Help for Fellow Trans Teens (FTM)

Binding

Binding. One of the most horrible, daunting, and hard parts of being a trans trans guy.

First off, seriously, never bind for more than eight or nine hours, especially with a professional one. It isn't safe, you could hurt yourself. People have broken ribs and even made themselves unable to get top surgery after binding unsafely or for too long.

Now, methods.

Obviously, the best option is a professional binder. But, let's face it, most teens living with their parents haven't come out and can't get a binder.

But, if you are one of the lucky few who are, good brands are gc2b and Underworks. I would say don't get them from Amazon, I have heard that they aren't really good and hurt really bad. 

Also, don't get binders marketed for lesbians. They are typically much smaller and less safe. They are cheaper, but it's better in the long run not too. They are marketed to lesbians for appeal and you don't wear them for long anyway because you wouldn't need to. 

I can't say much for professional binders because I do not have one and don't know much about them, but that is what I do know.

Now, here are a few homemade methods.

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Tights or Leggings

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This is a method I have seen online before. The general idea is that you cut the legs off of a pair of leggings, tights, or even shorts. You also cut a hole between the legs for your head to go through, then put it over your head and around your breasts.

I tried this once with a pair of shorts that were a little too tight. For me it worked more like a sports bra, but if you have like, A cup of might work. 

From my experience there are better ways, but if you have an old pair of leggings or tights or shorts go for it, it might work.

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Sports Bras

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This is a pretty popular option for binding. The idea is that you wear one sports bra correctly, and another on top of it backwards to bind. The first keeps from irritating your skin and support, while the second helps to compress.

I use a slightly different version of this, but it does work. It's best to have the second bra possibly one size smaller than your normal fit, and have both bras with 'no bounce'. 

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Camisole 

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This only really works for people with small breasts, as in like, A cup and maybe a very small B cup.

So you take a camisole, which is a tank top with a built in bra. Put it on backwards, and make sure the straps aren't twisted, and make them as small as you can for yourself. Make sure the strap for the built in bra is directly on top of your nipples.

Take the bottom of your camisole and fold it up so that it is just under your breast tissue, then fold it again so that it reaches to about your clavicle.

I can't use this because my breasts are to large for it, but it does seem to work for people with smaller chests. The idea is to make it look more like pectoral muscles, so if you don't look relatively masculine already this might not work, and people may assume you just have a really small chest.

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Trans Tape or Boob Tape

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So, Trans Tape is a specific brand that is for trans men specifically. If you haven't come out,Trans tape probably isn't best for you because it will be harder to get your hands on.

Boob Tape is a brand of tape built to support your chest while wearing clothing that will show your bra strap or part of your chest, but also works for this. It might be easier to get if you haven't come out, and you can say you need it for certain dresses.

I don't know much about how to use it, but there are plenty of YouTube videos on how to use it. I watched one, and what seemed on how you do it is you try to distribute the boob to the side of your chest. 

But if you are going to use this definitely watch a video or something for it because I don't know much about this.

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My Method

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So I kind of do a method that is a mix of Camisole and Sports Bras.

I put the camisole on forwards, fold it up the same way you do in that method. That helps support my chest.

Then, I do one of two things.

I either put both sports bras on backwards, then adjust the positioning of both to make my chest appear as flat as possible. Or, I put the first one backwards with the straps over my nipples and the second forwards and adjust to make it appear flat.

The second will work better depending on the style of sports bras. If you have a space between the fabric and strap, or a racerback bra, it will work fine but will be obvious if your wear tighter fitted clothing. 

For me, personally, the second option looks more natural and maybe even flatter, but maybe try both ways and see what works best for you.

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Things NOT to Do

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First, again, don't wear your binder - especially a professional one - for more than eight or nine hours. Story time.

I'm in an after school club on Wednesdays. Then, after that I walk to where my mom works. when she gets off we go and pick up my sister from my dad's and then go home. 

I put my binder on at about 6:30 a.m. when I wake up. Normally I come home and take it off at 3:30 or a little earlier, so I wear it about nine hours.

On Wednesdays I go to the club which is until 4, then walk downtown to either my mom's work or a place in the area. My mom gets off at 5, gets me at about 5:05-5:10. We go get my sister, and by the time I get home it's at least 5:30. That's at least eleven hours, which is NOT safe.

It gets super uncomfortable, obviously, and it hurts. It's kind of hard to breath, and you get hit and sweaty. Your ribs and chest and shoulders and neck get super sore and it hurts. So wear it for a safe amount of time

Second, don't use duct tape, bandages, elastic bands, KT Tape, or any other type of adhesive or material. The best to use is professional, and if you can't the ones listed above.

One reason those are dangerous is because of the angle it makes your nipples. They point down, which over time might make it impossible to get surgery.

Also, adhesive isn't good for your skin anyway, but certainly not for your chest tissue, because it's very sensitive. Trans and Boob Tape is made specifically for that. 

Just straight up elastic bands and clips will whisper you. Too many elastic bands will compress too tightly and possibly break ribs. Clasps or clips to hold the bands together will dig into the skin and make lasting scars.

Third, do not exercise in a binder.

Obviously in a gym class you will exercise. But try to choose whatever will keep you the least active, or take it off before and put it on after. It's hard enough to breath in the first place, and exerting yourself will only make it harder.

If you play sports, take it off. It's not safe, and most sports are 'girls' and 'boys' sports. You will have to join a girls sport because that's what is on your birth certificate, and, likely, if someone goes to, say, a girls basketball game, they won't wonder if someone in the team is a boy, unless you look like a whole bodybuilder beard man with an Allstate commercial guy deep voice.

So yeah, this is what I know about binding. If you have any questions I will gladly answer them.