# How do you put on a pullover shirt? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049 "2011-11-06T13:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/21 "2011-11-07T05:19:30Z")
where’s the option for “have the kids hold it parallel to the floor with the arms outstretched and take a superman dive thru” ? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/22 "2011-11-07T06:16:38Z")
I chose sleeves first, but in reality, I stick my right arm through the sleeve, pull the neck hole over my head, then snake my left arm through the left sleeve. Then straighten out the bottom. Boojah. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/23 "2011-11-07T07:09:45Z")
It took years to pretty much decide on a single method. I have concluded for myself that the least effort way to not mess up hair or makeup is the arms-first method. I used the head (face) first method for a while, but discovered that if I do arms-first it’s really a little easier to hold the neck open more rigidly, therefore making it marginally easier to get my face and hair through without messing either up. For some reason, if I did head-first, the neck would almost always rub my chin while I was fishing for the arms, and I would be more likely to get makeup on the neck of the shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/24 "2011-11-07T16:10:42Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > I do it this way every time: Left arm first, pull the head through, and then the right arm. Me too, except in the other order: right arm, head, then left arm. I arrived at this method while trying to figure out the best way to avoid getting antiperspirant on the outside of the shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2011, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/25 "2011-11-08T09:33:13Z")
I chose option A, but only if it’s the right way out. If it’s inside-out - which is often the case - it’s front toward me, collar over the back of the head, this “flips it over” to the right way out. Then the arms go through. Sometimes, if I’ve tried to do a double (shirt inside jumper) this way, it can lead to a bit of struggle if the arm holes don’t want to play nice. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/26 "2011-11-09T13:49:13Z")
I am shocked - shocked, I tell you - that the votes are so close. FTR, I put my head through first, then the arms. It seems to me, though, that 95%+ in movies or on television do it arms first. Thus, my reason for polling. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/27 "2011-11-09T15:37:13Z")
Honestly – I don’t know. I’m trying to picture how I put a shirt on and I can’t. I just… put it on. It’s such an automatic thing that I’m not able to break down the process in my head without actually doing it. I’m wearing a button-down today, so I can’t do any tests until I get home. Besides, there may be a Heisenberg principle involved. If I make a point of paying attention to how I put my shirt on, it may actually alter how I put my shirt on. So I dunno. I’ll get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/28 "2011-11-09T16:56:42Z")
I had to take my shirt off and put it back on to check. Arms first, then head. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049/29 "2011-11-09T17:08:46Z")
I chose option 1) I put my arms into the sleeves first, then pull the shirt over my head. But, now that I think about it, I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve been doing something like this most days for 40 something years, and I don’t really know the answer. It might even depend on the type of shirt: long sleeved, short sleeved, hoodie, poncho. I’m soooo confused. 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-put-on-a-pullover-shirt/602049.md?page=1)