What to do about nipples?

January 31, 2016 8:27 AM

Looking for a comfortable, affordable, natural solution for dealing with protruding nipples. (Some probably NSFW links inside.)

Here's TMI about my boobs, since I'm grateful for this oversharing platform. They're super small. Now that I'm mid-30's, gravity and sagging has only helped them look more normal-shaped.

Well, the typical bra seems not to do me any favors. I know, I know about being fitted for the elusive proper size, but even if a bra didn't hike my boobs up unnaturally high, the bra cup that would protect my modesty would change my proportions.

So, when I wear a bra at all, I like the kind that doesn't have cups. Like this.

Don't worry-- I don't walk around with my nipples poking through my top all the time. Thus far in life, I've managed creative ways to cover myself with textures and layers and blazers and jackets. I'm so sick of this game, I want to just tamp down my nipples.

I bought out all the little nipple stickers from all the local dollar stores (like these). Those things were the perfect solution, but they get a little spendy as the daily norm (I no longer can find them at 2 pair for a dollar).

What do you guys do, my fellow braless sisters? What's the answer? What REALLY works?

Also-- I so easily find most bras uncomfortable as hell. I generally have no use for them.

posted by little_dog_laughing to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (27 answers total)

I would wear a ribbed cotton tank undershirt. I find that kind of fabric to be thick enough to obscure my nipples without being uncomfortable or adding too much bulk. If I had to wear something where the undershirt would be too visible or ruin the lines (e.g. a very thin cotton t-shirt), that would be my day of the week to wear a pull over bralette like the one you linked, although this number is my pick for comfort.

I like wearing an undershirt because it feels more hygienic ("feels" probably being the operative term there) and I think it extends the life of my outer clothing, so I apologize if the suggestion has already been covered by your frustration with playing the texture "game."
posted by telegraph at 8:46 AM on January 31, 2016

I don't mean to play dumb, because I remember caring about this when I was younger, and I know there are some work environments where this is more of a thing, but my solution to this is just to not care anymore. Like visible bra straps and bare legs, the culture (well, some cultures) is getting over its weird obsession with not seeing even a hint of a nipple under a shirt. As someone who also haaaates bras with padding, I wear undershirts when I want them for staying warmer reasons, and in the summer, I've got well fitting shirts that flatter my chest and yes, sometimes show a bit of nipple if I walk in front of an air conditioning vent. Life's too short to tape down your tits.
posted by deludingmyself at 9:01 AM on January 31, 2016 [20 favorites]

I use these. They slip inside your bra just on the days you need them, come in different cup sizes and work really well.
posted by onemorething at 9:11 AM on January 31, 2016 [1 favorite]

Sorry no link, but Lilypadz. They are like the stickers but reusable. I used them long after I quit nursing.
posted by peep at 9:21 AM on January 31, 2016 [5 favorites]

Since the stickers were your favorite option, how about reusable breast petals? Bigger initial investment but pays for itself in the long run.
posted by Requiax at 9:22 AM on January 31, 2016 [5 favorites]

I'm in the same boat. The only thing you can really do is choose your shirts/dresses strategically or wear padded bras. If the former, "shell" style tops work well, especially paired with jackets and cardigans. If the latter, I like seamless pullover styles (example), which feel more like a cami than a bra.

(note that breast petals lose stickiness after a while and are kinda a pain to clean -- for me they're just for weddings and such, not everyday, and for me change my silhouette a lot more than a lightly padded bra)
posted by veery at 9:25 AM on January 31, 2016

I'm with deludingmyself above in the "I stopped caring" camp. I will usually wear some kind of undershirt, but I'm lucky enough to work someplace that doesn't seem to care.

When I *have to* wear a bra (my whole family was concerned about me "ruining the pictures" for my sister's wedding) I have a bandeau, which I find more comfortable than a traditional bra. However, after reading the above, I may get some of the breast petals for next time I visit my family.
posted by MuChao at 9:42 AM on January 31, 2016 [4 favorites]

I hear you on the relative uselessness of small-size bras -- I'm not sure why they tend to try to do what they try to do -- but, might I recommend these Fruit of the Loom Women's Cotton Pullover Sport Bras? Dirt cheap, durable, very comfy, don't do much beyond sit there and put two layers of fabric over nipples.
posted by kmennie at 9:49 AM on January 31, 2016 [1 favorite]

Jockey used to make triangle bras like that which were _just_ thick enough to hide most nipples. They've been discontinued but someone else may make something similar. Reddit's /r/abrathatfits might be able to help track such products down.

Other than that, the reusable petals/pads and/or letting people deal with a little bit of nipple is the best option. Bandaids can be used in a pinch and are cheaper than the disposable covers.
posted by Candleman at 10:21 AM on January 31, 2016

Another thought, if you have a bra which doesn't bug you but doesn't have the oomph to tamp down your nipples, are nipple shields marketed for nursing mothers, maybe? Maybe marketed as pads... It's been a while for me--they're little round absorbent pads big enough to cover nipples.They're not adhesive at all but they are probably stiff enough to do what you need.
posted by Sublimity at 11:02 AM on January 31, 2016

I like these, because they don't change my proportions, and their minimal padding is absolutely perfect. I am in a similar boat and these lightly padded camis work well for me. Besides those, super-tight tank tops do a decent job for me as well, but it's still an issue. Good luck.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 11:07 AM on January 31, 2016 [1 favorite]

And I must say, I don't at all appreciate someone in a similar situation being told it's no biggie, to just stop worrying about society's restrictions. If I personally take no measures to do something about this, I absolutely look pornographic-- and it would be all the time, not just when 'walking in front of an air conditioner.' Bodies are different, professional environments are different, people's comfort levels are different, and people are allowed to care about what they care about without it being a failing of vanity, conservatism, over-caring, etc.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 11:15 AM on January 31, 2016 [27 favorites]

On occasion I use really large sized bandaids, like this. I imagine that buying them in bulk, perhaps from place that touts itself as a medical supplier would save a lot of money. That said, I doubt that ripping adhesive off your boobs is a good idea in the long run, so if I had the cash I'd go for Requiax's suggestions.
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 11:41 AM on January 31, 2016

My wife wears these. They're probably the most expensive of the various brands of silicone pasties, but they stick better, feel more comfortable, and last longer than the other brands. Also, they're washable and re-usable -- I think she's had one pair for about a year.
posted by bradf at 12:05 PM on January 31, 2016 [5 favorites]

I have this problem whenever I breastfeed. I don't have leakage issues thank goodness, but I like these Bamboobies pads since they are soft and just the right amount of thickness to cover me whenever I wear my too-thin nursing bra.
posted by gatorae at 12:11 PM on January 31, 2016

Get a padded bralette set like these. I have small boobs and wear them often. They don't smoosh me or change the shape and they're super comfy. The pads are enough to not show nips. They're also inexpensive and easy to wash. There's tons of styles like that. Just be sure they have pads. It pretty much feels like you're braless or wearing an undershirt and some can even act like an undershirt for low tops because it looks like one.
posted by Crystalinne at 12:13 PM on January 31, 2016 [1 favorite]

Oh and as evidence of how comfy they are - I don't work at the moment so I mostly don't wear bras. When I do I feel really restricted. So for a quick trip somewhere I'll put one of those types on and on more than one occasion I've forgotten to take of off and slept in it.
posted by Crystalinne at 12:20 PM on January 31, 2016

Hey, I'm a trans guy so I'm coming at this from a different angle, but I'm also super small and age 41 so we're similar in that regard. I wear sports bras and layer over that with as many clothes as I can wear without sweating to death. Are you petite in general? Target sells these girls' sports bras in black and white and they don't show any nipple or push your chest up unnaturally (because they're made for kids, after all). XL goes up to a 35" chest; I wear M because I want to be as flat as possible.
posted by desjardins at 1:07 PM on January 31, 2016 [1 favorite]

Get the vest-type bra that you pull over your head. I happened to get four pairs on deep discount at TJ Maxx this New Year, the brand is Marilyn Monroe, and they come in pale pink and black that I know of. They have a removable padded insert that will keep you looking smooth and solid. They have a really smooth line and they seem to stay in good shape, pads and all, even after the first couple of washes. There may be other suitable brands, of course, but that's the one I can personally attest to.

Because they're basically cropped vests, they also are much more modest if your neckline starts playing silly buggers with you.
posted by tel3path at 2:06 PM on January 31, 2016

Oh, and I should add that I'm actually a C to D cup, though not a huge band size, and these bralettes even work great on me. So they'll definitely work for someone smaller.
posted by tel3path at 2:08 PM on January 31, 2016

I had the exact same problem, the Bezi Bra Discs are PERFECT, I love them and just wish I had found them sooner.
posted by just asking at 2:59 PM on January 31, 2016

I wear a lot of men's shirt. I find that they are typically less revealing than women's shirts. Men's t-shirts are not just a bigger version of women's t-shirts. The material is typically substantially thicker and the neckline actually goes up to my neck. Women's t-shirts bought from the same store very often fail to actually go up to my neck, revealing more collarbone and flesh generally, even in the supposed crew neck style. The fact that men's t-shirts are more straight up and down also means that the upper portion is not plastered onto my bosom because, in order to fit my hips, I have to get a larger size and ...it just falls different and does less to make me feel like I am generally on display as a sex object.

Before I began routinely going braless, I favored sports bras or snug tank tops as undershirts to help hold my bosom in place and give me a bit of coverage.
posted by Michele in California at 3:04 PM on January 31, 2016

I use the ones Ms. bradf uses, and they are not quite military strength, but better than anything else I've found. Pretty comfy, more so than you'd expect for silicone that sticks to your skin.
posted by instamatic at 5:37 PM on January 31, 2016

My solution to this problem is to A) wear a tank top underneath all my shirts, and B) not care if my nipples are visible or not.

Men have visible nipples all the time, in all social situations including at work. If they don't care about theirs, why should I care about mine?
posted by a strong female character at 7:30 PM on January 31, 2016 [2 favorites]

I kind of feel like this is a problem with no great solution. I completely agree with your reservations about expensive, uncomfortable "bras that fit" and paying a lot for things just to conceal the existence of nipples. Most of time I just wear cloth and elastic bras and try to stay warm.

The only other answer I have found is little squares of duct tape. The application takes a little finesse to prevent buckling, but done right it's invisible through clothing.
posted by heatvision at 4:42 AM on February 1, 2016

Americans hate the nip. There's a brand at Kohls and I believe some other stores called "Barely There" that makes bralettes with the hook and eye clasps that are simply sized (s, m, l, xl) and the cup is a double layer of a knit nylon type fabric. They conceal the nip shape in most cases. I found that any stick on products were more embarrassing / noticeable than the nipple itself, due to my particular shaping. But if you are going to try something like tape or bandaids on your nips, nake sure you either shave around your nipple or lightly press the tape onto a woven fabric (like bedsheet) before applying it to yourself. Makes removal time less painful.
posted by WeekendJen at 5:13 PM on February 1, 2016

Similar to what thegreatfleecircus mentioned upthread, I really love these. I'm in your boat - I hate bras and I'm small. Finding bras is hard. Finding bras that fit is even harder. But these are the best of both worlds - modesty and a little shape without feeling like I'm wearing anything. For work, I wear bras from The Little Bra Company, but they are expensive and while they're not uncomfortable,they're also not cozy enough for casual wear.
posted by onecircleaday at 9:51 PM on February 3, 2016 [1 favorite]