4 ways to know if you're wearing the wrong bra — and how to find the right one

Every woman out there knows how frustrating it can be to wear a bra. Even though they're more or less forced to wear bras from their early teens onward, some women just don't know what type of bra to wear and when. 

Fortunately, you don't have to stay uncomfortable. Believe it or not, there are right ways to wear a bra and not all bras are the same. Understanding the mistakes you make in wearing them is the first step towards eliminating unnecessary discomfort.

We rounded up all of the ways to know if you're wearing the wrong bra — and how to fix it.

Your bra is on the tightest hook.

The right bra gives you great support no matter what hook you wear it on. Orit Hashay from Brayola offered a great tip on this subject. She told INSIDER  that "if you're wearing your bra on the tightest hook, your band is most likely too loose or worn out from time."

The solution is a bra with a tighter band and tighter straps. This means a new bra might be in order, one that offers the perfect fit.

You're buying bras with too small of cups.

There are telltale signs that your bra cup size is too small. One of these signs is overflow. According to author and bra guru Jené Luciani, "If your breast tissue is billowing out of the cups, your bra may be too small."

Another sign is if your breasts constantly feel pushed too close together. Ms. Luciani says: "If your boobs are squished together and the bridge does not lie flat against your rib cage, your cup size is likely too small"

The solution here is to find a bra that comes in several different sizes and to get a professional bra fitting.

Your bra is the wrong size for your body type.

Even if you've located the right cup size, your bra still needs to mesh with the unique shape of your breasts. The key is not being afraid to try out something new. You should use your current size as a guideline, not a rule. Not all bra styles will fit you the same way. A great way to find a bra that matches your body type is to take a quiz like ThirdLove's Fit Finder. It's the only online tool that takes the unique size and shape of your breasts into consideration to recommend the perfect style for you.

You can also go into a store and speak to a professional about finding the right fit for you.