#binding guide

And there you have it! Here is a guide to finding the right type of binder for you. I hope this helped!

I've learned a lot about binding from reading and from my own experience, and I've seen a lot of questions about binding floating around the interwebs, so I thought I would share some of my knowledge. Remember, safety is key! The reason I've edited this is for readability purposes. I also added one bullet point that I had forgotten to include. If you reblogged the other post, please reblog this new version as well. - Don't bind improperly. Pretty simple, don't use ace bandages, duct tape, or anything similar. Duct tape will irritate your skin terribly, possibly even removing a layer or two when you peel it off. Both ace and duct tape won't allow for proper expansion of the lungs/ribcage when breathing and can lead to collapsed lungs and broken ribs, as well as potentially damaging breast tissue to the point where you may be ineligible for top surgery later in life. - Don't buy a cheap or low quality binder. In general, it's a bad idea to buy a binder that costs less than $20. - Don't buy a binder from Amazon or Wish. - Don't buy a binder that is marketed to lesbians, tomboys, or cosplayers/stage performers. - Don't buy a binder from Les Love Boat, Les Lesbian, or T Kingdom. In general, these brands make low quality binders. Some trans people swear by T Kingdom, but I've heard from a lot of sources that their binders don't bind well, are not high quality, and fall apart very quickly. - Don't buy a binder with clasps, Velcro, or zippers. There's a good reason for this, trust me. Everyone I've ever known with these kinds of binders says they are uncomfortable or difficult to wear because they dig into the skin, they come undone easily, or both. Think about it, something that's really tight against your skin having a metal or plastic piece on it is not going to be super comfortable. - Read reviews on binders before you buy. - Don't wear a binder for more than 8 hours if at all avoidable. 10 hours is okay as long as you're not doing it every day. 12 hours is pretty much the high high limit, but if you do wear a binder for 12 hours straight, try not to wear a binder for a couple days following. If you wear a binder for more than 12 hours, you will be in bad pain for days, trust me. You will bruise the muscles around your ribcage, and binding (and breathing) will hurt pretty bad. After more than 12 hours of continuous wear, I would recommend not binding for 5-7 days minimum. - Don't continue wearing a binder if you are in pain or having trouble breathing. I suggesting keeping a sports bra with you when you're binding so that you can change if you need to. - If you're uncomfortable, take breaks. Go to the bathroom, take it off for a couple minutes, then put it back on. - Don't exercise while binding. Even when you're binding with an actual binder, your breathing will be restricted. Exercising while binding could potentially cause you to pass out due to lack of oxygen. The general rule is that if you're doing activity that will cause you to breathe heavily, don't bind. - Don't bind if you're going to be doing any heavy lifting. - Don't sleep in a binder. This applies to naps too. I learned that the hard way. I originally thought that you shouldn't sleep in your binder because you'd potentially be wearing it for more than 8 hours. The actual reason is that the pressure of the binder combined with the additional pressure of your body weight on the mattress/couch/floor/whatever means more risk of bruising, lung damage, breathing constriction, and rib fractures. - Don't wear a binder if you are sick with a respiratory illness. If you are coughing or having trouble breathing, binding can aggravate these issues. - If you have severe asthma, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to bind, and if they say yes, be very careful when binding. - Don't expect a binder to get you completely flat. Especially if you have a larger chest, the odds of even the best binder getting you completely flat is slim to none. Binders will compress a little or a lot depending on the material they're made of, and will likely smooth your chest, but unless you're less than a B cup, you're probably not going to be completely flat with a binder. - Take your measurements before you buy. Just guessing your size or basing it on your t-shirt size is not a reliable indicator. Measure yourself according to the method in the sizing chart of the company you're buying from and compare it to the chart. If you're in between two sizes, round up (unless you're really, really close to the lower size, I'm talking a small fraction of an inch). - There are a couple of ways to bind without a binder. One is to stack sports bras. Try putting one on backward and one on forward (note: this only works with compression sports bras). Another method is to use shapewear like Spanx. Most shapewear is made out of the same material as a lot of binders (I know this is true of Spanx and Underworks binders because I've owned both of them). Take shapewear (the kind that's like underwear and doesn't have thigh portions) and cut a slit in the crotch part. You can then pull it on just like you would a normal binder. Generally, the size you would typically wear if you were wearing the shapewear as intended is the size you will need to bind with. - There are two binder brands that you will generally hear recommended; they are Underworks and GC2B. I have bought binders from both. My first was from Underworks, and I was quickly dissatisfied with it. I then ordered a binder from GC2B, which I have found to be much more comfortable and to bind much more effectively. GC2B is generally a little cheaper than Underworks as well. - Half vs. full binder: half binders are more breathable and work just as well in the chest as a full binder. They occasionally will ride up and your breasts may hang out the bottom; in this case, you will find yourself compulsively pulling your binder down. A full binder has the added bonus of smoothing your hips. I've never owned a full binder, so I don't know personally if they ride up or not. However, I have read that these can be really tight in the tummy area, especially if you've got some pudge there. Read reviews to help you make your decision. - There are a lot of tutorials to make your own binder, and also shops online that make custom binders. These are good resources if you are unable to find a binder in your size. Just make sure you buy from a reputable shop, and again, read reviews. - In my experience, it's okay to put a binder in the washing machine on cold, but do not under any circumstances put it in the dryer. If you want to be extra careful, hand wash your binder. A lot of people say that you should only hand wash binders, and I don't think that's bad advice, I'm just really lazy and don't want to so I put mine in the wash. Remember, safety is very important when binding, and you should always listen to your body. Happy binding!