The 11 Best Nipple Covers For a Braless, Carefree Life

Regardless of the fact that everyone on the planet has them, women—for some illogical reason—have to worry about our nipples making an unexpected appearance on a daily basis. For anyone who wants to conceal their nips (who doesn’t love a little mystery?), it can be quite the hassle figuring out when displaying certain features of our god-given body is appropriate for the setting. We’re 100% #freethenipple, but there are certain situations (e.g. in the office, at a christening, or in wedding photos) when the goal isn’t to draw attention to yourself and your tatas.

Those on the more ample-bosomed end of the spectrum have fewer options when it comes to attractive undergarments that also support and conceal. With this quandary in mind, I set out on a noble quest: to find the perfect pasties for all different body types.

best nipple covers

• Best barely-there nipple covers – Gatherall Nipple Covers
• Best nipple covers to make a fashion statement – Lollipetals Silicone Nipple Pasties
• Best adhesive bra – NOOD Push Up Adhesive Bra
• Best nipple covers for extra shape – B-Six Nippies Covers
• Best cheap nipple covers – Bonamona Reusable Silicone Nipple Covers
• Best drugstore nipple covers – Hollywood Fashion Secrets Silicone CoverUps
• Best everyday boob tape – B-Six Nippies Tape
• This Amazon favorite – Go Nipless Nipple Covers
• Best boob tape for travel – The Weekender
• Best fabric nipple covers – Intimissimi Fabric Nipple Guards
• Best nipple covers for travel – Silicone Nipple Covers

picking the best nipple covers

To find the best nipple covers in all of the land, I tested out a handful myself and consulted with a few knowledgeable friends, including a professional stylist and some pals that go to more than three weddings a month.

The top contenders hold up in high temps, feel comfortable, and are easy to remove, and the one thing they all have in common is that they transform you into an anatomically ambiguous Barbie, taking areolas completely out of the equation. These are some of my absolute favorites for styling under bare-shoulder outfits and even white T-shirts.

Best barely-there nipple covers – Gatherall Nipple Covers

Nipple covers are like contact lenses: you don’t want to constantly feel their presence. You want to sink into blissful unawareness that they’re even there. Not all nipple covers achieve this with the same grace, however. Gatherall Nipple Covers dramatically stand apart from the crowd in this department.

I was personally amazed at how well these thin little patches held up. I wore them while hiking to a swimming hole in Vermont, and needless to say, after a few hours I had sweat and swam quite a bit—and the Gatherall’s were still intact. I also brought them on a recent trip to Florida, where they stayed in tact and felt comfortable even while dealing with humidity.

The best thing about this particular option was that they are barely noticeable. Out of all the options I tried, I quickly forgot I was wearing these and went about my day as a comfortable, confident, braless person. I even submitted these to one of the toughest tests: nipping out in the frozen food aisle while deciding what kind of fruit to buy for this week’s smoothies. My arms were covered in goosebumps, but under my white tank, I was still completely incognito.

best nipple covers to make a fashion statement – Lollipetals Silicone Nipple Pasties

Sometimes, discreet isn’t what you’re going for. Maybe you’re headed to a music festival or a rave and feel like being SEEN. If that’s the case, check out Lollipetals Silicone Nipple Pasties: Each pastie has a pretty floral design, and while you can get them in a range of nude hues, you can opt for bright pinks, reds, and purples to achieve that bold look you’re going for, pairing them with a sheer dress or mesh top.

The vibrant florals aren’t the only things that set these nipple covers apart from the rest. They have scalloped edges, which actually helps them lay flat and appear seamless under thin materials. Sometimes, with lesser quality nipple covers, you can see the outline of the pastie’s edge. With Lollipetals, that doesn’t happen.

While I wore my Lollipetals under a regular, non-see-through tank top so they weren’t visible to the whole world, it was more fun using them instead of the skin colored ones that end up feeling medical IMO.

best adhesive bra – NOOD Push Up Adhesive Bra

Maybe you want a little more support than even the best lifting pasties can offer. If that’s the case, you’ll want to opt for a sticky strapless bra. This padded adhesive bra from NOOD does the most: not only does its medical-grade adhesive design cover your nips for a smooth look, but it also gives your girls some extra shape – adding an extra cup size. It comes in cup sizes A through D, and can be worn 50+ times if you take care of it right.

Personally, I haven’t bothered with sticky bras since about freshman year of college. They feel cumbersome, and I hate taking care of them. However, I was super impressed with this one. All of NOOD’s products come in these pretty purple boxes that are sturdy and easy to organize, so storing the bra is easy.

I can attest that the bra really does add an extra cup size, too. A few years ago, I thrifted this beautiful Marissa Webb blouse with a plunging V neckline. It was too bug for me, but it was such a good deal that I couldn’t pass it up. Now, with this NOOD push up bra, I can actually fill it out in a way that looks natural.

best nipple covers for extra shape – B-Six Nippies Covers

Willing to splurge? Consider these luxe nipple covers from B-Six. “The price point for these is really high, so I only buy them for celebrity clients and myself,” jokes fashion stylist Ali Kornhauser. “They are thin but firm, which gives your boobs a really nice shape. They also get thinner towards the edges, so you never see the line through clothe.”

Even though they’re on the more expensive end, Kornhauser says you will get a lot more use out of the Nippies than cheaper brands—plus, they offer the widest variety of shades.

Amazon reviewers attest to their quality. “I haven’t worn a regular bra since I’ve purchased these,” writes Courtney. “I’m a 38 DD and these give me a natural lift, they’re super comfortable and stick in place all day. They even stick through a 1 mile run. You can’t see them through your clothes and they maintain their shape all day.”

“I wear these 8-10 hours a day and have been wearing them 5 days a week for a total of 35 days now,” writes Chirs. “I wash them as soon as they are removed and let them dry then put the backing on and put them in the box, just as the instructions say. At this point, the tackiness of the back is noticeably less and yet how well it sticks to my breasts is NOT less in any way, which kind of blows my mind.”

best cheap nipple covers – Bonamona Reusable Silicone Nipple Covers

The good news is you don’t have to splurge to get a pair of pasties that are stylist-approved. For something on the cheap, Kornhauser uses these affordable silicone pasties for everyday wear and always has a pack in her kit.

They get the job done (zero show-through), are reusable, and come in a pack of three, so you definitely get a bang for your buck. Plus, they come with nipple pads to protect extra-sensitive people from any rubbing or discomfort.”

“The thinness and size were the selling points for me,” writes Amazon shopper Liana. “It’s thin enough it’s hardly detectable under very thin tops (halter and single strap top pics). The size was big enough to cover the nipple area while blending into the shape of your breasts.”

Another shopper says, “I honestly forget that they’re there most of the time. No adjusting throughout the day needed. I’ve been using the same pair for 2+ months with almost daily use, and they’re still going strong.”

best drugstore nipple covers – Hollywood Fashion Secrets Silicone Coverups

If you’re in a pinch, or looking for a cheap silicone pasty in a variety of colors, Hollywood Fashion Secrets is Kornhauser’s honorable mention.

Of course, you are getting what you pay for in a sense: these aren’t going to be the pasties that you keep forever and ever. However, if you don’t care about them lasting a long time, but want something affordable and effective, these “work surprisingly well for a drugstore brand,” says Kornhauser.

They also have a 4.5-star rating and over 4,000 reviews on Amazon, so lots of everyday women have had good experiences with them, too. One shopper, E., says she’s finally been able to embrace going braless thanks to these. She adds, “They are thin and stick right on. Large enough to cover the whole nipple and areola but not large enough to cover the whole breast. They get the job done! I’ve worn them multiple times under a silk dress for a wedding and under cotton t-shirts and long sleeve shirts when going out. You can’t see them through the dresses or shirts.”

best EVERYDAY boob tape – B-Six Nippies tape

All my big-busted besties know that a little silicone hat for your headlights is doing next to nothing for the girls—so if you like a little extra lift (or a whole lot of support) while concealing your nips, Nippies makes super-stretchy tape, made from premium nylon and medical-grade adhesive, which is gentle on even the most sensitive skin types. It’s also hypoallergenic and water-resistant, which make it great for extremely humid weather and wearing under swimsuits.

Amazon shopper Elizabete shares her experience with the tape, calling it “A must have in your get ready pack.”

“[I] purchased for a wedding I was a guest to,” she says. “I had a low cut dress front and back and held everything in place. I’m a 36D and did it fit perfectly. You couldn’t get me off the dance floor. With that still stayed and held good.” She also says that removing the tape was easy – there was no pain or redness, like some other tapes bring.

This Amazon favorite – Go Nipless Nipple Covers

With a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and nearly 9,000 reviews, these Go Nipless sticky nipple covers have earned their keep. They’re not reinventing the wheel over here – just offering tried-and-true, gentle matte-finished nipple covers.

Reviewer Melissa B. dubbed them a “total game changer” and uses them on the regular. She writes, “I wear them on most days with so many different outfits. They remain effective and comfortable over time.” She’s not the only one who has found these nip covers are in it for the long haul, either. Another Amazon reviewer wrote that she’s had them for over a year “and they last all day every time.”

best boob tape for travel – The Weekende

Boob tape is the secret weapon you need when you’re traveling and treating your vacay like your own personal fashion show. However, nobody needs to be packing scissors with them in the name of fashion. TSA will not understand your plight.

That’s why these pre-cut boob tape swaths from NOOD are so smart. The Weekender bundle includes a set of 4 x 12-inch strips and 6 x 6-inch strips. In both cases, the tape is 3 inches wide. NOOD says it works for all bust sizes, and judging by the diverse customer reviews, they’re right.

I will say that my B-cups (and lifestyle) may not be the target demographic for this boob tape. I typically wear tank tops and grateful dead t-shirts. Even if I’m dressing up, it’s usually just a black tank that I could also probably wear to yoga and a nice skirt. Using these strips felt like a lot of extra work for me, when typical pasties could have done the job. That said, I can totally see how this tape would be a game changer if you were bigger-breasted and needed more support – especially if you were wearing something with an unconventional neckline.

best fabric nipple covers – Intimissimi Fabric Nipple Guards-cups

Unlike silicone nipple covers, the fabric variety are not reusable. However, they’re still great to have on hand, and offer a helpful alternative if you don’t like the texture or feel of silicone. I know for me, its not my favorite. These dainty star and flower-shaped nipple covers from Intimissimi are perfect for deep necklines and sheer outfits. Plus, at $9 for a set of three, that’s a damn good deal.

best nipple covers for travel – Silicone Nipple Covers

Obviously, nipple covers are not taking up that much space in your carry-on, no matter which ones you go with. However, you do want them to stay safe and clean while you travel, so you can get the most wear out of them (and be hygienic). These reusable sticky nipple covers are a cheap buy on Amazon, and a go-to for travel because they come with a helpful little travel case.

With over 10,000 Amazon reviews backing them up and a 4+ star rating, they’re a reliable pick. One reviewer says, “I love these! They give me full coverage in the right place and I like that they can be reused. They also stay in place in I’m sweating. I also like the cute zip up holder that they came in. It keeps them together and from getting lint and dust on them.”

Go forth, braless babes and titillating tata-tamers, and relish in the freedom of no nip-slips!

Updated 9/13/2024.

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