Okay so I'm about to buy a binder at Gc2b, my first actual binder of good quality!!! So happy!! The only problem is I'm hesitating... My shoulder size is more L by a couple cm, but my chest size is M... Do I choose M or L? Any advice?
My friends told their parents they are trans/gay and both acted either negative or didnt respond enough so I wanna do something for them even when I am currently unemployed. Please help me surprise them both with binders. 😊 If I can at least gather enough money for even one of them, that would be nice.
Thanks so much @binderhelp for giving me a desperately needed new binder! I’m not comfortable posting just a binder pic but I was sent a very lightly used 3XL @gc2b half binder in olive green and it’s SO comfortable I almost thought it was the wrong size at first, but as you can see it’s a perfect fit! The mods were super nice and they asked if I had any privacy shipping needs too which is so important for younger trans guys and nonbinary people who need binders but live in transphobic home environments.
Hello all, this is your Other Mother--I mean;; other mod, Oliver! (Coraline, 2009 dir. Henry Selick) I’m here to explain how to be as safe as possible while binding with a list of chest binding do’s and don’ts!
Let’s start with the Dont’s.
1.) Do NOT ever bind with ace bandages, duct tape, or medical tape. These are all extremely unsafe methods of binding due to the materials’ inability to expand with your chest while breathing and can cause major rib damage, lightheadedness, and fainting due to lack of adequate oxygen. Not to mention that they all dig into your skin, and the tapes can pull skin right off when you’re removing it!
2.) Do NOT ever sleep in your binder, for much the same reason as above; even safe binding restricts your ability to breathe somewhat, and sleeping in a binder when your breathing cycle naturally relaxes can prevent you from breathing at all. Dysphoria may feel suffocating at times, but sleeping in a binder can actually suffocate you!
3.) Do NOT double-bind, meaning wearing two binders, a compressing sports bra and a binder, tape and a binder, or any combination of two binding methods you can think of. Once again, you need to be able to breathe! Double binding restricts your ability to breathe normally twofold, and the extra compression on your ribs and breast tissue can cause deformities that will lead to chronic pain, breathing difficulties, and can make you a poor candidate or a straight rule-out for top surgery. Please take care to find the right size binder for your body so that it can bind as effectively as possible, and treat it gently so that it does not get too loose too quickly! More on binder care in another post, so keep an eye out for that!
4.) Do NOT wear a binder that is too small for you--even by one size. The binder should fit your body well to prevent rib injury, fainting, and back pain. It may be tempting to go a size or two smaller than what you need in order to look flatter, especially when you are just a smidge between sizes, but trust me! Wearing the wrong size binder is dangerous and miserable! You’ll be short of breath and in pain the entire time you are wearing it, and it can cause damage to your body that may prevent you from binding or getting approved for top surgery in the future. If you are looking into getting a binder and are having trouble determining your size, ask for help! You can send an email to [email protected], or shoot me a message @binderhelpmod-oliver here on tumblr; I’ll be happy to help!
5.) Do NOT work out in your binder. This one is tricky to work around, because for many of us working out or exercising can increase dysphoria greatly. In this case, it is recommended that you wear a binder one size larger than what you need in order to accommodate for the bigger breaths that you will be taking. Once again, wearing a binder while exercising prevents you from getting enough oxygen and can cause you to hyperventilate or faint.
6.) Do NOT slide your binder on over your hips. Not only is this incredibly difficult and not a practical way to get a binder on, but it will stretch out your binder very quickly and cause the binder to lose its ability to, well, bind.
So what DO we do when binding?
1.) Wear the right size binder. You should be able to take deep breaths without any difficulty or pain, although the binder will feel tight. My first binder (that actually fit me properly!) was very comfortable and felt like a warm hug rather than a restraint.
2.) Start slow. Whether you are new to binding or you just have a new binder, ease into things with short lengths of time binding. Begin with 1-3 hours, then evaluate how you are feeling and move onto 3-5 hours the next day, and so on each day until you feel comfortable binding for the full 8 hours.
3.) Take breaks from binding. The maximum amount of time that a binder should be worn is 8-10 hours, and a break should be taken every 4 hours. Wherever you are when you hit the 4 hour mark, stop what you’re doing and go somewhere safe (like a bathroom or your bedroom) to take off your binder, take at least 15 DEEP breaths, and stretch your chest and back muscles as thoroughly as possible. At least a 10 minute break is recommended, but 15-20 is preferable. The extra five minutes will make a world of difference, even when you are very experienced with binding. Take care of yourself!
4.) Sit up straight. Normal consequences of bad posture are magnified by binding, and you are 100% more likely to experience pain and difficulty breathing if you slouch while binding than if you keep your back straight.
5.) Bind for your body type. Look at cis men’s chests; they aren’t completely flat! Sure, some guys have ‘washboard’ abs, but nobody has an ‘ironing board’ chest. It will be extremely uncomfortable for your chest to be completely flat due to the pressure on your breast tissue and rib cage, as well as look comically unnatural if your chest is much flatter than your stomach. Look at pictures of cis guys and note the size of their chest relative to the size of their stomach to get an idea of what looks natural. This will save you a lot of grief and pain in the long run, and if you are feeling unsure about your bind--Ask A Friend! I always ask a friend or family member if my bind is alright. The main goal is to get a second set of eyes with a fresh, hot take on how convincing your bind is--not how perfect it looks. Ask if you pass, not if your chest is flat.
6.) WASH YOUR BINDER. It may be tempting to wear it 24/7/365, but binders get dirty and start to smell just like any other article of clothing. To prevent rashes, acne, and overall unpleasant scent, we recommend washing your binder at least 2 times a week, and more than twice if you have a tendency to sweat a lot or are very physically active.
Thanks for reading, and remember to bind safely! Keep an eye out for our post on caring for your binder, and as always:
Here’s a link to our discreet shipping information
Please remember that we are first come first serve. Requests will be open until we have enough to last a few weeks. Don’t worry if you don’t get your request in on time! We will open again.
Binderhelp WILL NOT ship a binder without confirming your sizing regardless of how recently you have sized yourself. This is for your safety, no exceptions on this rule.
Alright everyone! Be ready and look out for a post saying requests are open! If you would like to be added to our mailing list email us stating interest!
