Safety first! Before diving into a new gender affirming product, it's best to learn a little bit more about it to ensure the product is for you. And more importantly, whether it is safe for you and your body! Rest assured, using proper technique to tape your chest with skin-safe tape is safe!
Greetings, earthlings!
This is Earth right?
I come in peace!
And with more information on TransTape!
So you just heard about this newfangled body transformation system called TransTape and now you may be wondering, is taping my chest safe?
In short, yes.
It's safe, when applied properly, to tape your chest using TransTape.
But if you're looking for a more detailed explanation or aren't sure what TransTape is, you've come to the right place!
This is where I like to over-explain things!
What IS TransTape?
TransTape is the original body transformation system that was created in 2016 by Kaiyote, a trans man, while looking for alternatives to a traditional binder so he could feel more like himself.
After the life changing effect it had on him, he generously shared it with the rest of us and, in my humble opinion, it takes gender euphoria to a new level.
TransTape is a compression free, strapless, and waterproof alternative to gender affirming products such as binders, bras and gaffes.
The name of the game is finding your freedom and TransTape helps you do exactly that!
To this day, people are finding more and more ways to express themselves while using TransTape.
And TransTape is made for everyone.
You don't need to be transgender or a drag performer to use it.
You just gotta be human.
What Makes It Safe?
Well, well, well.
Looking for the longer answer, huh?
Great!
There are a couple special qualities about TransTape that come to mind when thinking about how it's safe for our bodies.
First of all, it's made of high quality latex free materials.
It's also breathable and provides us with full, compression free, range of motion.
TransTape is safe to wear throughout all of our favorite daily activities.
All activities.
That's right, you can even go swimming, shower daily or play in the rain!
Using things like binders unfortunately limits you to dry land for the most part.
I mean, you could wear your binder in the pool but would you really want to have a wet binder squeezing your chest?
Probably not.
TransTape is waterproof so rest assured that your binding, or packing, or tucking, experience will be complete, and safe, from start to finish.
As you see here, it survived a Spartan race and muddy water.
And you can wear it for up to 5 days at a time!
You can run a marathon, do some yard-work, take a beach day or lounge openly and freely at home while binge watching your favorite show.
Or all of the above with the same application!
No matter what your day looks like, TransTape will be there.
Watching.
Not actually!
But TransTape is created for, and safe for, for every type of lifestyle, no matter how mellow or extreme it may be.
Find your freedom, find yourself.
Now let's break it down a little bit more!
Quality Materials
The tape is made from a blend of 95% cotton and 5% spandex.
And the medical grade acrylic adhesive used is hypoallergenic, latex free and non-medicated.
Although TransTape is made from these high quality, hypoallergenic materials, it doesn't guarantee it will be okay for everyone's skin. So whether or not you have sensitive skin, please do a test strip prior to applying TransTape.
As with any product, there are detailed instructions on proper application and removal.
On the official TransTape website you can actually view the user manual for free!
A copy is sent to your email after every purchase along with a copy in your package when your tape arrives!
And if you're looking for something more than a manual, reach out through the help desk on the website or you can even check out the YouTube, Instagram and the blog!
You'll find tips, tricks and techniques on all of those pages.
And you'll learn about that test strip too!
Test strips are incredibly important and required in order to ensure TransTape is safe for your skin before completely applying.
Plus, if you ever find yourself in the TransTape help chat, they're probably going to ask you if you did a test strip first anyways.
So just go ahead and do it!
TransTape also suggests repairing salve and removal oil.
Both of these products are made from natural healing ingredients that benefit our overall skin health.
The Repairing Salve is made from Organic Coconut Oil, Shea Butter & Beeswax along with Monarda, Cedarwood and Frankincense essential oils.
The Removal Oil is made of 100% Pure HOBACARE Jojoba Oil.
TransTape not only provides the user with high quality materials and natural ingredients, it provides a safe alternative to restrictive chest binders.
When using TransTape, it is entirely optional to use removal oil and repairing salve, but it's also highly recommended.
When you use these products along with TransTape, it provides a better and more ideal experience and it also benefits your overall skin health.
Jojoba oil especially helps improve skin elasticity and can reduce any irritation or inflammation.
Breathable
TransTape is a zero compression option for binding.
Woohoo!
Compression is when something is applying pressure or squeezing.
And we don't like that, here.
Binders are made from a type of material that squeezes, or compresses, your chest tissue causing a more "flat" appearance.
I use the quotations because, nobody has a perfectly flat chest.
Compression can cause difficulty breathing and discomfort.
When exposing your body to compression for long periods of time it can actually cause problems such as bruised or fractured ribs, shortness of breath and damage to your skin.
And due to the compression from binders, you're actually limited to only 8 hours a day.
Unlike binders or ace bandages, when properly applied TransTape will not compress or constrict your body throughout the day at all.
And you can actually safely wear one application of TransTape for up to 5 days in a row!
When you apply TransTape, it doesn't wrap around your body, leaving you backless and strapless!
The tape doesn't connect across the front either, so feel free to wear that open chested shirt you've been eyeballing in the closet.
Range of Motion
Lack of compression doesn't just allow easier breathing, it gives us the freedom of having a full range of motion without sacrificing our gender euphoria.
Meaning, feel free to swing your arms all about because there's nothing stopping you.
Not even the feeling of a binder rolling up every time you lift your arms up!
For me, this is the most important aspect of binding.
Having something that feels like another layer of clothing is super uncomfortable for me and taping my chest feels closer to a second skin, where I don't even think about it.
It's a nice feeling to not have anything putting pressure on my shoulders or preventing me from moving freely.
And it's even nicer to be able to do everything I love without restriction.
Tape It Up
Now that you've learned a little bit more about TransTape, hopefully you're feeling a little bit more confident about trying it out.
TransTape uses high quality, hypoallergenic and latex free materials, ensuring the best possible experience for the user.
No matter who you are or what you do, taping could be for you.
That rhymed.
I personally enjoy being active and doing crazy things on a whim sometimes so having peace of mind while wearing TransTape is really assuring.
I've been wearing it for years without worry. I was even shirtless with my good pals at a music festival!
I'm never worried about what time it has to come off and I'm not stressed about what activities I'm allowed to do.
So, in summary.
It is safe to tape your chest using TransTape.
When properly applied.
There are many different ways to use TransTape and a lot of different techniques for all body types that show proper application for a safe and euphoric experience.
And if you're having difficulties with applying your TransTape, reach out to the help desk where someone will help walk you through the process and answer any questions in real time!
When used correctly, TransTape can be an incredible, euphoric, and safe, experience.
Don't just take my word for it though, try it for yourself!
Until next time,
Stay awesome,
Stay beautiful,
Stay you.
You are loved and it gets better.
Talk to you soon,
Jamie
Welcome to the cool kids club!
My name is Jamie and I'm a young (ish) transman born and raised in the Hudson Valley of New York state. I started my transition in May of 2017 and since then, I've made it my mission to live unapologetically as myself and spread awareness through my pursuit of happiness. I am the creator and writer of Spilling T blog, a proud affiliate of TransTape and when I'm not outside with the best dog ever or hanging out with my two cats, I make and sell my own beard care products through Buckaroo's Beard Care. I'm always looking for my next adventure and have been skydiving, road-tripping, hiking in the mountains and even served for a short time in the United States Marine Corps. My life has had its fair share of twists and turns and I hope to use those experiences to create helpful and relatable content that may help someone else navigate a difficult time in life.
Beards, Socials, Tape and Writing
Use code FINALLYME10 and Find Your Freedom with TransTape!