Report Blog Entry
Binder care 101 from KYLE HIMSELF!!!!
(Ooh ahh woww marry me kyle) the crowd screams
I. How to handle
⇨ Binders can get stretched out, resulting in the binder compressing your chest less. Try your hardest not to pull it too hard or stretch it!
⇨ Please wear the correct binder size! Getting a smaller binder and hoping it will achieve a flatter chest is understandable, but you don’t want to be squeezing your ribs. The elastic band of the binder (right under your chest) gets squeezed along with the tissue you are trying to flatten, and this causes a lot of pain, speaking from experience. It can also damage your ribs and make breathing difficult.
⇨ Don’t swim/bathe/exercise in a binder, it can both damage your ribs and it stretches the fabric. There are binders that are made specifically for swimming and exercising, use those instead.
⇨ Store your binder in a dry, cool, dark place in a flat, horizontal position. Hanging it up on a clothes hanger could stretch the fabric which is something you want to avoid.
⇨ Avoid putting your binder in direct sunlight or heat, which deteriorates the fabric.
⇨ Rotate between at least two binders if you can— wearing the same one daily shortens its lifespan a LOT. Try to leave each one unused for 24 hours if possible to let the elastic rest.
II. Washing
⇨ It is best to wash your binder at least 1-2 times a week. Sweat and other dirt and buildup can irritate your skin and even cause fungal infections.
PS: try your best to NOT STINK!!! do not be stinky do not be stinky do not be stinky do not be s
⇨ Handwash your binder instead of machine washing when possible — washing machines can stretch, tear, damage, and discolor the fabric. Hand washing is much more gentle on your binder and can help it to last longer!
⇨ When handwashing your binder, turn it inside out so the part that touches your skin the most gets washed. Use cold or lukewarm water and avoid hot water. Knead it in the soapy water in the sink with a gentle detergent and let it soak for about ten minutes, then rinse all the soap out. Squeeze the water out, don’t wring it out (this can stretch the material).
⇨ It is better to air dry your binder than to put it in the dryer, which can deteriorate the fibers over time.
⇨ Air dry your binder flat on a towel, not hanging to avoid stretching. Avoid hanging your binder at all costs
⇨ If your binder has any zippers or clasps, secure them before washing so it doesn’t snag on anything.
⇨ If you have to machine wash your binder, put it in a delecates bag (a bag that keeps delicate laundry safe while washing) before throwing it in. This avoids some of the damage it would get without the bag! (a pillowcase tied with a hairtie works fine too)
III. Wearing
⇨ Stretch before and after binding.
⇨ Sit up straight. While slouching when not slouching is fine and creates the appearance of a flatter chest, slouching while wearing a binder can roll the bottom elastic up and bunch your chest together, creating a rounder shape to your chest which is something you probably don’t want. You can obviously adjust it back however you like, but it’s more convenient to not have to do it as much.
⇨ Be sure to wear deodorant before putting it on. You will most definitely be sweating while wearing it, so you will smell way better when you do and you’ll be way fresher. Less stinky is ALWAYS best!!!
⇨ If you are someone who sweats a lot, wearing an extra shirt underneath your binder can prevent your chest sliding around due to all the sweat when you move. It’s also a lot more comfortable!
⇨ Don’t wear your binder for more than 8 hours. Wearing it for too long can cause damage to your lungs, ribs and it hurts like hell after. DONT DO IT MAN 🫣
⇨ Take breaks, especially in public. If you have the opportunity to just go to the bathroom for like five minutes, take it off, and take some deep breaths and stretches, do it as often as you can.
⇨ Be aware that binders do not last forever, and that you may need to replace them every 6-9 months due to inevitable stretching from wear- even with proper actions taken to care for it.
All these things can help extend the lifespan of your binder and make sure YOU are safe and okay with yo swag asf flat chest!! 👍👍🤓
Sources: https://gc2b-help-center.gorgias.help/en-US/how-do-i-wash-my-binder-82087
https://www.reddit.com/r/ftm/comments/164sxm5/how_do_i_wash_binders_and_how_regularly_should_i/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ftm/comments/pkshwi/how_do_you_guys_store_your_binders/
and my ALL KNOWING EVER EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE.
Comment anymore tips for binders and binding below ;]
#alphamale #sigmagrindset #marrymekyle #binding #trans #ftm #howtofindmydih
Comments
Displaying 3 of 3 comments ( View all | Add Comment )
artymattymatt
tysm, one promblem, i need one first..
(but srsly thank you for this i will be saving it 💙)
Ofc <3 As a closeted person I don’t have an actual binder per say, but I convinced my mom to get these two loose compression tops with the excuse of “I hate my chest always bouncing around” and I wear them both and it flattens pretty well :)
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report
thats amazing! I'm so glad you can have something like that. since my chest is the biggest part of my dysphoria, ive tried to convince my mom to get me something similar for those reasons, but she completely shot it down.. n now that i came out to her i don't think I'll get anything close to binding until i move out
seeing ur blog makes me wanna try again tho!!!
by artymattymatt; ; Report
I’m glad I could help with your confidence to try again!! My chest is a huge part of my dysphoria too. If you’d like I could try to find the video ad that I found about the compression top that made it seem like just a thing for cis women, I think that’s the thing that sold my mom on it XD it was a thing from TikTok shop
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report
oh seriously??? oh wow that would be a big help if you could help me find something like that :0
by artymattymatt; ; Report
Found the links, here you go! :3
The first one is the video ad, the second one is the actual product
https://www.tiktok.com/@janestmsnine/video/7504693933398592810
https://www.tiktok.com/shop/pdp/janestara-bra-womens-minimizer-seamless-bra-breathable-workout/1731317098794488104
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report
tysm for this!!!!! sorry, in the state where I live Spacehey was banned, so my reply was late
but srsly thanks again :D
by artymattymatt; ; Report
Confetti boy
aaaa I found this just in time. I just bought a binder from wonababi. thank you, this will be very helpful.
Of course! Glad I could help :)
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report
neo
adding on here, i would not recommend gc2b. as someone who has been binding since 14 and am now 22, the quality of their binders has gone downhill and my most recent one is the reason i stopped binding with a binder and switched to transtape. because i do not use binders anymore, i can't recommend a better alternative because i am not familiar with newer brands, but for the love of everything that is holy--do not wear gc2b if it isn't an older binder.
I’ve heard that their binders can be dangerous, are there any specific reasons why though?
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report
the quality overall has declined so much. the stitching on the front and back panels frays much more than in previous years, and the back panel does not stretch nearly as much as it used to (at least on their half binders). when i would measure myself when getting a new one i would measure three times (to make sure i was accurate) and i was always between an xs and a s. i always sized up to a s and they used to fit beautifully. the one i got was so tight i couldn't get a full breath in. and the fabric used for the compression part seems to be rougher than in previous years. this is all personal experience, but i have some friends with the same complaints. they used to make some good shit but i can't even wear them anymore (unless its one from 2017 or 2018)
by neo; ; Report
That’s gotta suck
It’s definitely worth it to do research on the binders your getting and finding what’s most comfortable for you
by Kyle Kingston; ; Report