5 Secrets to Wearing A Thong

1. Why Wear a Thong?

Thongs serve several purposes and the first secret to wearing one is understanding that it goes beyond just "looking sexy." Among the many reasons women and men choose to wear thongs include:

• Comfort - Many swear that thongs are the most comfortable underwear there is. It may seem odd that something designed to instantly tuck itself into your bum could be comfortable, but with a well-fitting thong (and "well fitting" is crucial) after a few minutes you should hardly feel you're wearing anything at all. The ideal thong is one that you put it on and it stays in place all day, whereas other underwear made up of much more fabric tends to shift, rides up, and bunches uncomfortably. The scant amount of fabric also makes for a cooler experience on warm days. Also the fabrics used tend to have a wicking effect so that you don't sweat as much in the first place.
• No More Wedgies - Picking underwear out of your bum crack sucks. It's uncomfortable, inconvenient and embarrassing when you get caught in the act. Wedgies happen because we don't wear tailor made undies. Whatever the size of your waist, the backside of your panties is likely a little too small or too large for your hips. Then what happens is when you wear snug pants and move around all day, all that extra fabric is gradually swept into your bum. With a thong, as soon as it goes you do get a slight wedgie. It only involves a tiny bit of fabric however, the sensation should disappear in a few minutes. Also you're assured that it won't get any worse during the day. With bikini panties, there's no immediately wedgie, but a few hours later there could be a pretty major one.
• No Visible Panty Lines (VSL) - Visible panty lines are when the outlines of your underwear are visible through your clothes. I think we all know the let down of feeling great about an outfit, only to turn around in the mirror is see our bums are cut into four. The hem of most panties and briefs tends to be thicker than the rest of the material which causes them to stand out. If you have bum to hip ratio that is greater than average, the back of your underwear may be too tight and digs into your bum cheeks. This is a major issue when wearing tight fitting jeans, yoga pants, active wear, bike shorts, body hugging dresses or thin fabrics. Because thongs tend to leave your cheeks exposed, it's like going commando.
• Feeling sexy /  free / confident - Thongs are as close as you can get to going nude below the waist. Unlike going commando though, thongs provide the benefits of wearing liners and of having a cloth barrier between your private parts and your outerwear. For some people that's a thrilling and liberating sensation. Others find it leaves them feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable. Everyone feels differently and there is no right "one size fits all" opinion or attitude. What is true is that when you feel comfortable and attractive, you are at your best. If wearing a thong puts an extra spring in your step and sly smile on your face, than rock it and go live your best life!

2. Choosing the Right Thong

Thongs come in a variety of styles and fabric so being informed in key in making the right selection for you:

• Types: Thongs end to fall into three broad categories: traditional, tanga/samba, and g-string. A traditional thong will have full coverage in front, a wide waist band, and in the back will narrow to a strip of fabric about an inch wide. A tanga/samba usually has some fabric covering the upper half of the bum and a thicker waistband. You try these if transitioning from a bikini panty to a thong. The g-string essentially consists of a small triangle of fabric in front, with the rest being a thin strip of elastic. With g-strings, coverage is minimal, and take care that the thin elastic doesn't dig into your hips and create a "muffin-top". Buy these a size larger to be safe. A plus is that because there is essentially no fabric at all to sag, or become loose, some found them especially comfortable (yes, and racy too).
• Different Fabrics: Thongs come in variety of colors, patterns and fabrics - cotton, lace, silk and satin are all common. Lace works well for avoiding any sort of elastic pressing into your hips, as the material is very stretchable and forgiving. For everyday use, cotton is your best choice as it's a natural breathable fabric. Better to save fancier fabrics for special occasions.
• Correct Fit - The problem with panties is that they are sold based on your waist alone without taking into account that hips come in all sizes. With a thong this is less of a concern since there's typically little material in back, so check that they fit just right being neither tight or loose. For tight dresses a high waist thong will avoid the appearance of panty lines on the waist. When wearing pants, avoid thongs that rise above the belt line.  Sit, bend over, squat and perform other everyday movements to test whether or not the thong is visible from behind. Reach around to the back of you belt line as you sit down as a quick check, and tuck your thong back in or pull down your shirt to cover the area if needed.

3. When Not to Wear a Thong

When wearing a thong your underwear goes into places of your private areas that you never knew underwear could go. This extreme degree of intimacy requires special attention to hygiene for your health and benefit. Since a thong rubs against both the vulva and anus, bacteria can spread more easily so precautions should be taken to avoid infections.

• Don't Reuse Your Thong - Change your thong on a daily and always place a worn pair into the hamper for a wash. Bacteria can grow and travel up the fabric so yesterday's thong can cause tomorrow's infection. If you wear a thong under your work out clothes, but sure to change them after an intensive sweat session. Keep in mind that materials like nylon can trap moisture and allow bacteria to grow and spread faster. Cotton is breathable and prevents bacteria from spreading better than synthetic materials.
• Don't Wear a Thong All the Time - Wear your thong during the day or when as fashion demands, but there isn't really a need to continue wearing them at home or while your sleep. You can of course, just change into a new pair after work. If you know you will be wearing heavy jeans or other thick textured bottoms that won't show a panty line, save your thong for another day when they'll be of better use. Also beware of wearing thongs with short skirts if your upper thighs will be exposed to dirty surfaces, like a subway seat or public bench. 
• Don't Wear a Thong If You Sick - When you aren't feeling your best, your immune system may be knocked down a peg and your body less able to resist harmful bacteria. Definitely avoid a thong if experiencing food sickness, diarrhea or other GI issues. You may also want to avoid wearing a thong during the heavy days of your period due to the spread of blood and discharge.

4. Understand The History of the Thong and Why Anyone Cares

We live in a world where context matters. Instead of being caught unaware of why somethings trigger a strong reaction in people, we can only gain from better understanding history, so let's explore what has made the thong such a notorious garment.

That the thong even remains a controversial shouldn't come as too surprising because it is, after all, about as close to going naked as you can get. According to Racked's excellent history of the thong, the infamous undergarment made it's big public appearance in the 1939 World's Fair. When Mayor La Guardia prohibited going nude, burlesque dancer's sought a compromise. The g-string was created to allow them show off as much skin as possible without facing the possibility of arrest.

From there the thong would remain mostly in the realm of the burlesque and erotic until the sexual revolution of the 60s eventually spread out and became the decadent "do whatever feels good" vibe of the 70s. That decade would see the invention of the thong bikini, which took off in Latin American culture but remained scandalous in the U.S.

The 80s would see thong regularly stocked in adult shops and some notable performers like Cher would provocatively wear one on stage. It wasn't until the late 90s that the thong had it's big breakout social moment. The Clinton scandal and resulting Starr Report would reveal Monica Lewinsky showed the President the straps of her thong underwear. Coupled with low rise jeans coming into fashion, by the end of 1999 the Billboard #3 song would be Sisqo's "Thong Song." The thong was suddenly everywhere.

The controversy would never really vanish, even as the thong became common place. In 2013 parental anger made news when Victoria's Secret brand Pink sold a lacy thong with "Call Me" printed on the front. During the same years, there was even a thong backlash with the rise of the "granny panty" in response to the once ubiquitous g-string "whale tail" peeking out over waistbands.

The power of the thong to draw attention became something easily exploited as exemplified by Nicki Minaj wearing a neon pink t-string on the cover of her 2014 album "Anaconda." The title song by the same name, with lyrics "Oh my gosh, look at her butt" would peak at #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Nowadays, in the age of exchanging nudes and with porn instantly viewable on any smart phone, thongs seem almost quaint. That they were considered taboo for decades seem a throwback on par with how exposed ankles were once risque. Still the truth that thongs remain a powerful symbol of sex and changing power dynamics is worth bearing in mind.

5. Wear a Thong for You and You Alone

No matter your age, body type, politics and yes, even gender, the first and most important secret to wearing a thong is to do it for yourself alone. Underwear is an immensely personal choice, it is our private second skin that comes between our naked bodies and the world. Whatever you decide to wear, you should wear it only because you prefer it and are comfortable in it.

Do not wear a thong because you feel pressured into it by a partner. Also do not avoid wearing a thong because of social pressures that would have you believe that putting on a pair is caving in to patriarchal beauty standards. Some people find wearing thongs uncomfortable and have sworn them off - they can't get over the wedgie sensation and dislike the feeling of walking around naked below the waist. Others wear thongs exclusively, because as soon as they slip them on they forget they are even exist, and because they happen to love the sensation that they are walking around naked.

Whatever you proclivities, you won't really know until you try. Love them or hate them, the choice is yours - just don't judge or shame others for disagreeing either way.