i don't think there's ever been a point in my life where ive felt like a woman. i remember my mom used to call me "little lady," and it drove me up the wall (though i had no idea why). after dealing with a lot of internalized homophobia, i came out at 18. first as aromantic, then as a demigirl. that didn't feel quite right, though, so eventually i began ID-ing as non-binary. my gender is basically "completely genderless but also completely genderfull at the same time." i present in any combination of masc or femme depending on how im feeling, where im going, who im going to be around, etc.

My Binding Dos & Don'ts - [10.03.25]

ive been properly binding for about a year now, which may not seem long. but ive only been out for 3 years and some change. which, if my math is right, means ive been binding for a third of my post-closet life! all joking aside theres a lot of things that ive learned about binding in such a short time so i wanted to pass my knowledge down to any t-boys/enbies/drag kings/cosplayers etc etc that may benefit. disclaimer: i am 5'4" and 130 lbs so my experience binding is going to be very different from someone who is plus-size (or even just tall). so just keep in mind i am not the binding god, and things may very well be different for you. disclaimer over :)

Part One: Trans Tape

there's a lot of discourse that goes on about whether trans tape is a good way to bind or not, and a lot of people immediately write it off because it doesn't get your chest nearly as flat as a regular binder. but i think that trans tape is great for binding, just in specific situations. for example, when i went to Seattle Pride 2024 i wore a mesh shirt. if i had worn a tranditional binder the entire fit wouldve looked weird, but because i wore trans tape i just felt like any old cis guy with a mesh shirt. so in general, these are the guidelines i use.

Pros:
• breatheable; able to do strenuous activity in it
• can wear more revealing clothes
• being shirtless is a lot less gender dysphoric

Cons:
• blisters, especially on the rib area
• not reusable
• after the first few days it's way less of a binder and more of a nipple cover
• itchy if done wrong
• takes a few tries to figure out what works best

tl;dr: don't recommend for daily binding, but do recommend it for special situations (swimming, wearing revealing outfits etc.)

Part Two: Traditional Binders

the difference in flatness between this and sports bras/trans tape is honestly next level. i had no idea what true flatness was until i finally got a hold of a proper binder. now, i have no idea what the brand is because i got it for free at a clothing swap, but i do know how i feel in it. and although it may feel like you wanna spend 24/7/365 in it, there's also some caveats. for example, you can't wear it for a super long time. and so if you work part-time its usually no problem, but if you work full-time you either don't bind or have to bring a sports bra to give yourself a break. so like before, heres some of the pros/cons.

Pros:
• very very flat
• makes wearing tighter shirts a lot less dysphoric
• reusable

Cons:
• can be difficult to put on/take off
• can't do any strenuous activity or wear it for extended periods of time
• most binders are hand-wash only

tl;dr: do recommend it for daily binding, but be aware of your limitations and know when to take it off

Part Three: "What If I Can't Get a Binder?"

whether you're closeted, have unsupportive family, have medical conditions, or any other reason, there are ways to achieve a mostly flat chest without binding. the number one that i always recommend is a tight fitting sports bra with the padding taken out. most cis men don't even have completely flat chests, so don't worry if theres still a bit of shape. and under a baggy t-shirt it's a lot harder to tell. if you go to the pride gallery you can find some DIY semi-binder tutorials ive aggregated from the net. and if you want a binder but don't know where to go AND you're in the seattle area, Seattle T4T Swap always has binders at their clothing swaps :)