When you’re heading out of the house it’s good to look your best from head to toe – not from head to camel toe. Let’s face it, if you have case of camel toe people won’t be able to look past your pants problem. It’s embarrassing, uncomfortable and no fun to have camel toe so read on for ways to get rid of it.

1. Undergarments matter.

When dealing with camel toe it’s best to have a good solid pair of knickers. Going commando can cause camel toe so try to avoid doing so when possible. Whether you prefer briefs, boy cuts or thongs, be sure your panties are giving your vagina good coverage.

If you have a camel toe in your underwear, you are more likely to have a camel toe in your pants too. Cotton undies are best to let air flow and reduce incidents of yeast infections but wear something that fits and something you’re comfortable in.

2. Get pants that fit.

When we talk about pants here we mean pants, shorts, capris, leggings or any sort of bottom with a crotch. Tight pants are one of the leading causes of camel toe, so be sure you have pants that fit well. Aren’t some pants meant to fit tightly? Yes, but that doesn’t mean you are supposed to have a camel toe when wearing them.

Yoga pants and leggings are two examples of body hugging pants. Even these pants are supposed to fit so that it leaves little to other peoples’ imaginations. Be sure that you don’t get exercise pants that fit too tight – ask a sales associate at the store (or your friend at home if you bought them online) if the pants fit you well.

Having a hard time finding pants that fit you at the waist, hips, legs, butt and don’t give you a camel toe? Aren’t we all. Buy pants that fit a little on the big side and have them tailored to fit your body. If they’re tailored perfectly to you there’s a better chance you won’t get camel toe.

Gained a little weight (that you’re not planning on keeping)? It’s still important to have a few pairs of well-fitting pants even if it means buying a few cheap pairs for the mean time.

3. Ditch the old pants.

Now that you’ve gone through your pants collection to properly assess which ones fit you well be sure to have a give-away pile which includes and pants that give you camel toe. Just because the pants look unfortunate on you doesn’t mean they will be the same for someone else. Pass the pants on and be happy you’re one step closer to being camel toe free.

4. Wear your pants properly.

Camel toe is also caused by hiking your pants (or shorts, capris, etc.) up too high. Make sure that you wear the pants where they are supposed to be worn on your waist. Some pants sit higher, some lower, but none are intended to give you camel toe.

Pants are intended to be worn with the crotch at your natural crotch level, not below (causing sagging) or above (causing camel toe), find that happy medium.

5. Switch it up!

Trying to avoid the dreaded camel toe? You can’t get a camel toe when wearing a skirt, so try wearing one! So many options to try: long maxi skirts, short skirts, ones that are short at the front and long at the back – your possibilities are endless and none of them involve camel toe.

6. Pick it.

So you tried all the ideas for how to not have a camel toe in the first place and you still ended up with one – bummer. But never fear there are ways to get rid of camel toe even after it’s started.

Camel toe is like a wedge in the front, and what do you do to get rid of a wedge? Pick it. Don’t get all up in there in the middle of the supermarket or anything; be discreet. If possible go to the bathroom or somewhere private and readjust your underwear and pants so they are yet again comfortable and you don’t have that unsightly camel toe.

Sometimes you can readjust simple by putting your hands in your pockets and shifting your pants around (usually downwards).

7. Help a sister out.

If you notice there is a stranger that has camel toe there is very little you can do about it. If it bothers you, don’t look. If you can’t look away (because yes camel toe is a little like a train wreck) then just put a little mental note to yourself that this isn’t how you want to look.

If it’s your friend who has camel toe, it’s a whole different story. Consider it your friendly duty to help them move away from the camel toe (if that is something they want).

If your friend has asked for your advice ‘do these pants look ok’ it’s fine to tell them kindly that no, they don’t look ok. Try ‘they do look a bit tight in the front’. If you have a blunt personality just come right out and say it ‘you know I love you but those pants are giving you major camel toe’. Your friend may be mad at you initially but hopefully you can laugh about it and move on.

Lead by example; host a clothing swap (if you and your friends are similar sizes), tell your friend ‘oh I love these pants but they give me such horrible camel toe so I just have to let them go, do you have any pants like that?’. And hopefully your friend will follow suit.

Hopefully now you feel liberated and ready to face the new day, camel toe free. So go ahead, get dressed and check yourself out in that full length mirror. As ladies, we know camel toe is not a pretty sight (and are doing something about it, starting with reading this article) but the gents are going to have to man up at some point, because moose knuckles aren’t any better.