Searching for the perfect bra has been a never-ending struggle for women across the globe. Each of us are created differently with a variety of bra sizes and preferences with a limited amount of bra types and features. Although women have different needs and preferences, all of us can agree that the ideal aspects of the best bras for women are support, comfort, and versatility when shopping for the perfect fit.
Instead of endlessly browsing the internet for what we believe to be the best bras for women on the market, we turned to real women with a range of cup sizes to get personal recommendations of brands and go-to undergarments that comfortably uplift and support their active lifestyles all while boosting self-confidence throughout the day. Each of these women have different needs and levels of support so let's take a look at what they have in common when on the hunt for the best bras ever.
Terrie, 36A
Courtesy of Terrie
"Being a member of the IBTC (Itty Bitty Titty Committee) for the last 27 years, it's a waste of time and effort to wear a bra as well as investing in so many when I don't have much breast-to-bra ratio. I look for bras focused more on seamlessness, comfortability, and versatility that have very minimal to no wiring (ex. sports bra, lounge bra, etc.). I know when I've found the perfect bra when I live in it and then proceed to buy in bulk and multiple colors."
Best 36A Bra Recommendations:
Aerie - Seamless
Colsie, Target - Lounge Bra
Gabrielle, 32B
Courtesy of Gabrielle
"I love a bra that isn't bulky or a bra that is seamless so it won't show through my clothing. At the moment, I love Aerie brand bras. I can go through the whole day without adjusting it and it doesn't show through my clothing."
Best 32B Bra Recommendation:
Aerie - Lightly Lined Bra
Julia, 34C
Courtesy of Julia
"I look for comfortability, little to no padding, breathable fabric and something I can easily maneuver to pull down for my son when breastfeeding. I know I've found the perfect bra when it feels like I don't have one on."
Best 34C Bra Recommendations:
True and Co - Seamless True Body Scoop Neck
Pansy Co - Seamless
Tyteana, 34D
Courtesy of Tyteana
"When shopping, I look for comfortable wire bras in a range of cute colors."
Best 34D Bra Recommendation:
Victoria Secret Pink - Lightly Lined T Shirt Bra
AK, 42DD
Courtesy of AK
"When shopping for a bra, support, lift, and most of all comfortability in the band is important. Most people don't realize that your breasts may not be as big, but your cup [or] band size is determined by your overall chest size. I'm bigger around my midriff area so I need a seamless bra that doesn't feel as tight. I know I've found the perfect bra when I achieve an amazing lift, it's versatile and comfortable!"
Best 34D Bra Recommendation:
Auden, Target brand - Lightly Lined Strapless
Kayla Sharayne, 44DDD
Courtesy of Kayla Sharayne
"I look for a bra that will support, minimize, and lift my girls up! I usually prefer a wire bra, but I'm on the hunt for a seamless bra that will be super comfortable while supporting my size. My favorite brand right now is Savage X Fenty—because of the affordable, all-inclusive sizes Rihanna provides—and Lane Bryant/Cacique Lifestyle. I know I've found the perfect bra when I feel and look my best in my clothes! That's when I can really tell my bra is doing what it needs to do."
Best 42DDD Bra Recommendations:
Savage X Fenty - Flocked Logo Unlined
Cacique, Lane Bryant - Lightly Lined Full Coverage
Candice, 38H
Courtesy of Candice
"My bra size fluctuates. I typically wear a 38H, but I also find myself in G or I cups so when shopping for bras, I tend to prefer the breathable fabrics like lace and full supportive accurate cup sizing. In leisure activities and exercise, I prefer seamless and breathable, however I favor wire bras for the look it provides and enhancing the overall shape and fullness of my breasts. I know I have found an amazing bra when I forget I am wearing one altogether. I have an obsession with bras from Parfait Lingerie. They are available in my size and have lots of flirty, supportive looks."
Best 38H Bra Recommendation:
Parfait Lingerie - Padded Bra
Featured image courtesy of Julia
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These days, it's for a completely different purpose, though. Now that I am in the hopefully latter stages of perimenopause (I’m not sure because my mother had a full hysterectomy at 29, her mother died at 53 and I don’t deal with my paternal grandmother because…chile… ) — although I have always had relatively easy cycles and I could definitely set my watch to them, about two years ago, my periods started to show up whenever they felt like it and it was damn near a crime scene once they did.
It was driving me crazy, and so, my nurse practitioner recommended that I take progestin-only pills to shorten, if not completely stop, my cycle: “After a year or so, we can wean off and see if you are entering into menopause on your own.” (Whew, perimenopause, chile.)
Although the first five months of being on this particular pill made me wonder if it was worth it to take this approach, I actually re-upped for another 12-month cycle because the extra progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) has benefitted me in other areas as well because I am sleeping more soundly and my weight is more stabilized (by the way, when these things are “off,” they are signs of low progesterone levels). However, I did ask my nurse practitioner if, once I do decide to wean off of the pill, would there be any issues.
Her response is what inspired me to write this article because, until she said “post-birth control syndrome” to me, I had no idea there was such a thing. Anyway, if you give me a sec, I’ll explain to you what it is and why you should care if hormone-related birth control is currently a part of your life.
Yes, Post-Birth Control Syndrome Is a Very Real Thing
GiphyOkay, so it’s important to always remember that the way that birth control works is it “manipulates” your hormones so that you can significantly reduce your chances of conceiving. This means that taking them could result in some side effects including nausea; weight gain; headaches; irregular periods and/or spotting; increased stress; depression; blurry vision; breast tenderness, and/or a lowered libido.
That said, even though birth control pills are basically 99 percent effective (when taken correctly and consistently), if the side effects that you are experiencing are making you close to miserable, you should absolutely share that with your healthcare provider because…what’s the sense in preventing pregnancy when you don’t even feel up to having sex because you don’t feel good or your sex drive is shot? More times than not, your provider can find you another pill brand or option that will help you to feel more like yourself.
With that out of the way, think about it — if going on the pill can produce side effects, why would going off of it…not? And this is where post-birth control syndrome comes in.
For the most part, it’s what can happen to your body once you decide to come off of birth control. Typically, the symptoms will last anywhere between 4-6 months and, although the symptoms seem to present themselves most intensely as it relates to going off of the pill, any hormone-related birth control (like IUDs, injections, patches, the ring or implants) could produce similar outcomes.
Outcomes like what?
- Irregular cycles
- Breakouts
- Excessive gas and/or bloating
- Weight gain
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Fertility issues
- Migraines and/or headaches
- Shifts in your libido
- Sleeplessness/restlessness
- Hair loss
Whoa, right? And if a part of you is wondering, “Okay, if this is indeed the case, why have I not heard of this syndrome before?” It’s because it’s not a term that conventional method uses nearly as much as alternative medicine does. Still, it makes all of the sense in the world that if your body has to adjust to an uptick in hormonal intake, it would also need to adjust to removing those extra doses of hormones from your system as well. COMMON. DAMN. SENSE.
Anyway, if you were thinking about taking a break from birth control and taking all of this in has you feeling a bit…let’s go with the word “trepidatious” about doing so, I totally get it. There are some things that you can do to make experiencing post-birth control syndrome either a non-issue or a far more bearable one, though.
7 Home Remedies That Can Make Coping with Post-Birth Control Syndrome Easier
Giphy1. Take a multivitamin.Something that’s fascinating about what going off of birth control can do is it sometimes has the ability to lower your nutrition levels as it relates to certain vitamins and minerals; this is especially the case when it comes to vitamins B, C, E and minerals like magnesium, selenium and zinc. So, if you don’t currently take a multivitamin, now would be the time to start (along with consuming foods that are particularly high in those nutrients as well).
2. Up your vitamin D intake. Speaking of nutrient levels, a vitamin level that commonly drops after going off of birth control isvitamin D. This is hella critical to keep in mind as a Black woman since many of us tend to be naturally deficient in the vitamin as-is and vitamin D is important when it comes to fighting off diseases, regulating weight and keeping your moods stabilized (for starters). So, make sure that your multivitamin has vitamin D in it. Also make sure to consume vitamin D-enriched foods like fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms, yogurt and fortified orange juice.
3. Drink herbal teas. Since going off of birth control will cause your hormones to be all over the place for a season, consider drinking some herbal teas that will help to stabilize them. Black cohosh contains phytoestrogen properties, Chasteberry can help to level out your prolactin levels and green tea can help your hormones out by helping to balance out your insulin (which can sometimes directly affect them).
4. Keep some ibuprofen nearby. The headaches and migraines? Until those subside, you and ibuprofen are probably going to become really good friends; although I will add that ginger tea and inhaling essential oils like chamomile and lavender can help to ease migraine-related symptoms too.
5. Do some meditating. Waiting for your hormones to get back on track can be stressful as all get out. That said, something that can get your cortisol (stress hormone) levels to chill out is to meditate. If meditation is new for you, check out “7 Meditation Hacks (For People Who Can't Seem To Do It).”
6. Get massages. As if you needed an excuse to get a massage, right (check out “12 Different Massage Types. How To Know Which Is Right For You.”)? However, there is some evidence to back the fact that regular massages (somewhere around once a month) can help to lower your stress, boost your dopamine, increase blood flow and drain your lymphatic system so that you will have more energy.
7. Sleep/rest more. There is plenty of scientific research out here which says that sleep deprivation can throw your hormones out of whack — and since your hormones are already trying to stabilize themselves, you definitely need to get 6-8 hours of sleep and not feel the least bit guilty about taking naps sometimes too.
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Post-birth control syndrome may not be the most pleasant thing about getting off of birth control yet it is manageable. So, now that you know all about it, you can feel more confident about taking a birth control break (or getting off altogether) — without the surprises that can come with doing it. Give thanks.
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