When you put on a waist trainer for the first time, especially if you’ve never worn one before, it generally feels very snug and stiff, and you have difficulty bending at the waist. This begs the question: Can you wear a waist trainer all day?

You absolutely can wear a waist trainer all day, but there are a few things you should know before you just jump in and fasten up. It takes some time before you will be able to do this comfortably. Follow these tips for how to do it correctly.

How to Start Wearing a Waist Trainer

As we said, wearing a waist trainer is going to feel different and possibly uncomfortable when you first start doing it. That’s why it’s very important as a beginner to gradually ease your way into longer periods of wear.

The first step is to ensure that you have the right fit. It can be tricky to put on, but if it’s the right size you shouldn’t have to yank or pull on the garment (which can cause damage). On a waist trainer with hook-and-eye closures in the front, start by fastening at the bottom of the garment on the loosest setting. An easy way to do this is to fasten the clasps at your natural waist and then work your way up the garment while pulling it down over your lower midsection as you go.

A waist trainer that fits correctly will be very snug, but it shouldn’t pinch or cause pain. If it feels loose, it’s too big. If it pinches or you have a hard time fastening it without yanking on it, it is too small or isn’t suited to your body type. Once it’s on, you should immediately have a very flattering figure with an hourglass curve at the midsection.

Only wear your garment for about an hour the first day. You will need to break it in as well as give your body time to adjust before you can wear it all day.

How to Work Up to All-Day Wear

Once you’ve ensured that you have a waist trainer that fits, you can start preparing to wear it for longer periods. The best way to do this is to gradually add more time each day.

So if you start by wearing it for an hour on the first day, you could add an hour each day up until you are wearing it for about twelve hours. This is the maximum amount of wear we recommend per day. With this method, you should be able to wear your waist trainer comfortably all day after about two weeks.

Some people take longer than others to work up to all-day wear with a waist trainer. You can follow a plan like this 20-day sculpting challenge to help you keep on track, but ultimately you want to listen to your body and do what’s most comfortable. (If you ever feel so uncomfortable in your waist trainer that it’s disrupting your daily activities or causing pain, remove it immediately – it's probably way too small.)

Some people find it helpful to split their waist training into two sessions per day when first starting out. For example, you could wear it for two hours in the morning, take a lunch break, and then wear it for two hours in the afternoon. In this way you can continue making progress while getting a break when you need it.

How to Get the Most out of a Waist Training Regimen

For the best results with your waist trainer, we highly recommend following a daily plan, wearing your garment for at least eight hours a day. This is otherwise known as a waist training regimen, which can be an effective part of a healthy lifestyle and fitness plan.

Just like anything else, the key to successful waist training is consistency. If you stick with it, you will see the benefits sooner. Some women start to see drastic results after just a few weeks! See our before and after gallery for examples of the effects of waist training on women of all shapes, sizes and lifestyles.

Wearing a waist trainer all day, every day, has several benefits that can play a part in your weight loss and slimming goals. From the beginning, you’ll get a vision of what you can look like if you stay disciplined with healthy eating, exercise and waist training. Wearing a waist trainer can help you feel more confident, stand taller, and stay motivated and focused on your goals.

What’s more, wearing a waist trainer during workouts stimulates heat in your core, helping you to sweat harder and experience a more effective workout. And if you’re wearing a waist trainer for the better part of your waking hours, you’ll be reminded to eat with better portion control and avoid mindless snacking and overeating.

In all of these ways, you can see why after wearing a waist trainer all day for consecutive weeks and months, you may be able to size down and stick with your health and fitness goals long-term.

Does It Matter What Waist Trainer You Use for All Day Wear?

If you want to wear a waist trainer all day, it does matter which garment you choose. Our everyday waist trainers are designed to be worn underneath your clothing so that you can go to work or other day-to-day activities feeling comfortable and confident, without revealing your waist slimming secret. You can also wear lace-up corsets comfortably for up to twelve hours a day if you want more cinch at the waistline.

The waist trainers that we don’t usually recommend using for all-day wear are workout bands . These are constructed more durably so that you can wear them during vigorous movement. Generally they are slightly shorter and sturdier. Not to mention, since you’re going to be sweating hard while wearing a workout band, you’ll probably want to change out of it once your workout is over!

For the best results, we recommend rotating both a workout band and an everyday waist trainer or lace-up corset through your wardrobe. That way you’ll experience more comfort and keep your garments clean and for daily use.

How to Make All-Day Waist Training More Comfortable

When you’re working your way up to an all-day regimen wearing a waist trainer, there are a few of ways you can make the experience more comfortable.

The first is to take care of your skin. Be sure that you are properly hydrating it with high-quality lotion when you take your waist trainer off. We recommend our waist training gel that will firm your skin while it hydrates.

Many people also find it more comfortable for their skin by wearing a light camisole underneath their waist trainer. Try this if you find that the waist trainer is making your skin itchy or dry. It will also protect your waist trainer from the oils on your skin and make it last longer.

If you experience sensitivity to latex, you may find that our latex-free options are the best match for you.

Lastly, if you are able to tighten your waist trainer to more than one row of hooks, you may find that after a long day, you’ll be more comfortable on the looser setting.

Can You Wear a Waist Trainer All Day, Just for Special Events?

Not everyone does waist training on an ongoing basis; some people prefer to save their waist trainers for a special occasion. To make your experience the most comfortable in this case, we recommend working your up to a full day of wear.

So, for example, if you have a wedding coming up and plan on wearing a waist trainer as an undergarment for most of the day, plan ahead. A week or two before the wedding start wearing your waist trainer for a few hours a day so that you’ll be comfortable wearing it all day when the day of the event arrives. This is especially important if you’ve never worn the garment before, as it will need to be broken in and mold to your shape.

And if you have a steel-boned corset, breaking it in is a must before you tighten the laces. See How to Season (Break-In) Your New Corset for more details on how to do this properly.

Can You Sleep in a Waist Trainer?

In order to clock their eight hours of wearing a waist trainer each day, some people try to sleep in one overnight. While not everyone finds this comfortable, it is possible. Just be sure not to waist train for more than twelve hours total in a twenty-four hour period. Give your body and your garment time to rest. See more: Tips for Sleeping in Your Corset.

We hope you learned a lot about how to start waist training and will try it out! If you need help picking the right waist trainer for you, be sure to check out our official waist training guide . Contact our expert stylists if you have any questions!