they grow, and is helpful for doing active things, like sports, whereas normal bras do not help in that area. Training bras should be bought as soon as development starts. Regular bras should be bought when the breasts are developed enough to need the extra support and not before.

Tip 2: Be Patient

Buying a bra is a process. Most women can expect to try on at least 5 bras when they shop, and first timers can expect even more trying on. This is necessary in order to find the right size and the right fit. In the end it will save girls from discomfort later, because those who end up with the wrong bra will quickly learn that it does not look, or feel, good. Patience is the best way to go, and if possible girls should be encouraged to enjoy the process. You can only buy your first bra once!

Tip 2: Listen to the Professionals

Mothers usually take their daughters to a place where bras and lingerie can be bought for their first bra shopping experience. This means that there should be bra-fitting specialists around who can educate the girls, and often the mothers as well, on how a bra should fit. Trust the professionals, they do this all day every day.

If you're saying: "I have more questions about my first bra", then you can visit http://awomansguidetoboobs.com/ to learn more!