I used to treat putting on a bra like unloading the dishwasher. A little annoying, then you move on with your life. After my rotator cuff injury, it stopped being “a little annoying” and started being the first argument of my day. That’s when I finally understood why people type “Easy ways to put on a bra into Google” like it’s an emergency.
Of course, it doesn’t take an injury or disability to get you to that point, really. A lot of us eventually get to the point of questioning why bras are so awkward to get on and off in the first place.
That’s ultimately what convinced me to put together this quick guide. I’ll show you the three easy methods I’ve found for managing your bra, and give you a few tips on how to make wearing these contraptions a bit simpler overall.
The Problem We All Have with Bras
Most bras are designed for a few things. They keep you contained, they give you a lift, and they might occasionally keep you comfortable through the day. They’re not made to be particularly easy to get on and off. Manufacturers expect you’ll just figure it out.
Most of us do. We live with the awkward hook-eye-closures and annoying moments until we can’t anymore. Eventually, something happens, like a rotator cuff injury, or just age draining your mobility, and you start to realize how annoying traditional bras really are.
That’s honestly why my first tip is this. If you’re struggling to find easy ways to put on a bra, ask yourself if the bra itself is the problem.
There are magnetic bras, front-closure bras, and adaptive options out there specially designed to make your life easier. My favorite right now is the Everyday Easy-On, a cozy, front-closure magnetic bra that helps to support my bust, keep me comfortable, and clip into place in thirty seconds.
Pick a better bra, and you stop worrying about how much effort it takes to get on or off.
3 Easy Ways to Put on a Bra
These are the three easiest methods I’ve found for putting on a bra, with or without my shoulder acting up. Some of them do depend on getting the right bra to begin with. My favorite method (the vest method) works best with a magnetic bra like the Liberare Everyday Easy-On.
These techniques can shave off a lot of time and a lot of frustration. Quick starter tips first.
- Sit down. If your shoulder’s touchy or you’re a bit unsteady, standing just adds drama.
- Loosen your straps a notch or two first. Tight straps make you fight the bra on the way up, then you’re annoyed before you’ve even fastened it.
- Check the band isn’t twisted. A twist feels like nothing in your hands and like a punishment once it’s on your body.
- Pick the bra that matches your day. Some days I’m brave. Some days I’m practical. Practical wins more often than I’d like to admit.
The Around The Waist Method (For Back Closure Bras)
This one’s for the bras you already own that still insist on closing at the back, like it’s 1953 and everyone’s shoulders work perfectly. If you can manage a hook-and-eye closure as long as it’s in front of you, this is probably the technique you’ll choose
- Place your bra, cups facing down, on the bed behind you, and sit in front of it, so there’s one side of the clasp on either side of your hips.
- Fasten the hooks in front of your body.
- Twist the bra until the cups are right in front of you, where you can see what’s going on.
- Pull the bra up, then thread one arm through a strap at a time.
- Adjust as necessary.
It’s not complicated, but it’s still not the easiest in my book. Even with a good bra, it’s easy for something to twist, and you end up doing that awkward wiggle to untangle it. The band can also rub as you move it into place, which gets irritating fast. If you want to skip all that, there are easy-to-wear bras that let you get it on without the extra fuss.
The Step in Method (For Days You Can’t Lift Your Arms)
This is basically the opposite method to fastening your bra and pulling it over your head. It works if you have a hard time lifting your arms too high, or the band is so tight on your chosen bra that it won’t go over your bust. It’s not so great if you have big hips.
- Sit down first. It’s calmer and safer.
- Step into the bra as you’d step into underwear. Keep the straps hanging loose.
- Pull it up to your underbust, then pause. Make sure the band isn’t twisted before you go any further.
- Slide one arm into a strap, then the other. Do the more limited side first.
- If it’s a front closure bra, fasten it at the front where you can see. If it’s a back closure bra, you can still use the around-the-waist method once it’s in place.
Quick tip: a softer bra without wires or too much structure works better here. Anything rigid tends to catch and roll. Looser straps at the start help, too. You can tighten later if you need to.
The One-Handed Method, With An Easy-On Bra
This is, honestly, the easiest way to get a bra on, no matter your situation. It works for my one-handed friend, my arthritic mother, and my sister with fibromyalgia. The only downside is that you need the right type of bra in the first place.
For this, I recommend the Liberare Everyday Easy-On, but just about any magnetic front-closure bra works. The reason I love the Everyday Easy-on (and all of Liberare’s bras, for that matter) is that they all have a few things in common:
- Front closure so you can see what you’re doing
- Soft, wireless comfort if you’re dealing with sensitivity
- Wider straps if thin straps dig in and make you tense up
- Magnets or a simple system to help guide the bra closed
The Everyday Easy-On Bra also has shoulder straps you can adjust from the front, which is a nice extra.
How to Use the One-Handed Vest Method
- Hold the bra open like a vest, front unclasped.
- Put your more limited arm through first.
- Keep your arm close to your side, then bring the other side around.
- Bring the front panels together and let the magnets do the lining up.
- Check the band sits level, then adjust the straps from the front if needed.
If you’ve been trying to force a standard bra to work one-handed, this will feel like a small miracle.
Quick Extra Tips for an Easier Life with Bras
I’m tossing in a few extra tips because sometimes you’re not looking for “advice,” you’re looking for a way to get dressed without wanting to scream.
- Make things simpler on yourself: Sit down. Turn on a real light. Use a mirror if you need one to check that everything’s lined up in the back.
- Quit picking closures that make you miserable: If back closures are your enemy, switch to front-close bras. If hook-and-eye makes you ragey, look at magnets or Velcro options.
- Slow down on purpose: If you’ve got a cranky shoulder like mine or your mobility’s limited, rushing is how you end up twisted, stuck, and mad.
- Do a tiny bit of prep: Loosen the straps before you start. Pay attention to pressure points, because “it’s fine” has a way of turning into “why does this hurt” later.
- Treat your bra like it’s on your team: Close the closure before washing so it doesn’t snag everything in the load. Toss it in a delicates bag if it’s the grabby kind.
Also, quick safety note, if you have an implanted device like a pacemaker and you’re thinking about a magnetic closure, check with your doctor first.
The Easiest Ways to Put on a Bra
The goal with bras shouldn’t be to master a specific technique. Wearing your underwear isn’t a sport you should have to train for.
The methods I’ve talked through here all give you a bit of a simpler way to get through the toughest parts of getting dressed. Honestly, though, the best thing you can do for yourself is pick a bra that’s designed to make things easier in the first place.
An adaptive bra, or a front-closure magnetic bra like the Everyday Easy-On, makes fastening your bra something you don’t really need to think about. I’m sure we can all agree that’s really what we’re looking for when we search for “Easy ways to put on a bra”.
