By Charlie Lewis - November 2024
The experience of gender dysphoria is something often experienced by trans and non-binary folks when their body appearance or anatomy doesn’t align with their gender. For many trans masc individuals, as well as those of other genders who wish to have a flatter or more masculine-appearing chest, trans tape is an incredibly useful tool. To get the most out of trans tape, and avoid causing any potential damage to your skin, you must know how to properly apply and remove trans tape. This tutorial will help you to know exactly how to use and apply trans tape so you can set yourself up for success when you’re ready to use it.
Note to the readers: This article is not intended to provide health/medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This article is also not sponsored by any brand/manufacturer.
What is Trans Tape Used for and How Does it Work?
Trans tape refers to a wide range of products used primarily to redistribute chest tissue to flatten or masculinize the appearance of the chest. The practice of flattening using tape or other tools is referred to as “chest-binding.” However, it’s now known that binding with bandages, duct tape, or any non-flexible material can cause damage to your ribs/skin. This is why products like trans tape were made, to offer a safer solution to binding for those seeking gender euphoria. In addition to chest masculinization/flattening, trans tape can also be used for tucking, attaching packers, or holding/supporting breast tissue.
Trans tape works by using tension, rather than compression, to move and hold skin and fat tissue in a preferred position for extended periods. It can be worn for several days at a time if used correctly and poses less of a risk compared to other forms of chest binding/flattening such as binders and compression garments.
What Do You Need to Know Before Using Trans Tape?
It’s important to inform yourself of the uses, risks, and benefits of trans tape before using it. You may be eager to begin using trans tape, but before you dive right into purchasing/applying it, take some time to familiarize yourself with the various brands, sizes, tips, and tricks.
Why Knowing How to Use Trans Tape is Important
While a great tool for gender presentation and achieving gender euphoria/combatting dysphoria, trans tape can cause issues or pose risks to your health if used incorrectly. Though generally considered safer than compression-based binding methods, trans tape can cause reactions or damage to the skin if precautions aren’t taken. In addition, you may not be getting the most out of your trans tape if you’re not well-versed in proper application/use, which can lead to less favorable results overall, and affect satisfaction with trans tape. Always go into the application of trans tape in a good headspace and be patient with yourself. Like any new skill, it takes time and room for error to learn how to use trans tape.
What Are the Steps Involved in Using/Applying Trans Tape?
The following section will cover the steps of using/applying trans tape in depth. This section will focus on using trans tape for chest binding. There are other uses for it, such as packing, tucking, and using it as support for breasts, rather than flattening, but the instructions for applying to skin and stretching will be relatively the same regardless of use. However, take some time to educate yourself on using it for those purposes properly. The steps might look slightly different depending on the size and shape of your chest. In addition to the steps, the chart below will give you a better idea of what you need to bind with trans tape properly for your body type.
Illustration by the Author
How To Use/Apply Trans Tape
Step 1: Test before You begin
Before applying trans tape, it’s important to make sure you’re not sensitive or allergic to the material or adhesive of the brand(s) you are using. To ensure this, begin by applying a test strip with no tension to your skin, leaving it on for an hour or longer to observe whether or not there is a reaction.
Step 2: Protect your nipples
Begin by covering your nipple with a protective layer. Some brands of tape will include nipple covers in their kits/with their products, but not all of them do. If your tape didn’t come with covers, you can use extra-large band-aids or make your own.
If making your own covers, start by cutting a square of the tape a bit larger than your nipple, then roll out toilet paper, and fold it to make a cushion that will cover your nipple and fit under the tape (ensuring the edges of the tape are still clear to adhere to your skin around the nipple.) You can begin by placing the toilet paper square on your nipple first, then affixing the tape, or by applying the paper on the tape prior to application.
Apply without stretching or tension. This protective layer will ensure the sensitive skin of your nipple won’t be chafed by the tape or adhesive and will make removal of the tape less painful.
Step 3: Prep the tape
Now you can begin prepping the tape. Start with cutting out all the pieces you’ll need. The size of the tape and how many pieces you use will be entirely dependent on the size and shape of your chest. Remember that the tape will be stretching a fair amount, so you can make the pieces a bit shorter than you think is necessary.
The brand of tape you purchased may have measurement guidance based on the tape's size options, but it’s recommended to begin with 3 to 4 sections. After cutting to size, round the edges of each piece. Create a handle on each piece by pulling back half of the paper from the tape, and ripping in the center, so you do not have to touch the adhesive during application.
Step 4: Apply the first strip
To begin, look at your chest in the mirror and imagine you are wearing a V-neck shirt. When placing the tape, avoid the area inside of the “V,” as this will optimize flattening and make the tape less visible if you wear open or lower-neck clothing.
Once you’ve decided where you want your tape to start, apply the first two inches of the tape strip that you prepared/pulled away from the backing earlier to the center of your chest. To activate the adhesive, rub the tape where it’s attached to your chest.
Hold the tape by the handle you made, pulling it taught without wrinkling the material. Line up your chest tissue where the tape will lie, and ensure it is tucked underneath. Depending on your chest size, you may need to add more than one strip of tape during this step to have full coverage of your chest tissue.
Step 5: Flatten your chest tissue
Guide your tissue to the side, flattening it against your body. When you feel comfortable with where it is resting, you may remove the rest of the backing before applying the trans tape flat and without any tension. Give it another good rub to activate the adhesive.
Step 6: Repeat on the other side
Do the same on the other side of your chest. Work to make both sides relatively even, but don’t worry or fret too much if they are not identical. Even those with naturally flattened chests do not have completely symmetrical pectoral muscles or fat distribution.
How To Remove Trans Tape
Step 1: Find the right setting and supplies
It’s best to find a calm, quiet, and private space in which to remove the tape, such as your bathroom or bedroom. It’s often easiest to remove trans tape in the shower or bath, allowing the water to help dissolve the adhesive and relax the body as you remove the tape.
Supplies you’ll need for removal include some form of lubrication, such as body oil or lotion. You should also have a soft, clean towel nearby to dry off your skin after removal, especially if removing in the shower/bath, and loose-fitting comfortable clothes to wear afterward.
Step 2: Use lubrication
Once you’ve gathered your supplies for removal and are in a good space, you can begin lubricating the tape.
You should always use some form of lubricant while removing trans tape, such as body oil. Some trans tape brands carry their own line of oils/removal supplies. However, you can instead use easy-to-find products such as baby oil, as long as they are safe for use on skin. The lubrication will not only help dissolve the adhesive but help moisturize your tissue while it’s being released from the tape. A crucial step in using trans tape is caring for your skin before and after use, the lubricant will help you in that process.
Begin by soaking the tape and surrounding skin in oil for several minutes, allowing it to soak through the material.
Step 3: Remove the tape
If you have used multiple pieces of tape, start with just the top layer, peeling off from the inner corner in the middle of your chest where the tape was first applied. It will be easiest to remove the tape with a good coating of oil on your hands. You can then massage the oil into the tape, one strip at a time, and then massage your tissue and skin away from the tape as you remove it.
Step 4: Massage and moisturize your skin
Once you’ve successfully removed every piece of tape and your nipple covers, use oil or another form of moisturizer that works for your body to massage the tissue that was adhered to the tape. This will moisturize your skin and help the blood circulate to the area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long can you wear trans tape?
Trans tape can be worn for multiple days at a time between application and removal. You can even exercise, shower, or swim while binding with trans tape. Trans tape and KT tape are recommended to be worn for around three to five days at a time. After removal, give yourself at least 24 hours between applications to let your skin recover. It’s important to go slow at first and pay attention to how it feels on your skin over time to find out your limits for how long you can wear trans tape.
How do I know if my tape is big enough?
Many trans tape brands offer different widths of tape for those with differently sized chests. To find your size, start by measuring the length and width of your chest with a flexible measuring tape. Then, flatten your tissue against your chest in the way you would while applying the tape, to see how much tissue will need coverage. This should give you an idea of the width you’ll need to purchase. However, you can always use extra pieces of tape to build out the size you need to flatten your tissue.
Can I use KT tape in place of tape made for binding?
Yes! KT tape is a suitable material for binding. Trans tape is essentially the same product as KT tape (kinesiology tape) which is used for holding muscles and tissue in place while healing or to protect the body when exercising. Trans tape marketed for binding is typically a bit wider than KT tape and comes in more skin tone options in some cases. However, as the above answer states, you can simply use more strips of KT tape if one panel is too small for your needs. KT tape is easier to find in-store/in person and can be more discrete for those who don’t want to disclose their use of trans tape to others.
What should I do if I have a reaction to the tape after use?
Whether during your initial test or after using it for binding, you may find your skin having an adverse reaction to the tape. This is usually caused by the adhesive or the fabric used in constructing the tape. However, sometimes it can be caused by the tension of the tape on your skin, especially if it’s pinching you or not allowing for natural body movement. It’s best to gently remove all tape, using a non-irritating lubricant, and keep an eye on your skin once the tape is removed. If the reaction doesn’t go away or you feel concerned it’s important to speak to your healthcare provider about using binding tape safely.
What if my chest isn’t completely flat after application?
It’s important to manage expectations when using trans tape. Dysphoria, or the experience of having a body that does not align with your gender identity/experience, can be difficult, but there are still limits to how much certain tools like trans tape can change your body. The redistribution of body fat/tissue created by trans tape allows your chest to appear flatter by pushing the tissue back, away from your chest, and towards your armpit/side. When this re-distribution happens, the tissue will not disappear or go away, which means a completely flat chest will not always be possible to achieve using trans tape or binders. Especially for those with larger chests.
It’s also important to remember that most people, regardless of body makeup, do not have completely flat chests. This means that others are not as likely as you are to notice that you’re binding or that you have re-distributed your tissue. If you aren’t satisfied with the result, however, you can take the tape off (using the removal oil) and attempt to apply it again once the oil dries, with more strips or at a different angle until you find what looks and feels best.
Conclusion
Trans tape can be a great tool for expression, body confidence, increasing gender euphoria, and combatting dysphoria. We designed this article to guide you in using trans tape effectively, helping you feel prepared and confident when you’re ready to apply it. If you want to know more about trans tape, check out our ultimate guide on the topic here.
Charlie Lewis (he/him/his) is a queer non-binary writer and filmmaker based out of Portland, OR.