Embedded Files
By Finley Baker
Last Updated April 17, 2025
Image Description [Vignette style illustration with yellow, blue, red, and black color palette. The dark blue frame of the vignette features a star stymbol with small tape and scissor icons repeated in each corner with the text "Finley Baker 2025" at the bottom. Within the vignette, two nude goth figures are assisting each other with applying TransTape. They are sitting on a bed with dark blue sheets. The figure on the left is a mid-size Black trans masculine person that is heavily tattooed with a knife, coffin, bat, moth, skull, and more. They have several silver ear piercings, stretched ears, and a chainmail necklace. His coily hair is half-up half-down with two coils framing his face. He has black eyeliner and lipstick. He has KT tape on his wrist for radial nerve palsy. They are wearing high-waisted black underwear and a slight belly roll is visible. One side of his chest is already taped and the other side is in progress, as the figure on the right helps. The second figure is a mid-size white trans feminine person who has a few tattoos of a pomegranate, skull, and wolf. Her hair is long and wavy with a few white streaks. She has heavy grey eyeshadow, silver piercings, and red lipstick. She is wearing a leather collar and chainmail necklace and has red fingernails. Her chest has been lifted and she is tucking with TransTape. Her AAC device is next to her with a TouchChat home screen and the text "Want Help Yes" is visible. The red strap has a bat and pronoun pin. The walls and floor are light yellow, with a demon mask, bat skeleton, and Elvira poster as decor. Two rolls of TransTape sit at their feet, with one partially unrolled.]
Image Description [Infographic with several illustrations of people and textboxes. The heading reads "TransTape" with the subtitle "Body-safe tape, similar to kinesiology tape." There is a QR code with a link to this webpage and the caption "Scan for more." A red bar reads "TransTape can be for everybody." The main text reads "'TransTape does not compress the body, lungs, or organs. It is intended for multiple day use. It is safe to sleep in and does not restrict breathing' (TransTape, n.d.). It is a great alternative to traditional binding for those with risk of joint dislocations, ports or medical devices on the upper body, have frequent panic or asthma attacks, who enjoy swimming and exercise, or who are uncomfortable sleeping/showering without binding." The figure titled "Binding" is a mid-size, medium flesh tone person with curly dyed yellow hair, body hair, and a chest port, wearing yellow boxers. They are putting one piece of tape on their chest. There is an image of six different colors of tape with the caption "3, 4, 5, or 7"" The figure titled "Packing" is a thin, pale flesh tone person with long red hair, a yellow bra, and AFOs sitting on a stool and packing with red tape. The figure titled "Tucking" is a thin, medium flesh tone person with short curly hair, a yellow bra, and a congenital limb difference, who is tucking with red tape. The figure titled "Lifting" is a plus size, dark flesh tone person with a mid-length afro, a yellow headband, glasses, and yellow underwear. They are lifting one breast with red tape. Surrounding the figures are a pair of traditional scissors, a pair of adaptive scissors, a bottle of oil, and nipple covers in different colors. At the bottom of the infographic, there is a yellow textbook headed "Tips & Safety" with the text "Patch test: 1" x 1" piece of tape, leave for 24 hrs and check for irritation. Always cover nipples or genitals - nipple covers, napkin, folded piece of tape. To remove, soak with any type of body-safe oil and/or take off in hot shower. Signs of irritation: redness, swelling, itching, peeling, numbness/tingling."]
TransTape
TransTape
TransTape is body-safe tape that can be used in a wide variety of ways to position tissue however you want it. It is a complicated process that requires the ability to follow multi-step directions, operate scissors (traditional, tabletop, or otherwise adapted), and it may be difficult with the use of one hand only. If using to bind, tape can be applied full sitting down, though if you have a larger chest, you may need to hinge at the hips so gravity can help position your tissue.
Binding: Reducing the appearance of chest tissue. Great option for those who cannot wear traditional binders - if you are at risk for joint dislocations, have ports or medical devices on your upper body, or if you have frequent asthma or panic attacks.
Packing: Attaching a phallic prosthetic to the groin area, will need a rubber O-ring and hard or soft packer
Tucking: Reducing the appearance of a penis
Lifting: Lifting chest tissue up and holding it in place. Can be used by cis women as well as a boob tape option, especially under a sheer or backless garment.
Exposed Booty tape: This product is designed to hold the butt cheeks apart so that the anus is accessible for penetration or stimulation of any kind. This could be useful for people who are do not have the strength, stamina, or ability to hold butt cheeks for an extended amount of time and the receiver is busy using their hands to stimulate the giver.
Get creative!
Tape Options
TransTape comes in 3" (A-B cup), 4" (B-C cup), 5" (C-D cup), and 7" (D-DD+ cup)
Multiple skin colors, fun colors, and "tattooed" patterns
Steps
Patch Test
Cut a 1" x 1" square of the tape and apply to the area that you are planning to use the tape, and leave for at least 24 hrs. If you can, put some tension on the tape.
Watch for signs of irritation: redness, swelling, itching, peeling, numbness/tingling
If you experience irritation, remove immediately with oil and do not continue with full application
Learn More
TransTape's website has lots of videos and a great manual with more information
TransTape Video Courses - for binding sizes A cup to DD+ cup and packing
TransTape Manual - available in several languages, for binding, packing, tucking, and lifting
Having a supportive friend to try the process with the first time is helpful so they can help position and peel the tape.
Clean the skin: Shower ahead of time, and make sure the skin is fully dry and free of lotions before applying the tape
If there is significant hair in the area, shave the closely but not bare
Cover nipples or genitals
Nipples: Cover with nipple covers, folded over piece of the TransTape itself, napkin, cotton round, Band Aids, etc.
Genitals: Napkin, paper towel, folded over piece of the TransTape
Wear
Cut the tape to the size strips that you need, rounded the corners of each piece so the tape will last longer and not peel up
Adhesive is heat-activated, so rub the tape to heat it up a bit
Can be worn during showering, sleeping, swimming, and exercise
Can be worn safely for 3-5 days
If you are using tape to bind and you are experiencing redness and itching in the middle of your chest where there is no tape, this is still sign of a reaction to the tape and it should be removed promptly and properly with plenty of oil.
Sensory note: Tape will stay wet for several hours after showering, which may give some people the ick. Do not attempt to use a hair-dryer to dry the tape as this will cause the adhesive to bind more closely with your skin and potentially cause skin damage.
Remove
Remove with a skin-safe oil (jojoba, coconut, mineral, canola, olive, etc.)
Soak the tape with oil and leave for at least 1-3 min. If you need to take a break at this point, you can put on an old t-shirt and wait for longer before starting the rest of the removal process.
Peel off slowly, rushing can cause tears. You may need to apply more oil as you peel.
If this is not enough, remove in a warm shower or bath
If you are experiencing irritation - watch TransTape's guide to using Milk of Magnesia (on YouTube here, or read this article.)
Skincare: Take care of the skin with coconut oil, lotion, or a skin repairing balm after you remove it
Do not apply tape to broken skin
Take at least a 48 hour break between applications to allow skin time to breathe
Need More Help?
TransTape offers 1 on 1 assistance over chat or video (18+) for free! Monday through Friday
They will offer free educational workshops for healthcare professionals, student groups and more (Read more here)
Resources & References
Resources & References
TransTape Video Courses - for binding sizes A cup to DD+ cup and packing
TransTape Manual - available in several languages, for binding, packing, tucking, and lifting
Postcard References
TransTape. (n.d.). TransTape® rolls. https://transtape.life/products/transtape
Image of tape from https://transguysupply.com/blogs/news/transtape-binding-tape-faqs
Note for Occupational Therapists: TransTape is very similar to KT Tape, which we use frequently in practice (Example here), precautions and use are very similar
Related Topics
Related Topics
Suggested APA 7 Citation
Suggested APA 7 Citation
Baker, F. (2025, April 17). TransTape. Disabled & trans sexual health. https://sites.google.com/view/disabled-trans-sexual-health/sex-ed-postcards/transtape
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