How to put on a faja with hooks, step by step
How to put on a faja with hooks, step by step: which row to start on, why you close from the bottom up, how to adjust the straps and how to tell if it fits.
The first time you try a faja with a long row of hooks, it can feel like a puzzle. You pull, you tug, the hooks will not line up. It gets much easier once you know the order. Here is a simple routine that works for most hook-front fajas, plus how to tell when the fit is right.
What do I need before I start?
- Clean, dry skin. A faja retailer's guide notes that dry skin helps the garment slide on without slipping or sticking.
- A few extra minutes. One faja brand says it may take 10 to 15 minutes the first time. You will get faster.
- A mirror, so you can check the hooks and straps are even.
Lay the faja flat first so it is not twisted, and open every hook and the zipper if it has one.
How do I put on a faja step by step?
- Step in. Put one leg in, then the other, the way you would step into a bodysuit or shorts.
- Pull up in stages. Ease the legs up to mid-thigh, then the hips, then the waist. Adjust each area before you move higher, and check the fabric is not rolled or twisted.
- Center it. Make sure the front opening sits in the middle of your body and the faja is even across your hips and stomach.
- Start on the loosest row. If your faja has more than one row of eyes, begin on the loosest row. You can move to a tighter row later if it feels good.
- Close from the bottom up. Fasten the lowest hook first, then the next one up, one at a time. Do not try to close them all at once. Use your other hand to press the two sides together right where you are hooking.
- Bring up the straps. Slide the straps over your shoulders and adjust so they are snug but not digging in.
- Smooth everything out. Run your hands over the faja to flatten any wrinkles or folds, and settle the leg bands so they lie flat.
If your faja has inner hooks and an outer zipper, close all the inner hooks first from the bottom up, then zip over them. That way the zipper is not pulling against open hooks.
How should a faja feel once it is on?
Firm, not painful. Walk, sit and bend. A faja retailer's guide says it should feel tight but should not restrict your breathing, and that sharp pain or numbness means the size or fit may be wrong. Cleveland Clinic hepatologist Dr. Jamile Wakim-Fleming offers a simple rule for any shapewear: if it makes a mark, it is too tight. She also suggests trying a larger size if it causes discomfort, especially at the hips.
- You can take a full, easy breath.
- You can sit without the hooks digging into your stomach.
- No tingling or numbness in your legs.
- The straps do not leave deep grooves in your shoulders.
Can I move to a tighter row of hooks?
Only if the looser row feels truly comfortable and the faja feels loose. Tighter is not better. Cleveland Clinic notes that very tight shapewear can press on nerves, slow blood flow to the legs and push on the digestive tract, which can mean reflux, gas and bloating. The right setting is the one where you forget you are wearing it after a few minutes.
Which faja is easiest to close?
Look for hooks with more than one row of eyes, so you have room to adjust, and straps you can adjust too. Our Smoothing Faja Bodysuit is made for exactly this: a 3-level hook-and-eye front so you choose how firmly it holds, wide adjustable straps and a zipper crotch for bathroom breaks. If you want coverage over the bust, the Full Coverage Overbust Faja works the same way: close the inner hooks, then zip up the front.
How do I take a faja off?
Reverse the order. Drop the straps, then open the hooks from the top down, one at a time. Peel the faja down rather than pulling it off over your head. Hand wash cold and lay it flat to dry, as the care label on our fajas says. Faja maker Tributo also suggests closing the hooks before washing, and never twisting the garment or putting it in the dryer.
When should I not wear a faja?
Cleveland Clinic advises not to sleep in shapewear and not to wear it for extremely long periods. If you have acid reflux, circulation problems or you are recovering from surgery, ask your doctor what kind of compression, if any, is right for you.
Keep going: Shapewear compression levels explained: light vs firm and Comfortable shapewear for all-day wear at work: how to choose.
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Questions
Which row of hooks should I start on?
Start on the loosest row. Faja makers suggest beginning on the loosest setting and moving to a tighter row only if it feels comfortable.
Do you close faja hooks from the top or the bottom?
From the bottom up. Close the lowest hook first and work up one hook at a time, keeping the two sides lined up.
Why is my faja so hard to put on?
Fajas are snug by design, and the first time can take a while. One faja retailer says it may take 10 to 15 minutes the first time. If you cannot close it even on the loosest row, the size may be too small.
Should a faja hurt?
No. Sharp pain, numbness or tingling means the fit is wrong. Cleveland Clinic's doctor says if it makes a mark, it is too tight.
Keep reading
Sources: Pretty Girl Curves: steps to properly put on your faja · ShapewearUSA: step-by-step guide to wearing a Colombian faja · Cleveland Clinic: a doctor's advice on wearing shapewear · Tributo: faja usage and care