Binders
Introduction
Binders are popular with transgender men, and particularly with younger trans boys who are unable to yet get top surgery. Some transgender men opt to never get top surgery, and just stick with wearing binders. As with all things related to transition, this is down to personal preference. For the transition of many, many transgender men (and of course some nonbinary folk), that preference involves a binder in some capacity.
Having a flat chest is a trait that is traditionally associated with men. When a transgender man is denied puberty blockers and/or forced to go through a puberty that results in, well, not being flat, the lack of flatness can cause immense gender dysphoria. A sense of wrongness, dispair, and discomfort is not uncommon in regards to a transgender man having breasts, thinking about having them, and thinking about others seeing that they exist. Having these large and visible reminders that you are being seen as someone you are not is extremely unpleasant. To most people, someone having visible breasts serves as an indicator that that person is a woman, regardless of the rest of that person's presentation.
Wearing a binder and showing the world what you wish that you had always seen in the mirror can be a major source of gender euphoria. To a transgender man, seeing yourself flat can make everything seem better. It can make your body feel more at home and comfortable than it did without it. A proper binder is like a warm embrace. It is the feeling that everything is finally right. It is security of the self. The feeling that others will see you how you are supposed to be. That the protrusions you never asked for are as good as gone; out of sight, out of mind.
Unfortunately for some transgender men, binders can cause additional gender dysphoria. This is because even though they are hidden, he still knows that they are there and wishes them gone.
General Information
A binder is an undergarment used to compress one's breasts to give the wearer the appearance of having a flat chest. Depending on the brand or style, a binder will look somewhat like a cross between sports bra and/or a tank top. They come in a variety of colors, patterns, and designs. You can find them in various skin tones, or get your own custom art; depending on where you look for them (links to various online shops that sell binders can be found at the bottom of this page).
Binding is safe so long as you are using a properly sized binder from a reputable brand and follow the guidelines relating to binding. Binding becomes dangerous when using things that are not designed to be used as a binder. Improper binding can lead to damage of the ribs and lungs, often in the form of bruising. In severe cases, improper binding can result in being unable to get top surgery, being unable continue to bind, or have issues with breathing. These risks are easily avoidable by simply using an actual binder (as opposed to something like saran wrap or ACE bandages, which many young and closeted trans boys in unsupportive households will often resort to). It is important to be careful when restricting your chest.
Binding has the long-term effects of feeling happier and more comfortable in your own body, as well as saggy breasts.
No one other than yourself can tell you if binding is right for you. If you find yourself thinking about wanting a binder, just go for it! Find a brand that you like and can afford, measure yourself properly using a soft tape measure (note - not all brands have the same size chart, so make sure to double check the sizing and where to measure) and buy yourself a binder.
Once it arrives, put it on, and look at yourself in the mirror. If you feel like you are finally seeing yourself in the reflection, then good news! It was right for you.
If you realize that you hate it, then take it off and check the brand's return policy (or donate it to someone else).
Sometimes, it can be hard to identify the gender dysphoria caused by having breasts. They take a while to grow, and even if you hate them, you can get used to them being there. If putting on a binder makes you feel gender euphoria, then its probably for you. If its not, then its not. No harm done.
Transgender men are not the only people who wear binders. Anyone who wishes to wear a binder may do so for whatever reason they like. There are as many reasons for wearing a binder as there are people who wear them. All that really matters is that you bind safely if you choose to do so. Here are a few examples;
- Cisgender or intersex men with larger chests (or stomachs) who want to appear flatter.
- Cisgender women who cosplay male characters.
- Nonbinary people whose gender may be fluid and only wish to sometimes appear flat.
- Transgender women who are not out as transgender yet and wish to temporarily hide breast growth caused by estrogen.
Some people use trans tape or sports bras as an alternative to using a binder.
Some DOs of Binding
- Wear binders which are the correct size. A properly sized binder should be comfortable, and not cause pain while being worn. Make sure to take proper measurements, and check size charts before ordering a new binder from a different brand if you desire multiple.
- If binding during heavy exercise or manual labor, switch to wearing a binder which is a size larger than your normal size. Either that, or wear a sports bra instead of a binder.
- Take breaks from binding throughout the day to let your chest relax.
- If you are going to swim while wearing a binder, make sure to get a binder which is intended to be worn while swimming. If you don't have such a binder, or are unable to get one, use a binder that is a size too large, such as you would with other forms of exercise.
- If wearing a binder on a day-to-day basis, keep it to around 8 hours at a time.
- Remove your binder if it causes you pain. (note - if you experience pain the first time you put on your binder, it is likely too small. if you are experiencing pain after wearing it over a longer period of time, there is likely a different issue, if so, see the "don'ts" list.)
Some DON'TS of Binding
- Do not wear binders which are a size too small. If you are between sizes, go with the larger size. Binders which are too small are difficult to put on, and even if you do manage to put them on; they can be painful and cause damage to your body.
- If binding with sports bras, do not wear more than two sports bra at the same time. (note - do not wear more than one actual binder at the same time.)
- Do not wear ACE bandages in place of a binder. They are not intended for this purpose, as ACE bandages are meant to hold bones in place. Binders are designed to expand comfortably as you breath. ACE bandages can and will restrict breathing, along with causing damage to the ribs and lungs. Only use ACE bandages as directed by a physician.
- Do not use duct tape to bind.
- Do not use plastic wrap to bind.
- Do not wear a tight binder during heavy exercise. Even when binding safely, binders still restrict breathing. It is unwise to restrict one's breathing during strenuous activity.
- Do not bind for extensive lengths of time, or until you are in pain. Binding should NOT be painful.
- Avoid clasp binders. They compress unevenly, putting stress on your ribs.
- Avoid velcro binders. As they are self-adjustable, they may be tightned more than is safe (either purposefully or accidentally).
- Do not wear a normal binder for swimming.
- Do not sleep while wearing a binder.
- Do not wear a binder for longer than a maximum of 12 hours at a time.
How To Wash Your Binder
Before anything else, double check the care instructions for your binder. If the brand for your binder of choice says that you are able to throw your binder in the washing machine, then go ahead. Some binders can even be safely thrown in the dryer. If you find that it must be hand washed, or you cannot find any information on care instructions (which usually means you're going to have to hand wash it), then continue onto the rest of this section if you're not sure how to hand wash a binder.
Additionally, do not put a binder in the dryer unless you know for sure if it is safe. If a binder is not meant to go in a commercial dryer, this means that it will shrink. If a binder shrinks, then it can compress in a way that it is not meant to, not bind properly, be too small to wear, or result in some other issue.
Before you begin washing your binder, make sure that you have everything you need.
- The binder in question.
- A sink that can be filled up without draining, or a bucket which can be filled with hot water
- Liquid detergent, or other appropriate soap
- A spot to hang the binder to air-dry once done
Soak the binder in hot water and detergent. The hotter the water is the better (so long as you are not burning yourself). Clothes are primarily cleaned through friction, so you're going to have to swish around, massage, and rub the fabric binder against itself. Spend a few minutes doing this before wringing out the binder.
Drain the dirty water, and replace with clean water. Continue wringing out and rinsing the binder until the water runs clear. Once the water is clear, wring out the binder as much as possible, so that it isn't dripping.
Hang the binder to dry. Make sure to wait to put it away or put it back on until it is completely dry. When clothing doesn't have a chance to properly dry, it can get musty, resulting in a bad smell and unhygenic conditions.
Dangerous Binding
As you may have noticed there are several warnings on this page not to use things that are not binders in place of a binder. If you are not transgender, you may be wondering what would cause someone to use things such as duct tape, plastic wrap, or ace bandages to constrict their chests to the point of breaking or bruising ribs. The answer, quite simply, is gender dysphoria.
Using things other than a binder for the purposes of binding is extremely common among young transgender teens who are unable to obtain a binder. Binders are rarely sold in person, and it can be very difficult for kids to buy something online without access to a credit card and without parental approval. The unfortunate reality for a lot of transgender boys with transphobic parents is that it is preferable to cause himself bodily harm than to cope with having visible breasts.
For as long as there are unsupportive and transphobic parents raising transgender boys, there will be transgender boys who resort to harming themselves to cope with gender dysphoria. The best way to reduce the harm to trans boys is to ensure that the supplies they need to live are available to them.
Buy Binders & Similar Compression Gear Online
Based in Australia
amor sensory
HumanKind
sock drawer heroes
Based in Canada
gender gear
ur basics
venus envy
your open closet
Based in China
Based in New Zealand
Based in Poland
Based in Singapore
Based in Taiwan
Based in The Netherlands
Based in The United Kingdom
Based in The United States
aiden aizumi: the binder project - free binder program
ATRH - free binder program
beefcake swimwear
Black Trans Men - free binder program
cantiqla
dcats - free binder program
Double Design
For Them
flavnt
FTM Essentials - free youth binder program
gc2b - Please note that while gc2b used to be considered one of the best binder brands out there, it has reportedly declined in quality over the years, so proceed with caution.
genderbands - free binder program
GenderBenderLLC
GenderBenderLLC - (etsy)
HumanKind
man sculpture
morris designs
my double design
nouvelle inc
origami customs - based in the unceded traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka
Point of Pride - free binder program
rebirth garments
ur body
shapeshifters
sweat it out - based in The United States
the queer trans project - free/used binder program
tomboyx
Trans Tool Shed
underworks
wivov
wonababi/nonbinarystyle
Additional Resources
FTM Essentials
FTM Guide: Binding: Creating a Male-Looking Chest
Transgender Teen Survival Guide: Binding FAQ
Trans Guy Supply
TransHub: Binding
Trans Language Primer: Binder
Trans Lifeline: Binding Guide
Trans Male Resources: Chest Binding.
WikiHow: Make-a-Binder
Wikipedia - Breast Binding
YouTube Video: James Roby: 03/03/2021: spectrum binder VS gc2b binders - cc
