Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Try on a neoprene waistband
• Method 2 of 4: Using other methods
• Method 3 of 4: Wear a sports bra
• Method 4 of 4: Using a professional binder
• Tips
• Warnings

Breast binding is a way to minimize or flatten your chest, and it is for all types of people with all types of identities and situations. So whether you're transitioning, need to minimize your bust for a piece of clothing, or you're fed up with unwanted attention, ligating your breast in a safe and healthy way can be a solution to your problem.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Try on a neoprene waistband

1. Put the waistband around your chest. Fold it around so that the fold of the Velcro is under one of your arms.
   • Neoprene waistbands act as compression force to improve blood circulation in people who exercise. They are also worn to provide a better and more shapely waist to those who are not exercising.
2. Cut the band to fit your chest. If your waistband is too long for your chest, cut the part without Velcro with scissors to fit your bust. You don't want to double-wrap your chest, which would create the effect you want to avoid.
   • If the tire presses into your side or under your arm, use the scissors to cut the corners of the tire in a gentle curve.
3. Use lotion and baby powder to reduce irritation. The neoprene band can cause fart noises and build up of extra moisture on and around your bust. Sprinkling some baby powder before wearing your band will help absorb excess moisture. When you take off your band, put on lotion regularly to protect your skin from vacuuming and drying out.
   • Do not use lotion and baby powder at the same time or while wearing your band. You can damage your band and the lotion and powder combination can form an unwanted paste.
4. Pay attention to safety when wearing your waistband as a strap. It is extremely important to securely strap your chest and protect your body from permanent health risks and damage. An extremely tight band can restrict breathing and cause broken ribs, damage to breast tissue over time, and build-up of fluid in your chest.
   • Do not wear the band for more than 8 to 12 hours. If you wear your band for long periods of time, you risk bruising and limiting oxygen in your body.
   • Never go to sleep with your band on.
   • Do not put a bandage or duct tape over your band. In fact, use never duct tape or bandages to flatten your chest. These tactics limit movement and oxygen from entering your body.

Method 2 of 4: Using other methods

1. Layer shirts over your tie. This is very effective if you have already tied your chest. It's also an alternative if you don't have anything to tie up with. A tight T-shirt or a top under a pair of loose shirts or a shirt can make your chest look narrower. You can further enhance the illusion of a smaller breast area by:
   • Wearing patterns or colors that distract the eye from your chest. Wearing a shirt with a logo across your chest can make your chest stand out more. Try something with a sticker that covers the entire shirt to make the overall length of your body look flatter. Or wear darker colored shirts to make your chest look smaller.
   • Wear scarves, vests and ties. These garments help to cover up or distract others from looking at your chest.
   • Wear clothes with breast pockets. Instead of looking at your chest, the eye can be drawn to your pouch. This is most effective when the shirt is loose.
   • Wear hoodies. Hoodies are usually quite loose fitting. An oversized hoodie over a tight top can hide your chest pretty well.
2. Wear sports compression clothing. Sports compression clothing is mainly worn to improve blood circulation during exercise or to reduce tension after exercise. These form-retaining garments can be found at a sportswear store near you.
   • The same effect can be achieved by wearing a tight swimsuit. Although the swimsuit may need to be several sizes smaller to have an effect and the elastic hems trimmed to reduce pressure on your limbs.

Method 3 of 4: Wear a sports bra

1. Find a good sports bra. A tight-fitting sports bra can do a great job of flattening your chest. You can try a sports bra that is a size smaller to make it extra flat. However, it shouldn't be painful to wear and it should never restrict your breathing.
   • When trying on your sports bra, take a few deep breaths to make sure it doesn't limit your ability to breathe.
   • Move around in your sports bra when you fit it, by bending, hanging, jumping and sitting. This will give you an idea of ​​how your sports bra will fit when you move. It can feel and look good when you are upright, but it can feel different when you move in it during the day.
   • Look for bras made of spandex. Spandex is stretching and shaping at the same time.
   • Do not wear a sports bra for too long if it is very tight. The general rule for most breast wrapping methods is not to wear the garment for longer than 8 hours.
2. Try other sports bras. If a sports bra doesn't work, try two on to flatten your chest. You can try:
   • Put the first bra on normally and the second back to front.
   • A larger size for your second sports bra. If the second sports bra is too difficult to fit over the first bra, size up and see how it fits and feels.
3. Always be safe when ligating your chest. It is important to do it safely with any method of tying off. Tight or prolonged ligation can cause permanent tissue damage, breathing problems, bruises and broken ribs.
   • Do not use ACE or elastic bandages over your sports bras. Any type of breast wrap with a bandage can be dangerous and cause damage to your breast tissue, lungs, and ribs.
   • Never wear your sports bra when you sleep.
   • Tie your chest off for a maximum of 8 to 12 hours.
   • Get sized for a sports bra. A professional can help you find a bra that fits you better and flattens your chest more effectively.

Method 4 of 4: Using a professional binder

1. Find out where to buy breast ties. There are several companies online that design ties especially for transgender men. There are also transgender men who sell used ties that either no longer fit or are no longer used by them. You may also be able to purchase a strapping from your local sex-positive retailer.
   • Ligators are not only used by transgender men but also for cisgender men who have gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts due to hormone imbalance). You can find ligatures that are specialized to help men with gynecomastia.
   • If you can't afford a binder, there are many programs you can sign up for to get cheap or free binders. But most of these exchange programs aim to help low-income transgender men while they are being transformed.
2. Choose the correct size binder to wear. If you know your bra size, most retailers will be able to help you convert your bra size into binder size. If you are going to buy them online, a table or online conversion tool may be available on the merchant's website.
   • Otherwise, you can also measure yourself to determine the size of your binder. Start by measuring the fullest part of your chest tightly with your clothes on. Then measure under your chest where the fold is. Finally add both numbers together and divide by two to get the size of your binder.
   • It is important to get the correct format for your ligator. A binder is not always comfortable to wear, but you should always be able to breathe while wearing it. You should never feel limited to a point where you cannot.
3. Decide whether you want a wide or narrow binder. Narrow ties end directly at your waist or under your bust. Wide straps reach several inches below your waist and about an inch in front of your belly button, depending on your body type.
   • Short ties tend to roll up and may require adjustments. While wide ligatures remain stretched for a longer time. A binder that rolls up can cause unsightly lines that show through your clothes. One way to avoid this problem is to fold an inch from the bottom of your binder to keep it from rolling up.
   • Choose a wide or narrow strap based on your body type and the comfort of your fit. If you have a heavier physique, you may benefit from a wider ligature as it does not roll up as often.
4. Put on your binder. Straps are put on differently than normal bras or sports bras. Start with:
   • Putting on your binder inside out and upside down.
   • Step into your binder and pull the bottom up towards your head up to your waist.
   • Use the shoulder straps to pull out the strapping.
   • Put your arms through the shoulder straps.
   • Pull out the bottom of the binder to make it lie smooth. Some people will leave it folded to prevent the binder from rolling up when out and about.
5. Adjust your chest to fit under your binder. After putting on your ligature for the first time, you may find that you have something that resembles a single breast. There are several ways to adjust your binder to fit you better:
   • Make your chest look flatter by separating your breasts. Reach into your binder with your hand and press your breasts apart towards your arms.
   • Press your breasts down to achieve a flatter look. Reach into your binder with your hand and press down on your breasts to flatten them.
   • Cut or adjust parts of your binder to avoid strange noises or bulging. Your ligator may be too long, or it may be too close to your armpit. With scissors, needle and some thread, you can adjust the binder to fit you better.
   • Adjust the fit using Velcro, spandex or other materials. Maybe the bottom of your binder is too tight, but everything else fits perfectly, or the bottom keeps rolling up. You can use Velcro or spandex on the bottom of your binder to help.
6. Use tips and tricks to make wearing a binder more effective and comfortable. For some people, a binder may not be enough, especially if you have a larger cup size. Or a binder is too uncomfortable or uncomfortable to wear. Some tips to improve your experience wearing a binder include:
   • Wear a shirt under your binder. It makes wearing a ligator more comfortable and reduces the risk of your ligator moving.
   • Wear layers of clothing to create a flatter look. Loose or loose clothing can help you disguise the appearance of a breast.
   • Look in the mirror for a better view of your chest. It can look bigger when you look down on it. So adjust your appearance based on what you see in the mirror.
   • Move, loot, hang, sit, and jump around when trying your tie-off. It can feel and look good when you are standing up, but it can feel different when you start moving.
   • Before putting on your ligature, apply cornstarch or baby powder to your body to absorb moisture or sweat. Some straps may not be breathable and cause you to sweat in hot weather or when you exercise. Cornstarch and baby powder can help prevent your skin from being irritated by the tightness of the binder.
7. Pay attention to safety when wearing your binder. It is extremely important to securely strap your chest and protect your body from permanent health risks and damage. An extremely tight ligature can restrict breathing and cause broken ribs, damage to breast tissue over time and build-up of fluid in your chest.
   • Do not wear your ligature for longer than 8 to 12 hours. If you wear your band for long periods of time, you risk bruising and limiting oxygen in your body.
   • Binding your breast is only a short-term solution. Ligating your chest for extended periods of time can cause permanent tissue damage. If for some reason you decide to bandage your chest on a daily basis, consider safer long-term solutions.
   • Never go to sleep with your band on. Wearing a bandage at night can affect your breathing or cause skin irritation.
   • Do not put a bandage or duct tape over your band. In fact use never duct tape or bandages to flatten your chest. These tactics restrict movement and oxygen from entering your body.

Tips

• You can wear your binder while swimming. However, you may feel the effectiveness or tightness of your ligature diminish after swimming. Don't worry, your binder will be back to normal after a good wash and dry.

Warnings

• Don't go to sleep with any band on. While gynecomastia bandages and binders especially for transgender people are much safer than ACE bandages, you still shouldn't go to sleep wearing one. You will not be able to feel if it is becoming uncomfortable or if it is moving in your sleep and restricting your breathing.
• Most people find that ligation decreases the firmness of their breast tissue when done daily, resulting in smaller and more saggy breasts. Consider looking for safer long-term solutions by asking a health professional for advice or an LGBTQ + mentor if you are in transition. Even wearing a ligature daily for no more than a few months can permanently change the shape of the breasts.
• You should never tie up with an elastic bandage. The material stretches due to the natural expansion of your rib cage through breathing. This causes it to lose its elasticity over time. Each time you reapply it, it tightens and can cause serious damage and affect lung function.
• While there is no concrete research linking a ligation to breast cancer, breast ligation can cause lumps that, while harmless in and of itself, can lead to expensive, uncomfortable, and ultimately unnecessary health problems.