Getting
used to tight-lacing
Things to do:
- Wear an undershirt (cotton) or corset liner under the corset
- Moisturize the skin and make sure there are no dry spots. Red skin
is a sign of dry skin
- After putting the corset on, pull the laces snug, not tight
and straighten out the shirt or tube underneath. Reach behind you and
run your fingers under the eyelet edges and lift the corset away from
the skin a bit, while straightening the shirt or tube with the other
hand. Settle the corset again, twist and bend and snug up the laces.
- Hook the laces around a doorknob or hook,
walk forward until taut and even out the left and right laces, working
any uneveness towards the top. Then tighten by
pulling the lace crosses bottom to center, center to top with the
excess on
top evening the two laces out, and then pull the crosses top to center
again.
- Keep the two sides evenly spaced top to bottom, and avoid a
bulging gap
at waist.
- Make several tours or runs when lacing, only take 1/2" at a
time and resettle.
- Once it gets tighter, pause and relax. Walk around and
after 10-15min, undo the laces, relax the laces just a little,
resettle and go again. After another two or three tours the corset will
be on much tighter than before. Repeat this after another 20min or
so. If you plan to tight lace, allow an hour, unless you are
already wearing it 23/7, in which case you can probably go a little
faster. For a special night out, an hour is a good number if you plan
to wear it very tight. It will be much more comfortable.
- Take your time when getting into your corset! If you don't
have time, start earlier!
- For figure training, the duration in the corset is much
more important than the degree of tightness. In fact if you cannot keep
yourself from lacing in to your tolerance limit, then relax it by 1/2"
or so once you are "done", just so you can enjoy it, rather than
feeling you are in a fight with your corset.
- Don't eat large meals before or during! No fatty foods,
lots of water, fruits and vegetables and fiber. The corset will keep
your stomach small and you will not have trouble losing or maintaining
weight. In the end you will likely be healthier and more energetic.
- Exercise daily. Work the back and stomach muscles, but
don't tone the sides too much as these may "fight" the corset.
For an hourglass shape you want your sides to "cave in" as much as
possible. For good cardiovascular health, walking
is excellent and you do this can while tight-laced if you like. Watch
the
breathing. If it becomes labored, slow down to match your pace to your
breathing capacity
- Wear your corset as often and as long as possible. Sleeping
in the corset allows the body to adapt faster and settle into the
corseted shape. Usually the corset is relaxed by one or two inches
especially
if your daytime reduction is greater than four inches.
- Proportion is far more important than absolute smallest
dimensions: A slender 31-22-32" Bust/Waist/Hip would be corseted
to 31-20-32", but would be less dramatic than a 38-28-40" laced to
38-22-40".
Things Not to Do
- If tightlacing or long term wear is intended, don't wear
the corset directly on the skin
- When a spot continues to itch, don't "sit it through", but
take it off and oil the skin
- After putting the corset on, don't just start pulling the
laces at the waist, it may damage the corset (tear out eyelets) and it
may bulge and pinch the skin in back
- When putting the laces around the doorknob, do not "run
away" or let your full weight pull the laces! This will damage the
corset and it will not be comfortable! If it only took 5 minutes to
take in five or six inches, you probably went too fast!
- Don't pinch the top and bottom and allow a bulge at the
waist! This will curve the stays in back and spoil the corset line. It
should be hollow in the back. In general the back should curve more
inward than the front, but usually less so than the sides.If the top
and bottom close and you can't get the waist to close no matter what,
the corset waist size is too small, and you'll have to train down your
waist
first and leave some gap at the top and bottom.
- Don't pull it in all at once and tie it off. It's not going
to be anywhere near as tight as it can be and it may wear out the
corset faster due to uneven pressure.
- Don't lace to the point of discomfort and then stop,
slow down when you feel it is getting close and enjoy it. If you are in
a hurry, aim for less reduction. Even if you have been able to lace
down
to a certain size, don't assume that you can always lace down to that
size, unless you have been consistently wearing the corset. After a few
days off, you have to re-train some to regain the lost
ground, before getting down to your smallest size again.
- If it does not go down to size, don't force it, choose
different clothing, something that's less dependent on the corseted
size.
- Don't think that by over tightening you can speed up the
training. You may in stead get your body to put up a revolt and produce
aches and pains. A corset can and will improve your shape in a healthy
manner, but only if sufficient time is allowed for.
- Don't eat a big meal and then start tightlacing. No fatty
foods, avoid carbonated drinks, mint, tea, coffee, spicy foods may
irritate the spincter, and cause acid reflux
- Don't do heavy exercise while tight-laced. Moderate it if
you
plan to work out while tight-laced. When very tight, your breathing
capacity may be reduced, and you need to allow for more frequent but
shallower breaths.
Walking, hiking, muscle training are not an issue, but running is
probably not a good idea. If you plan to do so, just leave the corset
off.
- Don't tight lace just for a few hours a day. If you only
plan to occasionally wear it, moderate the reduction, probably two or
three inches, four inches max.
- The smallest waist does not necessarily give the best
figure. Shape and proportion are the most important.
Today's
waists...
...are on average 28" to 34". A reasonable expectation is 24"-28"
with moderate corseting and 20"-24" with figure training.
Smaller waists are possible
with long term training as shown below and also in "accomplished
lacers"
