Why Ditching Your Bra Is Actually Good For You

Decorative bra. Why ditching g your bra is good for you.

 

There’s something quite liberating about whipping off your uncomfortable bra isn’t there?

Especially after a long day. I’m the first to get mine off and throw on my house-clothes, there’s nothing better. Lounging in front of the telly with a vice-like underwired bra on is just not happening. Officially, No Bra Day was back in October, but fast forward ladies – ditching yours is actually good for your health.

Remember those pre-teen days, when the time came for a bra fitting and that triumphant “first bra” purchase.

I vaguely remember shopping with my mother – wandering through the mine-field of lingerie, I picked out a white suspender belt and quietly said to my mum, “this one looks about my size” Of course, she laughed and pointed out that it wasn’t actually what I thought it was, but yes, it did look like it would fit me.

First bra in the bag heralding the beginning of a lifelong relationship with underwire.

According to Valerie at M&S, my chest now stands at 32E. Automatically, you might think, oh you’ll need a good bra then? But actually, research shows the opposite is true.

The rest of me is a size 6, however, I wouldn’t say I have pneumatic boobs, they’re just about right. In terms of how I like to present myself, modesty is a must if I’m leaving the house, but whilst at home, I’m much better off without.

There’s no greater feeling than unleashing your chest of an evening and going braless. Although You may be mistaken in thinking, if you allow your breasts some freedom, you might be doing more harm than good. Not so.

It’s a common misconception that without support your breasts will sag…

This theory has been bandied about across the years, but actually, wearing a bra may have the opposite effect – weakening the breasts natural support tissue – the theory being if the bra is doing all the support then the breasts natural support system will eventually give up the ghost.

One of the few times a bra can be useful is for a sporting activity where bouncing those puppies around can cause the breasts connective tissue to break down, encouraging sagging.

There are, of course, some factors which may inevitably cause droopy boobs, Smoking and sun-worshipping are up near the top, both sun exposure and smoking cause the breakdown of collagen causing saggy skin. Poor diet, and of course, too much weight gain during pregnancy are all contributing factors.

Apparently, although often blamed, breastfeeding isn’t such an issue and having breastfed myself, I can report mine survived perfectly well, and I’m pleased to say returned to normal afterwards.

The link between bras and breast cancer is real.

Finally, I’m no scaremonger but, according to the book Dressed To Kill by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaije, there is a link between bras and breast cancer. Women who wear a bra for more than 12 hours a day have a 1 in 7 risk of developing breast cancer. Whilst women who wear a bra less than 12 hours a day have a 1 in 52 risk. Women who go braless have a 1 in 162 risk. Join in at GoBraFReeStudy.Org

So, there you have it. Go forth and give your breasts the freedom they deserve – (Around the house, at least). They might just thank you for it.

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24 Comments

  1. January 21, 2018 / 1:03 pm

    Yesss! Unleash the boobies! I’m so glad you posted this. Breastfeeding hasn’t made my boobs sag, and I go braless whenever I can. I wear a support nursing vest which works really well!

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 21, 2018 / 1:39 pm

      I think breastfeeding frightens some women off in fear of it affecting their boobs but mine were complete normal after, so, there’s two of us unaffected ? Thanks for reading! X

  2. January 21, 2018 / 3:20 pm

    Insightful. Thanks fir sharing.

  3. Sophie chennell
    January 21, 2018 / 6:57 pm

    Such a relateable post. The first thing I do when I get home is take my bra off, that’s if I’m not going anywhere else haha. Brilliant, loved it!

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 21, 2018 / 9:21 pm

      Ahh it’s the best isn’t it! Thanks lovely x

  4. January 21, 2018 / 8:34 pm

    I’ve thought for ages I read this somewhere too about bras actually having the opposite effect for what most people think they’re there to do! I need to take my bra off more, I hardly ever have it off longer than when I’m in bed. This is a fab post, more people need to know!

    Ellie x

    http://elliesbitsofbeauty.com

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 21, 2018 / 9:24 pm

      I thought it would be fun to share a few facts which some wouldn’t know. Glad you enjoyed reading x

  5. January 21, 2018 / 8:55 pm

    I love that you posted this! I hate wearing bras lol now i can justify never wearing one

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 21, 2018 / 9:22 pm

      Yes! Let them have their freedom! ?

  6. January 21, 2018 / 10:10 pm

    As a fellow ‘larger than DD cup’ woman, I can say that I love it when I get home and strip off my bra! But yes, they are a must if I’m leaving the house or have company around xx

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 22, 2018 / 3:32 pm

      It’s the best isn’t it. I think it’s worse for us! x

  7. January 22, 2018 / 10:53 am

    This was soo interesting to read and isn’t it funny that what we hear around, isn’t actually necessarily the truth! I loove taking my bra off at the end of the day – it’s the best feeling ever. Great post 🙂 xo

    Char | http://www.charslittleblog.co.uk

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 22, 2018 / 3:30 pm

      There always stories about this and that! Definitely the best feeling x

  8. January 22, 2018 / 12:21 pm

    I’ve heard that some people even sleep with bras! Can you imagine!!

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 22, 2018 / 3:28 pm

      I know! However, there is a bra for sleeping in from a brand called chest savers which is good x

  9. January 24, 2018 / 10:43 pm

    Good post Sam! I too don’t wear a bra at home. I am a size 34 H at the moment (bit of weight to lose), but mine grew through contraception & never stopped. Any osteopath worth their weight, will suggest that wire may actually damage soft tissue, cause issues with the sternum, cervical spine & ribs. Having Fibro, wire causes me extreme pain trying to hold up my ‘melons’. I only wear one when I have to, but pay for it the next day with intercostal muscle pain, sternum and spinal pain which usually brings on a tension headache. I hate my bust, but was refused a reduction a few years ago as they say the pain is because I have Fibro..what they don’t think about is that a wired bra actually exacerbates it!
    The bra definitely needs to be re thought, for now, I’m currently investigating wireless bras to wear out. They had the right idea in the 60’s when burning them!
    H x

    • Samantha
      Author
      January 26, 2018 / 8:59 am

      I can only imagine what you must go through with Fibro, I know someone who suffers from it and it’s just a terrible thing. Being in pain and headachy after wearing your bra must be awful, but as you say, at least you can wear a non-wired bra for comfort. By the end of the day, I’m so conscious of my uncomfortable bra, I just can’t stand to keep it on! Yes, definitely the right idea burning them! x

  10. Anonymous
    February 4, 2018 / 4:38 pm

    Hi Samantha. This is Sydney Ross Singer, medical anthropologist and breast cancer researcher, and co-author of Dressed to Kill, which you mention in this article. We have just updated our book through Square One Publishers for a 2018 edition, which includes new international studies which show bras are causing breast cancer. We also discuss the industry resistance that still is trying to suppress this issue, especially from the cancer detection and treatment industry.

    Actually, there are now many bra companies with newly designed bras based on our research, claiming to be safer for the breast lymphatic system, although any bra is bad if worn too tightly for too long daily.

    Wearing tight bras is a leading cause of breast pain, cysts, and cancer, which is great news since it means women can likely avoid these common problems by changing their bra-wearing habits. Women should make sure that a bra is worn as little as possible, and that it never leaves red marks or indentations in the skin, which are signs of constriction.

    How do you know if your bra is harming your breasts? Try going bra-free!

    In fact, I would like to invite you to join the International Bra-Free Study, which is the first of its kind, which we hope will help end the breast cancer epidemic. Go to BraFreeStudy.org.

    Thanks again for helping get the word out. You are helping lots of women.

    Cheers,

    Sydney Ross Singer
    Medical Anthropologist
    Director, Institute for the Study of Culturogenic Disease

    • Samantha
      Author
      February 4, 2018 / 7:18 pm

      Hi Sydney, thank you so much for reading my post. I really wanted to spread the word as it’s such an important topic. The better educated women are on the damaging effects of bras the better. The newly designed bras sound like a great idea, I’ll definitely have a look at those and the BraFreeStudy. I’ll add the link in my post. I’m so pleased to have your input! Im quite honoured you took the time out to come to my blog and comment. Thank you so much Sydney.

  11. October 22, 2018 / 1:16 am

    Check me out in FB I sell Support Camis and am all about ditching the bra

    Check me out on facebook as Anjanette’s Couture & Boutique

    And Instagram as AnjanettesCouture

  12. May 28, 2019 / 4:48 pm

    I just came across this post and absolutely agree and love that there is open discussion about this topic!!! We founded our company with the goal of never wearing a bra again!!! We have had some women react as if they were offended we would suggest such a thing . . . So I am thrilled to see many are open-minded about this ????

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