The Transgender Dictionary
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Trans Tape

General Information

Trans tape is a body-safe tape sometimes used by transmasculine individuals to bind their breasts. It is an alternative to wearing a binder. Some people use other, similar, body-safe tapes such as KT tape (they are essentially the same, simply marketed for different purposes, and there can be an appealing price difference). These are known as kinesiology tapes.

Trans tape is often more effective for individuals with smaller breasts, though plenty of guys with larger ones have found success. Trans tape can stay on your body for several days at a time, and can be worn safely during exercise, unlike binders, which need regular breaks for safety purposes.

Binding is often beneficial for transmasculine individuals who experience gender dysphoria regarding their breasts. Getting top surgery can be an expensive and lengthy goal for many trans people. For many non-binary people, they may only want temporary flatness. Trans tape is a cheap, safe way to achieve a flat chest.

How To Use

Before applying tape to your body, make sure that your skin is clean and dry.

To protect your nipples, fold a piece of tape so that the sticky side is not facing your nipples, and tape it over them. You can also use a piece of tissue, or whatever else you have handy to protect your nipples. You do not want to have to remove tape from that area.

One breast at a time, place tape to cover the breast and gently pull it to the side (away from the center of your chest) and secure it. With a bigger chest, you may need to use more tape. At the bottom of the page, see the videos if you would like more of a visual demonstration.

When it comes time to remove the tape, you must soak it completely in oil (cooking oil or something similar will work). Do not rush to remove the tape. If you are not careful, you can rip off your skin, causing damage. Blisters are not uncommon with improper removal. Breast tissue can be delicate, and it will be painful. You will not be able to bind until your skin heals. So long as you are careful, however, you should be fine.

If you have sensitive skin, it may be a good idea to use a small piece of tape at first to see how you react to the adhesive. You do not want to put on a large quantity of tape and experience an allergic reaction.

Additional Resources

etsy - GenderBenderLLC - based in The United States
gender gear
gendergp - how to use tape
healthline - kinesiology tape
kt tape
trans tape - buy trans tape online
ur basics
wivov - buy trans tape online
YouTube Video: How I put on my trans tape
YouTube Video: Transtape application