Community Conversation => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Transsexual talk => FTM Gear => Topic started by: perrystephens on October 23, 2014, 02:01:26 AM Return to Full Version

Title: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: perrystephens on October 23, 2014, 02:01:26 AM
I haven't had much reason for binding in the past couple years because I go to online school and I'm pretty much a recluse and barely even look in the mirror aside from the 2 minutes it takes to style my hair but next year my mom is making me go back to regular school. The only way I really know how to bind and stay closeted is using ace bandages (which I only do for about 30 mins at a time max. to go to the store or something) but if I'm going to be in public for 8 hours at a time I don't want to take a risk like that. When I use 2 sports bras and a sweatshirt, it usually makes me comfortable enough to go get the mail or something but I have a big chest (D cup) so it doesn't hide as much as I'd want it to. People keep recommending athletic shirts but I don't play sports so I don't have an excuse to get one. Any other ideas?
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: Teacherology on October 23, 2014, 02:08:01 AM
Maybe try a ribbrace or a waist trimmer? It is used to support peoples back and belly... you can wear it as binder. I don't have personal experience with this method though.

Or the other optical option is to layer your clothes. It will appear flatter while it actually isn't.
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: Remiie on October 23, 2014, 05:24:48 AM
What I used to do was get a realllly small stretchy tight tank top, and fold it upwards over my breasts. It works reasonably ish. I too am a D cup and understand how much of a pain in the ass it is to bind. Honestly you'd be better off getting a binder or trying out sports bras in a smaller cup size
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: Dio for dragons on October 23, 2014, 06:05:39 AM
if the only safe option you have is wearing sports bras (using a bandage is out of the question! it's very unhealthy) you can wear a vest after your shirt ! it always helps one to make the chest area appear flatter ;)
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: Aiden In Progress on October 23, 2014, 09:36:41 PM
I'm not a sportsy person. At all. But I absolutely love how compression shirts feel. They've become pretty popular in mainstream fashion, so I really doubt anyone would think twice about you wearing one. You could tell people that it helps with anxiety or sensory issues. Those are the main reasons I got some shirts in the first place.
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: devention on October 24, 2014, 02:43:21 AM
Is it a money issue or a fear of delivery issue that you can't get a binder? If it's the latter, underworks packaging is discreet enough. Do your parents go through your packages (if so, you have nothing but my sympathy)? If it's the former, do you not have a bank card or just no funds?
If your parents go through your mail, you'll probably be out of luck on the mail order front. As others have said, a back brace would probably be your best bet, if you can get a hold of one. There's also potential for you to make your own with just some fabric, velcro, and elastic bands, if you want to go that route, but they don't work well in my experience. (Tho my chest is bigger than yours it sounds like.)
You may have luck with a compression shirt and a couple tight sports bras.
But please, do not use ace bandages.
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: perrystephens on October 24, 2014, 05:04:42 AM
Quote from: devention on October 24, 2014, 02:43:21 AM
Is it a money issue or a fear of delivery issue that you can't get a binder? If it's the latter, underworks packaging is discreet enough. Do your parents go through your packages (if so, you have nothing but my sympathy)? If it's the former, do you not have a bank card or just no funds?
If your parents go through your mail, you'll probably be out of luck on the mail order front. As others have said, a back brace would probably be your best bet, if you can get a hold of one. There's also potential for you to make your own with just some fabric, velcro, and elastic bands, if you want to go that route, but they don't work well in my experience. (Tho my chest is bigger than yours it sounds like.)
You may have luck with a compression shirt and a couple tight sports bras.
But please, do not use ace bandages.

I have more than enough cash but I don't have a credit card and I'm underage so I don't think I could get one without parent's permission so I would have to ask for my mom's prompting her to ask what I need it for. And I couldn't get anything at a store because I don't have a driver's licence so someone would have to take me to and from, and probably ask me about it. I don't think it would necessarily out me if I got some sort of compression shirt or back brace but I don't know what I would say about why I'm getting it.
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: Alexthecat on October 24, 2014, 06:08:04 AM
At a mall you can buy a prepaid credit card that can be used online.
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: AdamMLP on October 24, 2014, 07:08:45 AM
Explain that you've thought about getting a bank card so that you can take responsibility for your own money, earn a little bit of interest even perhaps, and that it's safer than carrying cash or keeping it at home. Any parent should be happy that their kids is thinking about those things. 
Title: Re: How do I bind safely without a binder?
Post by: devention on October 24, 2014, 09:32:53 AM
You could go grocery shopping with them the next time you go. Most of the grocery stores around here sell the prepaid credit cards, especially if you grocery shop at Walmart. Just grab something you want and go to a different lane. Our you could ask to go for something innocuous or say it's for a friend's birthday or Christmas.