Binder Safety
Let’s talk about the art of chest binding. Our team has gathered information from the internet and the personal experiences of transmen, nonbinary, transmasculine, gender fluid, and other gender-variant people to give you the best start possible. We are here to answer any questions, fight any worries you might have, and most importantly, help you safely be comfortable with being you.
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Starting with the basics, binding is when you take a restrictive material and restrict your breasts so that your chest becomes flattened. Before we delve deeper into things some very important things are all about your safety and wellbeing.
Tips
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Pay attention to your body. You should always be able to breathe comfortably while wearing your binder. If it starts to hurt when you take a deep breath, or if it feels too tight, take the binder off immediately.
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Only bind for 8-12 hours at a time maximum and never sleep in your binder.
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Take break days from your binder every couple of days. Wearing a sports bra or layering shirts can be a good alternative.
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Wear a sports bra instead of a binder when doing physical activity. A binder isn’t built to move with your body, so it could cause harm when worn during extreme physical activity.
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Fun tip, you CAN swim in your binder!
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Wash your binder regularly and follow the cleaning care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
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Do not wear a binder that is too small for you, as this can cause injury, and won’t function as well as a binder that is the right size for you. Refer to the recommended size guides provided by binder companies. Each company is going to be a little different, so make sure that you read them carefully.
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A great alternative is using “trans tape,” a tape specially made for binding. Trans tape is made from materials that are safe for the body, is sweat resistant and waterproof, and is available in multiple skin tones.
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Stretch after removing binder
Signs You Need A Break From Your Binder
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Chest pains/ difficulty breathing.
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Numbness, tingling.
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Overheating; dehydration.
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Skin rash, irritation, sores.
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Back pain, soreness.
Caring For Your Binder
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We recommend you hand wash and hang to dry by air. You can use cold or warm water. Lather it with some dish soap or laundry detergent, then rinse thoroughly. If you wash it in the evening and leave it out to dry, it should ready to wear by morning.
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If you need to dry it using a machine, use a delicate bag to ensure your binder doesn’t get damaged or caught on other clothes.
Safety
– It should NEVER hurt
– Never get a smaller size
– Never push yourself
– Do NOT use ACE bandages
​Do NOT use Duct Tape
​Whew, that is out of the way. It is no laughing matter though. Those things listed are just the most important safety matters. You should never push yourself and it should never hurt. It’s about becoming you!