Page 42 - Spring 2015

The Binding Problem
Whether you are a trans man, genderqueer, non-binary or just fell the need
for a more masculine chest, binding is something that has been done for years.
From drag king acts to teenage transmen, reducing your chest size and creating
a flat look is not always as easy as it sounds. So how do you bind your chest
comfortably and still create great results?
What not to do
When done properly, chest binding does not lead to
any short or long term health problems. But there are
a few pitfalls to avoid. First of all, any kind of tape
directly onto the skin is a no no! Anything which
attaches to your body will prohibit movement and can
cause a build-up of liquid in your lungs. Also, make
sure whatever you bind with is not too tight. If there
is pain or your breathing is restricted, then you
need something a bit looser. Also, give your body a
break. Limit your use of a binder to 8-12 hours and
don’t wear it in bed.
That said, binding is generally a very safe thing to do
and thousands upon thousands of people do it every
day without a problem, no more dangerous than high
heels or dark glasses! The main rule of thumb is that if
you are comfortable, you are safe.
To buy or not to buy?
In the past, a set of wide bandages were used to
bind, and this is still a popular method for some.
However, it takes a while to perfect and you can
still be subject to bandage slippage and need to
dash to the loo to re-bind yourself! Another
home-made alternative is to buy two sports
bras, one for your normal chest size and one
ever so slightly tighter. Put the tighter of
the two on and put the normal sized on top.
Again, make sure it passes the comfort test
and remove it if you feel any discomfort.
But by far the best way is to use one of the
many chest binders on the market. These
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