If you're transmasc, you will likely want to bind your chest at some point. Don't feel like you have to, but a lot of people like to. Binding is basically compressing your chest to make it look flatter like a male's chest.
Binder safety:
Before we get into how to bind, you need to make sure you're safe about it, as binding can be very dangerous if you aren't careful; you can break ribs, damage your lungs, and even cause yourself to not be able to get top surgery.
-Never wear a binder that's too tight
-8 hours is the recommended limit but absolutely NEVER go past 12 hours
-Don't sleep in your binder- even naps are a bad idea
-Don't exercise in your binder
-Only swim in a binder if it is specifically made for that
-NEVER use ace bandages or duck tape. JUST DON'T. If you only take one thing from this, it should be no ace bandages or duck tape.
More binder tips:
-Put baby powder on your skin to absorb moisture
-Take a couple deep breaths when you put it on and every hour or so. If you can't, it's too tight
-Stretch every couple of hours
- Take some deep breaths when you take it off
- Take a sports bra in case you need a break if you're planning on wearing your binder for a long period of time
- Slowly increase how long you wear it at home before wearing it for a full work/school day
Where to get a binder:
The best places are Underworks and gc2b. Unfortunately, binders are only sold online and can be pretty expensive. There are giveaways and organizations where you can get a free binder, but if you live with your parents, this might not be possible. You can always have it shipped to a friend's house, but this also may not be an option, plus the waiting lists are usually long.
DIY binding:
If you cannot get a real binder, you have other options
-Sports bras
Use one or more unpadded sports bras to get the look of a flatter chest
-Cami
This works best if it is pretty tight and you turn it backwards, then fold it up onto itself
-Corset thing
Cut a piece of fabric into a strip that will fit around your chest. Poke holes in each side and put string through it to essentially make a corset
-Tights
Cut the center and legs off of a pair of tights. If you have a flatter chest, it may help to fold the bottom over onto the center of your chest
AND AGAIN NEVER USE TAPE OR ACE BANDAGES I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH
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Genderfluid Guide
Non-FictionA guide for specifically AFAB genderfluid people, but helpful for anyone who's trans. I realized I'm not genderfluid but im keeping it up to help people
