By Brigitt Earley and Andrea Navarro
The best boob tape is a beloved stylist hack for wearing tricky clothes without a bra; in fact, even if you own the most comfortable bra—be it a plus-size bra that actually gives you the support you need or a strapless bra that doesn't slip down your chest—there are times when this lingerie unicorn simply won’t do. Cue the underrated yet highly effective boob tape, which, unlike silicone nipple covers and pasties, offers lift and shaping, making it ideal for wearing with deep-V-neck tops, bodysuits, and liquid, second-skin dresses à la Hailey Bieber. Silicone Shoulder Pads
“Boob tape is designed to lift and hold breasts in place without the use of a traditional bra,” says Erika Cartledge, a personal stylist and image architect with 10 years of industry experience. “It can also be used to cover your nipples in the event that you’re wearing something see-through, sheer, or very fitted.” It's different from a sticky bra in that it's best for plunging necklines; sticky bras are more suited to making breasts look perky underneath backless dresses and tops.
Think of it as a bra alternative, adds Ashley Full, personal stylist and cofounder of Amour781, a size-inclusive online shopping platform. “It can be totally customizable to each outfit, allowing the wearer to adjust to exactly how they want—whether that’s lift, cleavage, or something else,” she says.
Of course, not just any sticky fabric strip will do. “The biggest thing to look for is a tape that is supportive and can hold up your breasts,” says Cartledge. Look for boob tape with strong adhesive—bonus points if it's also water-resistant and hypoallergenic so it won't irritate skin and leave you with a constellation of breakouts afterward. (Some experts also suggest wearing nipple covers before applying the tape onto dry skin to protect the sensitive area.) Tape that comes in a variety of shades so you can get the closest match to your skin tone when going braless is also helpful.
As far as removing boob tape goes, experts say you never just want to rip it off your skin. Use a little bit of body oil on a cotton ball and gently rub it over the adhesive before slowly peeling it back, says Cartledge. (Vaseline or body lotion should work too.) Repeat as necessary. Alternatively, you can hop in the shower and let the warm water slowly loosen the adhesive; just note this method won't be as effective with waterproof boob tape.
To help you find the best boob tape, we asked Cartledge and Full to share their favorites; plus, we polled our expert editorial team and testers, and scoured top retailers to find the most highly rated options out there.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Both Cartledge and Full rave about Brassybra. “I love them because they are size-inclusive, offer a ton of different solutions, and because its medical-grade adhesive lasts for a long time,” says Cartledge. “Add in the fact that it fits your skin like a glove and is sweat- and waterproof and it's a complete winner!” Even better? The tape is hypoallergenic, so even those with sensitive can give it a try.
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Here's a little secret: Stylists often use athletic tape, like KT tape, in place of traditional boob tape. It offers the same hold, is fully sweatproof (it's made for sports, after all), and, best of all, is a fraction of the cost, says Cartledge. Each package contains 20 strips of precut superlight and breathable cotton tape to give you the support you need under any number of garments, including strapless or spaghetti-strap dresses.
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Talk about a game changer. This Amazon bestseller has nearly 11,000 five-star reviews, mostly because of how well it supports large busts. The cotton and spandex tape—available in six shades—has an ultra-sticky adhesive that works to offer lift and support, no matter what you're wearing. It's breathable and sweatproof too for an all-day hold. Our tester Mia Nunez was keen on trying this option after seeing how many rave reviews it had. And she wasn't disappointed with her purchase: “It's very wide but easy enough to cut into your preferred shape or size, and it includes nipple covers for extra coverage if you're wearing more sheer fabrics. It's my go-to secret in the summer!”
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Meant to be invisible under clothes, this boob tape is a good option for everyday wear. Whether you have large or small breasts, the tape—available in three shades—is seamless under your favorite white T-shirt. It's also waterproof and sweatproof to get you through a hot day. And don't worry if you have sensitive skin; the tape is both latex-free and hypoallergenic. “This boob tape brand was actually founded by my former boss,” says our commerce writer Andrea Navarro. “I obviously wanted to support the brand, but I knew that I could trust anything she'd put out into the world. I find that Nue matches my skin tone the best out of all the tapes I've tried in the past, and I love the stretchy, seamless material of the tape. It's also super easy to layer more pieces on top of each other, should I need more support.”
Available in four shades, this hypoallergenic boob tape is beloved because the tape is superthin—it feels like it's barely there—yet offers plenty of support, even for larger-chested individuals. One reviewer with size 38FF boobs said they'd never been able to wear a strapless bra until they discovered this tape. It doesn't budge, either. You could wear it all day and feel like you just put it on.
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Anyone who's used fashion tape has probably heard of Hollywood Fashion Secrets, so it's no surprise the brand's boob tape is considered one of the best on Amazon. Available in four shades, this tape is made from a sturdy yet soft stretch material that allows you to nail the fit—key for achieving the same lift and support you'd get from a bra. Our tester Maria Navarro says she's been using Hollywood Fashion Secrets products for over a decade now. “From the double-sided tape to this larger boob tape, I'm loyal to the brand,” she says. “As I've gotten older, I need a little more support in my chest area in dresses and certain tops. I don't have superlarge breasts—I'm a B-cup—and this tape keeps everything in place with little to no effort.”
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B-6 is the same brand behind the popular Nippies Skin reusable nipple covers, so obviously this boob tape makes it onto our list. Made from premium nylon and medical-grade adhesive, it comes in four skinlike shades for the most natural solution. Pro tip: For extra support, you can cut and layer the pieces until you get your desired look. The tape is water-resistant, and reviewers—including commerce editor Navarro—say it's incredibly long-lasting. “I'm a big fan of the Nippies nipple covers, so I was super excited to learn that there's now a boob tape available,” she says. “I actually wear this tape over the pasties and am always surprised by how well it works. It has a medical-grade adhesive, so the support is no joke!”
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This fashion tape won't lift large breasts up the same way some other dedicated boob tapes will, but it's highly versatile and great for garments with spaghetti straps (see: white tank tops) or to keep a plunging neckline from letting the girls spill out. Plus, you can use it to cover your nipples if they're peeking through whatever you're wearing.
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Whether you're working up a sweat on a sightseeing excursion or need something special to give your boobs the right level of support in a low-cut wedding dress, you can count on this soft and flexible tape. It conforms to your body so you can get the fit just right and offers a medical-grade hold for long wear. A reviewer at Target said the tape “held up through humidity, sweat, and jumping around at a concert,” adding that it was stretchy and very sticky but did not irritate her skin.
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Nearly 5,000 Amazon shoppers (and commerce writer Navarro) agree, this boob tape deserves all the hype it's gotten. It's stretchy and made of breathable cotton, so that it's gentle on all skin types. If you're worried about having to cut and customize it, don't—its grid lining makes it easy to measure and see exactly where you're cutting. And if you're still concerned about your nipples peeking through, this kit also includes a set of reusable pasties. “I grabbed this boob tape as an emergency when I ran out of my old one, and I chose it because it had the most reviews on Amazon,” says Navarro. “I like the grid paper for easy measuring cutting, and the fabric is super stretchy compared with a lot of tapes. I mostly use boob tape for plunging necklines, and this one really supports my D-cup sized breasts for hours on end.”
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Not into the nude hues when it comes to boob tape? Our commerce writer Navarro recommends trying this clear one instead. It's one of the few transparent options available right now that cover your entire breast, and you can cut it into different sizes based on your needs. Navarro gives this one her stamp of approval for her D-cup breasts.
“I know that a lot of people are focused on matching their boob tape to their skin tone, but I was really excited to come across one that was clear,” she says. “It's not plastic-like the way regular clear tape would be, it's flexible and stretchy. It's also superthin compared with a lot of boob tapes, so it has this barely there feeling, which I like, since sometimes regular tape is still visible and makes me self-conscious. I was very, very impressed by this one.”
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Speaking of pasties, you get multiple single-use pairs when purchasing this breast tape. Reviewers note that it's moisture-resistant, with our tester wearing it outdoors during a scorching-hot work shift. The only downer is that it's available in only one beige color and width, so it might not be suitable for all skin tones and breast sizes. “I wear boob tape and pasties more than I wear bras, because I have a small bust and I work outdoors so my tops are often too tricky for bras,” says our tester Alexandra Simmons. “I love that this set includes both the tape and pasties for just around $10, so I can restock without spending a ton of money on this habit. It lasts me all day long, and I do have sensitive skin but it doesn't irritate mine at all.”
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