By: Cairo Levias (they/them)
Here’s what I know: binders are a great way to get started in feeling more comfortable in a body that feels foreign to your gender identity. A lot of folks find some relief and gender euphoria with the experience of trying a binder for the first time. The objective of a binder is to create the silhouette of having a flatter chest area, and most times can be highly effective.
Not only does a binder help with feeling affirmed and validated in your gender, but helps with the self love that comes from dressing in gender-affirming clothes. A binder will heighten this experience, which ultimately has a positive affect on your mental health as a whole. If you have questions about how to wear a binder safely, check out this article.
What type of binder should I use?
There are a few different types of binders to explore. There are binders that trans-identifying and gender non-comforming folks are instructed to wear after top surgery. There are binders that folks choose to wear on an almost-daily basis.
The safety of wearing a binder varies for every individual, and a lot of times, you’ll note that directions for using a binder will advise the individual to break it up into small amounts of time to start. Once an individual’s body gets more acclimated to having their chest bound, they can wear it more often for longer periods of time. (Six hours or less is considered safest, depending on the fit and your individual body type.)
Choosing the right kind of binder will depend on your comfort level. A lot of folks start with a shorter length binder, compressing the chest area exclusively. The most common fabric types for these binders are a mixture of nylon and spandex, to allow for full range of motion and breathable comfort. The different types of binders don’t have much range in fabric aside from nylon and spandex. If you have a bigger chest, ultra-stretchy cotton and spandex blends may make binding easiest for you.
What if I can’t afford a binder?
If you’re in a place where you can’t afford a new binder or Trans Tape, you can ask our community partner Point of Pride for a free binder. Click here to read the instructions and fill out their form.
This amazing organization will send you a free binder if you can’t safely get one or if you can’t afford one. If you live in an unsupportive home, Point of Pride can ship your binder to a friend, family member, or another trusted person like a teacher or librarian. Anyone over the age of 13 can request a free binder.
What if I can’t wear a binder or don’t like them?
The goal of binding is to get your chest as flat as possible while remaining safe for breathing and movement. Another good option if a binder isn’t something one is able to wear is Trans Tape. This tape is stocked on a variety of websites and costs about $15 per roll. It’s waterproof and very breathable. I’ve chosen this as a safe option for binding while working, showering, or when I needed to bind for a whole day. I like the tape because often, I just need to have a safe binding technique to wear for longer periods of time.
Trans Tape is a thick, fabric-like wrapping with strong adhesive to stick to bare skin. It provides a sleek and simple silhouette of a flatter chest. Trans Tape may also be applied in many ways. It can both be binding and supportive. If you’re thinking you’re ready to experiment with gender expression in binding your chest, but not so sure how to start, Trans Tape might be the best starting option. When I was first binding with tape, I made sure to wrap it as loose as I needed to wear it comfortably.
If you have a binder that you don’t like or don’t use, consider giving it to a friend or community member who needs it. Point of Pride also manages the world’s biggest binder donation program. Click here to learn more about helping others and sharing your gently used binders!
How do I make a binder at home?
Here are a few ways you can make a binder safely with items found at home. The first being tights, or stockings. Because of the compression and “Spanx” effect of tights, by cutting parts of the tights it will have the same effect when you bind with them.
The first thing you’ll do is find a pair of tights, preferably the opaque kind that have a thicker fabric (but any tights will do). You’ll cut the hose or legs short to act like the sleeves of a T-shirt. You can make them however short you want the sleeves to be. The next part you’ll need to cut is around the crotch area to create a hole to put your head through. At this point, you will start to see the silhouette of a T-shirt. You might decide you don’t want sleeves, which you can now cut as short as you like. From here it’s simple, just slip the newly shaped fabric over your head and there you have it! A homemade binder! Remember that the same guidance applies for homemade binders as the store-bought kind. You still need to take it off every 6 hours, make sure you wash it, and ensure that you can breathe, bend, and move in it. If you feel like your binder is compressing your ribs, take it off and give your body a break.
Another simple and cost effective way to start binding would be sports bras, which tend to have a good amount of compression—and obviously safe for exercise. Other binding methods aren’t as safe for exercise due to the tightness of the fabric. Some sports bras can lead to dysphoria because a lot of them will push your chest up, but a lot of brands carry sports bras with more of a high neckline so to hide more cleavage and compress more effectively.
For an easy-to-apply self-made binder, you can go to your local drug store and find a neoprene back brace to wrap around your chest. They’re usually made with Velcro, which will be good for a wide range of chest sizes. The only thing to beware of is that wraps (such as an Ace bandage) is not meant for chest binding. The bandage is designed to tighten as you move, which can be really dangerous if you wear it for longer periods of time. Make sure you’re still comfortable breathing and moving about, and don’t wear this type of homemade binder if you’re doing anything physical. (Like, anything.) It can be exciting to get to choose the tightness of your new binder, but it’s important that your safety comes first.
Troubleshooting your binder
To practice safe binding, make sure you take off your binder or tape while you’re sleeping. Your skin and body need a rest. It’s best to wear your binder for no longer than 8 hours—though I usually try to keep it to 6 hours. This helps make sure you’re giving your body adequate time to rest.
It’s also strongly recommended not to wear a binder during exercise, due to the restriction of the lungs. Binders are tight and won’t allow you to breathe in a way you need to sustain intensive movement.
To keep any of these binding methods from chafing throughout the day, you can sprinkle baby powder on the binder, wear a T-shirt underneath the binder, or find an anti-chafe stick at the store. Chafing sticks go on like deodorant and protect your skin while wearing tight material.
Finding a binder that works well and is comfortable may take some searching. I think it’s worth taking the time to find one that works for you. I always compare this process to what I go through when I’m looking for a new shampoo. It may take some trial and error. But all in all, there are enough types out there that there’s something for everyone. And you deserve to look and feel your best!
Cairo Levias (they/them) is a model, stylist, muse, and mystic. From walking the runways of New York Fashion Week to designing seasonal narratives for fashion brands, Cairo’s expansive vision extends beyond gender to life’s possibilities. They live with their husband and two perfect kitties.
As the largest provider of gender-affirming care for the trans and nonbinary community, Plume is committed to providing information about many types of information, including questions about hormones like estrogen and testosterone, gender transitioning tips and experiences, and guidance on social transition and self care.
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Always first seek the advice of your primary and/or specialist physician, the Plume Care Team, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, your mental health and emotional needs, or your health care needs regarding gender-affirming hormone therapy. If you are experiencing an emergency, including a mental health crisis, call 911 or reach out to Trans LifeLine.
