I know this has been brought up alot on this site, but I wanted to ask people what they thought was the most effective way of binding.

I'm a D cup so I need a way that would work well so it would support me throughout the day without constantly having to go and fix it.

I'm sory for bringing this up again. >//<;;

But thanks so much to everyone that replies. :'D




♥Lina.

Id say a chest binder. Sephyrayne on here makes them or you can go to T kingdom and get one from them.

I use a binder vest which I got from T-Kingdom which is pretty effective and it's also comfortable ^^

Thanks so much :'D

Thanks so much :'D


I'm wondering if it's like..difficult to use or anything?
^^; I'm about to go on the site, but I wanted to ask someone who used one. :'D

Binders from T-kingdom are easy to use- just put them on over your head, strap the velcro side down, adjust your chest until you're happy with it and you're done.

Underworks (another main brand of binder) aren't good if you're small as they have no side opening so it makes them a struggle to get on. If you're medium sized or above they're fine though.

-Tab

Expensive though.

No no, they're really easy to use. It's just as KhaosKreator said: You put it over your head and ajust the velcro on the side to whatever you want it to be. So it can be as tight or loose as you like ^^

If you're a larger size (I say medium C upwards...) I recommend Underworks binders. I've bought from T-Kingdom and although they are fine (and much easier to put on!) I found the underworks binder got me much flatter.

Sorry to barge in on this topic, but what about cheaper ways to bind?
I really don't think I can afford a proper binder, at least not now

I have read other, cheaper ways but they always seem to be for small sized people, wondering if anyone knows a cheap way to flatten a D

=]

The cheapist way that isn't going to damage you is to get a sports bra.

Coming from someone who's binded for years, a binder is the best option, and if you don't have the money, save it up by not trying out several cheaper techniques that don't work as well (and are potentially harmful).

If you're looking for a cheaper binder some ftm communities sell second hand ones so you'll get them cheaper on there.


Also on the topic of underworks vs T-kingdom- yes underworks tends to work better if you have a large cup size, but if you've got a small chest with a large cup size you will have troubles getting them on over your head. And by trouble I mean I managed to hurt myself attempting before finally giving up when I tried one

-Tab

I do take Binder commissions. I do a basic one for £30 (plus p&p). They can work for large sizes as well as small as its designed for the ftm community.

You can check them out in the Market place thread here Chest Binder thread

My girlfriend's a DD and she uses the top of a pair of tights over a sports bra, which worked pretty well. Not flat, but significantly reduced.

Having said which, she also fitted into my (large) binder from T Kingdom. That's really old now (I've been wearing it constantly for a year, and it doesn't bind me at all, I'm waiting for my student loan to come through to replace it!), but the point is that they still work for larger sizes. : ) It's just harder to get larger sizes flat! XD Plus, the model I use of T Kingdom is the cheapest one, which is only £20 or so.

If you're really desperate you can try DIY tape over the top of a cheap vest, but this will ruin the top, be difficult to breath through, and probably still not flatten you completely.

Good luck!

To be honest....>_> We use duct tape.

No...Siriusly.


Over a wifebeater/vest top...It works very well (I'm a DD and I can get reletively flat when using it) and to be honest, most days I find it more comfortable than a bra ^^

Seconding what Tab said. I got a binder from T-Kingdom a few months ago for £16, which included shipping.

If you use duct tape, you have to use it over a vest which might ruin the vest. If you're in a costume that has spandex/lycra in the chest area, having wrinkly tape underneath just ruins the effect anyway.

Vet wrap is slightly better and you can wear it directly on your skin, but it slips when you start sweating. It's got a textured surface, so again, doesn't do well under tight fitting costumes.

On top of that, I find that with any form of tape, I tend to bind too tightly which is really bad for breathing and moving!

In comparison, my £16 binder presses down and spreads the chest evenly, allows me to breathe, doesn't slip when I sweat, and lets me wear spandex over the top. It's washable and quick to put on and take off. It's a good investment. If you spend £3 on a vest + tape every time you bind, you're probably better off getting a binder which you can wear many, many times.

Also ductape over you chest (even with a vest underneath) damages your breast tissue. Which means they'll sag earlier than they're supposed to.

Add to that the short term health risks of constricting your lungs (breathing problems, dizzyness, fainting, muscle damage, boken ribs) ductape binding really isn't something you want to do.

-Tab

Oh, and if you're only wearing a binder to crossplay, one will probably last you a life time. The only reason mine has died is because I've been wearing it constantly for the last year, only taking it off to wash it and to sleep, and not even to sleep some times.

When you consider the price of a decent bra it's a pretty good buy. : )

-Shrugs- I just find duct tape binding the only way to look truly flat...

Add that to wanting to do open chest binding...

Have you ever tried an actual binder?


On the open chest thing- I'm doing something similar to open chest binding and I've been recommended using medical tape. I'm going to use medical tape because at least then I know it's designed to stick skin and not air vents.

-Tab

Medical tape just doesnt seem to stick well enough for me at all. Like within an hour it came off....And I was GOING to try a binder..And then one of my friends with smaller breasts than me didnt look very flat at all. That was with a TK I beleive. I'm just giving my suggestion thats all.

Thanks for all the comments. D:

But where would I be able to get some medical tape..><;

Poor Tab!

I second Underworks for larger busts! Also instead of putting it over your head I recommend stepping into it and pulling it up (No seriously!) Then also it helps it sit better if put on that way.

I personally have never used T-Kingdom, but a couple of my friends have gone over to using Underworks instead because of the strength of the binding.

I heard they sell a good type in Boots.

Only if your bust measurement stays within your binder's size range. Your breasts change size all through your life as your weight, lifestyle, age and hormones fluctuate/change, etc. You're supposed to, ideally, be re-fitted professionally for a bra every six months and at the absolute minimum, once every 2 years.

If your bust increases or decreases dramatically in size due to growth or weightloss, then you may have to re-evaluate your binder as, just like a bra, if you wear one that is too small you will have trouble breathing, movement will be restricted and you may just hurt yourself. That's why on the websites they recommend you always take the bigger binder if your measurements happen to fall in between two size ranges; again, like a bra, you're supposed to take the larger back size if you're in between two of back sizes (eg. you measure 31ins round your ribcage, you should take 32 back, not a 30... or at least that's how it's supposed to work, but doesn't).

Equally, if you decrease in size, the binding effects will not be as good as your binder may be too loose. So, always make a note of what sizes your specific binder is supposed to work between; or at least go check the website you got it from if you have a sudden change in size. I have an Underworks-type binder, though I actually got it from Sami's Closet, and when I got it 3-4 years ago, I was at the bottom end of it's range, now however, if my boobs decide to grow any more I will have to get a new one because I'm within it's top size bracket.

Also, um, don't put your binder in the tumble dryer... I made that mistake and slightly shrank it, which possibly doesn't help. The washing machine is fine though obviously.



A proper gynomasticism vest/chest binder is still a great investment if you plan to do a lot of crossplay, even if you do eventually end up having to replace it for whatever reason. Especially if you are a D or above as most other binding methods only work up to a D, DD cup maximum. Many of them are, as others have said already, dangerous or detrimental to your health, and, though they are cheaper in the short term if you're only doing one or 2 crossplays, if you add the costs together (and the implied health risks) for more than that, then really a binder is much more cost effective.

I may or may not be doing my dissertation on bras... *whistles innocently*

EDIT: Also, I second everything miiol says about putting your binder on. For doule binding/bare midrifts (I have a long vest one) I always turn it upsidedown, shimmy it over my hips and up so that the bottom is up at your armpits then pull the neck/sleeves up by putting your arms through the arm holes and righting it. Then I safety pin the 2 layers together. For single layer binding I either then pull the bottom out from underneath and down or step through the neck hole instead, though it's a bit harder to get in through the neck. To get it off again you just pull it down over your hips again and step out of it instead of over your head. There is more risk of tripping, but less risk of wrentching your shoulder out or getting stuck, which I what I did the first few times I put mine on before I figured this method out.

And yes, I do belive sports tape can be obtained from Boots. I believe the reccommended brand is Johnsons & Johnsons.

I'm a D cup and I can bind perfectly fine, and comofrtabley with this bandage that is Boots own brand,
Its blue and sticky.. Although it is a once use only. I recomend covering nipples though, as when i used it the first time - it irritated me xD
Alternatively, you can use Sports Tape which can be obtained from Boots also and I think it is Johnsons and johnsons, or whatever the brand is.

Thankies about the info re tape. I've been trying to find it everywhere locally ( I didn't want to buy it online so I could see it before I buy). I'll check out my local Boots when I next hit town. I'm guessing it will be near the banadges section.