alright gang, we need another win over the news mega this week! keep those numbers up and keep being trans as hell 
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First time binding with trans tape, today.
not-so-quick initial review
It doesn't get the chest down completely flat, which I was expecting; however I do wish I had managed to bind a little flatter? Right now it looks like I have either small A cups or very large pecs, and there's definitely still cleavage there. In the videos I watched it seemed that the people in them were able to get slightly flatter results. This may also be an issue of self-perception and things coming across differently on video, though.
The good part is, when I put on a shirt, it does sell the illusion a lot better. From the front view the illusion works best, from the side view again, looks like small A cups to me but still not too bad. Definitely a lot better than the B/C cup boob silhouette that I was getting really tired of. (I don't know exactly what size bra I wear, the last time I wore a bra at all regularly I was a B cup but that was 5 years ago and I think my boobs have grown since then.)
Definitely feel a lot more comfortable than a traditional binder, which was my main reason for getting it. I got my first binder when I was 18, and right after getting that binder I got COVID. Since then, binders have just... not been comfortable for me, and the last time I tried wearing one I had to take it off really quickly just because of how much difficulty breathing I was having. I could probably get slightly flatter results with a binder, but I don't think it's worth the health risk. I know people also use sports bras for the compression, but I hate bras. They are sensory hell to me and they always have been.
I was not wearing a binder regularly because of how uncomfortable I found it. I think I may try to bind more regularly now with the tape, because yeah, always having to dissociate a bit from my chest area got to be tiring after idk two years of doing it. Hopefully I'll get top surgery sooner rather than later, but I think that's probably still at least a few years off, unfortunately.
Since this is my first time applying it, my application was pretty sloppy and I had to redo one side. I think I'll get better at that as time goes on.
Not having saggy tits is such a boost to my mental health. I know there are probably some people in this thread who want saggy tits, and all I can say is: take my saggy tit energy
Okay quick correction, I just caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror from side profile (with a shirt on) and damn, that looks better than I thought. I think my initial perception was definitely skewed because of how conscious I was of my tits when first applying the tape. Looked flatter than an A cup, not completely flat but I wasn't expecting that. Also holy shit, I looked so fucking hot with my tank top and messy hair and flat chest. Gotta look like that all the time, how did it take me so long to realize that this is what I'm meant to look like.
Aw fuck yeah, ty for posting a buncha details about the process and experience using trans tape. Sounds like a really good binder alternative? Happy to hear you really like the end results
I think it's good for me and my circumstances, I'm lucky that the adhesive doesn't irritate my skin at all. I read a bunch of reviews from transmascs who weren't really satisfied, seemed to be a case of the tape not creating as flat a result as a binder, which I was okay with. The application process is pretty tricky though, hoping that I improve on that in the future (the people in the tutorial videos put it on so smoothly...)
Makes sense, couldn't imagine tape would give as good compression. Also the adhesive sounds kinda hellish, cool that it works for you though! Should get better with practice prolly
I think it's basically some form of kinesiology tape so it is made to be applied on skin, but yeah, doesn't work for everyone. I'm lucky, my skin doesn't get irritated easily, I can put all sorts of tapes on it (even the ones that are definitely not made to be skin-safe) and I've never gotten any sort of reaction to it.
Binding is just one of those things that is never going to be 100% perfect, even binders don't create completely flat results, so I take what wins I can get. There's really no alternative to top surgery with this kind of stuff.
glad it worked out!
I think this is gender euphoria?? Wow I'm realizing that I've been starved of some good euphoria for months, I forgot what it felt like. Feeling pretty excited rn
Binding sounds really unfun, dealing with chest dysphoria like that as a (I know you aren't trans masc but I can't think of how else to put it and you know what I mean :ohnoes: someone who has them but doesn't want them) in general sounds kinda terrible. Very happy the tape works well!
I'll take saggy tit energy. Want my deep voice energy?
Yeah I do know what you mean, no stress
. It's funny though, I don't really think of binding as something very stressful or painful, conversely listening to transfemmes discuss laser hair removal sounds extremely unfun to me, I have huge respect for anyone who gets it.
Yes I will take the deep voice energy, want my round face energy?
Huh, it seemed like it would be. Have not experienced it yet though. And I don't know, in general I feel like I'm more dysphoric over what I have that I don't want, then what I want but don't have (if that makes sense). I'm just so excited for laser I don't even think about it hurting tbh.
I will take round face energy (although I think mine is already a little round as is so might not be the best trade for you). DO YOU want my tall energy? Could be nice~
Yeah! The feeling of euphoria is no joke. Hoping you can get laser soon!!
I would in fact love tall energy, I'm pretty average height. Actually it's funny, I think back when I thought I was a girl my height bothered me more than it does now, I wished I was taller. I think I had a big mindset shift around my body when I first questioned my gender, like I used to be very self-conscious about certain things like acne, and then I suddenly wasn't. Patriarchal society loves commenting on women's bodies, it's mindbending. Hopefully as I get deeper into my transition I'll start feeling more comfy and confident in this strange vessel I pilot around.