6 reminders for hand kinesiotape SUCCESS 🎉
No matter where you are on your journey with kinesiotape...
Whether you've never ever put it on your hand...or you're a pro who has been using it for years...
It's always helpful to go back to the basics.
That's why today you're going to learn 6 basic principles for taping yourself using kinesiotape that set you up for success every time 💛
First things first though:
Applying kinestiotape takes a lot of practice. You will likely mess up the first 4-5 times you try it.
That's okay.
The more you practice, the easier it gets and the more you figure out what works best for your own unique hands.
We are all different, and one of the reasons I absolutely love k tape for my people is that it's easily customizable to target *exactly where* you need the most support.
Are you ready to get to the basic tips for applying tape that feels great and lasts??
👇
1. Use a 2 inch wide roll.
I find the precut strips to not be quite as customizable as a roll of kinesiotape, and the 2 inch roll tends to be the perfect width for most thumb/wrist custom applications.
For finger taping, you can always cut the 2 inch wide roll into more narrow pieces.
2. Prep your skin.
Thoroughly wash your hands to get any oils or lotions off, completely dry them, and apply rubbing alcohol to the area you are about to tape.
This enhances the stickiness of the tape and allows you to wear it longer.
3. Round your edges.
When using a roll of tape and cutting your own strips, ROUND THOSE EDGES.
This makes it less likely to peel off your skin and can improve wear time! It also makes it look nicer and less raggedy 😂
4. Customize the stretch.
You can stretch kinesiotape anywhere from 0% (laying it flat on your skin without pulling it) to 100% (pulling/stretching it as hard as you can before you apply it).
When beginning to learn how to tape yourself, less stretch is more. Aim for 25% stretch or less. The biggest mistake I see newbies make is they apply too much stretch, and make it uncomfortable, cut off circulation, and get a skin reaction because of the big stretch.
Once you've gotten the hang of it, you can try a stretch anywhere from 25%-75%.
5. Secure the ends of the tape to your skin, not to tape.
If you lay the end pieces of your tape on top of tape, it will come up far more easily than if you laid it directly on your skin.
Think of the end pieces of your tape as 'anchors,' and always try to lay your anchor flat to your skin with NO stretch. Stretching is perfect for the middle of the application, but you want your anchors to have no stretch 👍
6. Rub it in.
You've applied your tape, it feels decent, you aren't cutting off your circulation, and you've managed to lay the tape where it hurts. Congratulations! 🎉 This is no tiny feat.
The last step is to rub it all in to heat activate the adhesive. This helps it to last longer.
If you're ready to learn some ways to tape your hands and you're on instagram, head on over to my page and check out 2 of my most recent tutorials - one for your thumbs and one for your pinky fingers.
I also have a more in-depth YouTube video detailing these basic application principles and showing you my original thumb kinesiotape application.
