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In a nutshell:
Shorts made of stretchy, moisture-wicking, and breathable fabric prevent sweat while still feeling comfortable. There are several other ways to prevent thigh chafing. Everyday products like antiperspirants, petroleum jelly, and cornstarch also work well in a pinch.
After months of meticulous wedding planning, you deserve to have the day go as smoothly as possible — but are you sure you’ve prepared for everything?
Something that most bridal blogs and wedding websites rarely talk about is thigh chafing. It may sound insignificant, but this little issue is a common problem among brides. It can also significantly affect your enjoyment of the entire day.
The last thing you want on your special day is to be worrying or feeling pain as your thigh chafe while you walk down the aisle — or any other time during the wedding ceremony and reception.
How To Stop Chafing Under Wedding Gowns
If you are blessed with thick thighs, you aren’t a stranger to chafing problems. Sadly, chub rub is sometimes unavoidable as your thighs rub against each other throughout the day.
Combine that with sweat and naturally sensitive skin in the inner thighs, and you’ve got the recipe for unwanted friction and painful inner thigh chafing.
Large and layered wedding gowns might look beautiful, but they must be well-ventilated. If this is not the case, they could trap body heat and moisture, and cause chafing under your wedding dress. This becomes an even bigger issue if your big day occurs in the warmer months.
Wear Shorts or Lace Undergarments
Anti-chafing undergarments are the perfect solution to a long day of wearing a long, layered dress — especially in hot weather.
Make sure to pay close attention to fabric types. It’s best to get undergarments that are stretchy, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
You can take your pick from the following types of undergarments:
- Anti-chafing shorts: Choose from any fitted yet stretchy shorts, from Lycra bike shorts to Spanx to lace slip shorts. Shorts offer maximum comfort and versatility.
- Anti-chafing thigh bands: Thigh bands — especially lace ones — are game changers for brides worried about getting caught in plain, boring shorts on their wedding night.
- Thigh-high hosiery: Thigh-highs can also help stop chafing, as long as the top of stockings reaches your upper inner thighs.
We are partial to shorts and thigh bands for convenience and versatility.
Shorts are great as you can also wear them with summer dresses and other outfits, even with pants, as long as the shorts’ waist rise is lower than your jeans. So this option isn’t only for your big day!
The best part about shorts is that they offer two other significant advantages: coverage and contour.
Your shorts can provide modest coverage to prevent panty lines from showing. These mainly come in handy for see-through, white, or short dresses. But, depending on your chosen material, they can also help accentuate your body shape more.
Below are some of our favorite shorts and thigh bands — all with glowing five-star reviews.
- 2-in-1 High-Waisted Booty Lift Shaper Shorts: These AirSlim® shaper shorts from Shapellx help you avoid chafing and comfortably tuck your tummy in and lift your butt to give you a great figure on the day of your wedding.
- Bandelettes Anti-chafing Thigh Bands: These lace bands feel like a second skin and feature non-slip silicone strips to keep them around your upper thighs. These give you chafing protection while looking sexy and perfect for the honeymoon night.
- Jockey Skimmies Slipshort or Shapewear: These come in various lengths, sizes, and colors. You can get shorts that fall just to the mid-thigh or some that go up to the bra line and down to the knee. They are also affordable and machine washable.
Other Amazing Ways To Stop Chafing
Shorts and thigh bands are easy to solve chub rub problems, but they’re not the only option. If you’re not a huge fan of shorts, consider the following:
1. Anti-friction Powders
There are plenty of specifically formulated anti-friction powders are available on the market. Here is our top choice if you decide to go with powder rather than anti-chafing shorts.
We do not recommend using baby powder (talcum powder) around your groin area.
2. Antiperspirants
Some women swear by antiperspirants, especially solid antiperspirant sticks. This is because you’re less likely to chafe your thighs if you don’t sweat.
You’ll have to reapply throughout the day. However, these may stain your wedding attire or nude lingerie.
Double-check to make sure that you are using antiperspirant, though. There’s no problem with using antiperspirant and deodorant stick combos, but plain deodorant doesn’t prevent you from sweating, so you’ll still end up with chafed thighs.
3. Balms, Gels, and Creams
To stay chafe-free, you can use various anti-chafing balms, gels, and creams. One that you might already have in your home is Vaseline or petroleum jelly. This not only prevents chafing but also helps cool and soothe irritated skin.
Another anti-chafing body product is Body Glide® balm, which is small and handy to carry. You can use it on any part of your body that is in danger of chafing, from your thighs to your bra line, butt, and more. You can even use it on your feet, so your new shoes don’t give you blisters.
Do What Feels Best for You
The best ways to avoid painful thigh chafing on your special day will depend on you and your specific needs. What works best for one bride may not necessarily work the same way for you.
Now that you’ve got several options on how to stop chafing under a wedding dress, take the time to try out different possible anti-chafing solutions. Do this before your wedding day to ensure you’ve got the best solution when the day arrives!
