Binding for newbies
(This is not a comprehensive list and your welcome to add if i missed anything)
SO! You want to bind your chest, well your in luck i have some info and tips so you have somewhere to start off!
The 2 ways im familiar with binding is by using transtape and a chest binder.
Ill be talking about:
- What they are
- The pros and cons
- Application/usage (and removal)
- And the potential dangers
transtape:
is a tape made from cotton and spandex that you apply to you chest, you cut two strips that you apply on your boobs and then pull your boobs out to each side. Youll find it in rolls like this
Chest binders:
are a vest that compresses your chest. Theyre a very popular method of binding. They’ll typically look like this (you can also get a swim binder)
Pros!
Transtape:
- is great for shaping the chest into a masculine shape! It’s incredibly customisable because you cut the peices yourself and decide how flat you want it.
- It can be worn for up to 5 days! You can work out, shower, swim and do practically anything with it on and itll stick! Itll get a little icky after those days but you can enjoy your flattened chest for a whole week!
It usually comes in a range of skin-colours to match or you can get fun patterns and colours!
Binder:
- its much quicker to put on and its an easy everyday solution
- many say their chest feels flatter with a binder
-feels very secure because of the pressure
- its just one purchase that last years!
Cons
Transtape
- When you take it off your skin is sensitive and in my experience my nipples are very sensitive
-if applied wrong it can seriously irritate the skin, so the proper application method is a little slow
-its all about practice so you might not get the flatness you want on your very first try
- you have to continuously buy some instead of it just being one purchase (make sure to cross reference so you dont have to way wayyyy to much)
Binder:
- you cant do any sports because you arent able to breathe like you should. I mean it, do not do sports with a binder. (You can get a specific swim binder though)
- it can get dangerous if you where it for more than 8 hours a day
- its a bit tricky to put on and take off
- get sweaty so you have to wash them
Application/usage (and removal):
So the most important part about binding is doing it correctly, but its often hard to find info on what not to do and what to do, so I’ve compiled everything you need to know.
Transtape:
Application is tricky and i find writtten instruction is basically useless so i found some great video tutorials on how to apply it!
Small chest:
Medium chest:
Big chest:
And a very important part is taking transtape off again, now i have personally commited the cardinal sin of just ripping it off, dont do that you will fuck up your skin. Instead you have to lather the peice of tape in oil (any oil is good, i use coconut) and lather the whole thing so its very saturated, then wait a 1-3 minutes for the adhesive to let go and then peal it off. If you feel its sticking to your skin still, put some more on and pull softly.
And heres a video for good measure:
In general the TransTape youtube channel is great for info about transtape, so definetly check them out if you buy some. Their website also offers transtape, nipple covers and oil.
Binder:
Binders are a lot quicker to put on as its just a vest, but its tight and its a bit tricky so if you can get someone to help you on your first try id recommend that.
Now there are a few important things to know about wearing binders, so you can wear them properly and not fuck up your ribs
1. Make sure to get the right size, this is very important for your chest health (your website should have a measurement chart)
2. Never wear it longer than 8 hours
3. Take a minimum of 2 break days a week (as in dont wear it) I usually do that in the weekend.
4. Never double bind, as in wear two at once, and never wear a tight sportsbra over or under it to make it flatter, again you will fuck up your ribs and you cant fix that.
5. If it hurts take it off, I know dysphoria is an incredibly tough battle but your health is more important. I believe in you <3
6. Never and i mean never do sports with a binder on
7. Wash it! it gets sweaty and stinky over time so definetly wash it. I wash by hand with some warm water and delicate laundry detergent but your specific binder should have instructions on how to wash it on the tag.
Dangers:
Both of these methods sadly have some downsides, but they are avoidable if you use them correctly
Transtape:
can irritate your skin if you put it on wrong, it gets itchy and if you scratch, you can cause sores, which then means you cant wear your tape till its healed. Ive tried this and it is a HELL so put it on properly!
Binders:
Are dangerous because they compress your entire chest and that means your ribs and all the important organs inside em, so when buying i binder make sure to buy yours size and if youre in between, buy the bigger one, under no sircumstance should you but a binder that is to small, it can seriously harm you.
When your ribs are bent, you cant unbend them and they will hurt when you sleep and breathe so please wear it correctly
All in all thats it! I sadly dont know every website for binders and transtape out there but these are the ones ive used (theyre DK specific)
Transting (for binders)
Peech (For transtape)
if you know of any other websites you trust your welcome to add them!
I hope this was a help on your journey with gender expression and euphoria, i love you, I believe in you and happy fucking with gender out there <333
