Binding is the process of wearing various types of garments with the goal of flattening out your chest. Typically this is something that trans masculine folks do to change the appearance of their chest to make them feel more comfortable in their body and help with their gender expression.
However, transmasculine folks are not the only people who choose to bind. Anyone can choose to bind to make themselves comfortable.
Common Binding Methods
There are several different ways to bind. The best method will depend on the size of a person’s chest and their build. However, there are some methods that are unsafe and can cause long-term damage. Whichever method you choose, it should allow you to breathe normally and feel comfortable when resting and moving.
Here are some common methods:
- Layering of shirts – wearing a tight-fitting undershirt with a slightly looser shirt on top, and perhaps a third, looser shirt on top of that.
- Sports bras – tight-fitting sports bras made with lots of Lycra work well for some people. The material is made to be breathable.
- Athletic compression shirts – many sports goods stores sell tight-fitting compression shirts made of spandex, Lycra, or other stretchy materials. These are breathable and can work well for people with minimal chest tissue.
- Neoprene waist and abdominal trimmers or back support devices – Neoprene is a thick, rubbery material that is relatively inexpensive and widely available in drug stores and large chain discount stores. It doesn’t breathe very well but offers effective compression.
- Chest binders and medical compression shirts – these binders look like tank tops or t-shirts. They are quite effective at flattening a range of chest sizes. This is probably the most popular binding method, though it can be expensive and you’ll likely need to order
- Binding tape.
Safety When Binding
As I mentioned, there are a number of binding methods that are unsafe.
In the past, folks would bind with materials such as elastic bandages, duct tape, or even saran wrap. This is not a safe way to find as it can restrict blood flow, make it hard to breathe, cause rashes and bruising and even break ribs.
How to Bind Safely
There are a few important things to keep in mind to maintain safe binding.
- Correct Size. It’s important to wear a binder that’s the correct size. It’s too tight if you’re having difficulty breathing, are experiencing pain, or your skin is wearing away in any spots. Make sure to check website sizing charts prior to purchasing. If your binder is too tight you may be able to alter it to fit you.
- Breathable Material. If the material isn’t breathable, you may get sores or rashes on your skin. To avoid this, apply body powder before putting on your binder, or wear a thin undershirt underneath that helps to wick away sweat.
- Take Breaks. It’s important to take breaks from binding. Never bind for more than 8 hours if you can avoid it and do not bind overnight.
- Wear on Dry Skin. After getting out of the shower, make sure your skin is completely dry before putting on your binder.
How might binding affect my body?
We couldn’t find any research on the risks of binding. Anecdotally, we know that some discomfort is common with binding, especially after many hours of compression. The muscles in your back and shoulder might feel sore and your skin might feel irritated.
You may find that binding contributes to feeling quite warm in the summer months. Some conditions, such as asthma, may be made worse by binding.
Binding over a long period of time can reduce the elasticity of the skin on your chest. If you are planning on getting chest surgery, reduced skin elasticity may affect your surgical outcomes. Skin elasticity is one of the factors considered when choosing a technique for chest surgery.
Where To Purchase
There are a number of different places you can purchase a binder, as mentioned previously, check out the site sizing chart prior to purchasing. Two of the most common binders are gc2b and underworks.
You can also purchase them from places such as ftm Essentials and Transguy Supply (trans guy supply also sells trans tape. If you’re considering binding with tape make sure to check out the sizing information and safety tips for wear and removal.
You may want to try on your binder prior to purchasing. To find places where you can purchase binders and other gender-affirming products locally I would look for LGBTQ+ specific places (in Vancouver we have a great space called Big Bros Barber Shop), and local sex shops that cater to LGBTQ+ folks also often carry things like this.
Unable to Afford a Binder?
If you are unable to afford a binder there may be programs available to you where you can get a binder for free or subsidized.
Here are some amazing groups that offer these services (note: you may need to meet specific requirements to access these products such as being a youth or being local to the service area of the organization)
–Point of Pride
–GenderBands
–ftm Essentials (under 24 years, US only)
–Qmunity (BC and Yukon)
–American Trans Resource Hub
–Binders 4 Confident Kids
Also, note that there are a number of people waiting for binders and these programs may have waiting lists. So, consider your need before applying.
Many of these programs also accept donations, so if you no longer need your binder, consider donating.
Since a number of folks do donate their binders when they no longer need them another great place to look is local online communities and peer support groups. You may be able to find gently used binders from your local community if you ask around.
Cleaning Your Binder
It’s important to make sure you regularly clean your binder. Follow the instructions that came with the garment. Generally speaking, hand washing is best.
Avoid using bleach or putting it in the dryer, this can result in the material breaking down.
Additional Binding Resources
- Binding: Creating a Male-Looking Chest – detailed information about the binding methods described, including the names of popular brands and where to buy them (Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide)
- The Chest Binder Review Blog – a website of reviews of binding methods and which work best with which chest sizes
- I Heart My Chest – information about binding from Qmunity
- Things to Know About Binding – Trans Care BC resource about binding
If you have any additional resources that would be helpful to add, send me a message or leave a comment below.