How It Works
Traditional tape uses adhesive — a sticky substance that bonds to whatever it touches: skin, hair, clothing, tools. Self-adhering tape uses cohesion instead. The tape surface bonds only to itself through a chemical property of the coating, not through stickiness.
Think of it like plastic wrap clinging to itself. The material has an affinity for its own surface but doesn't stick to other materials. When you wrap self-adhering tape around your finger, layer bonds to layer, creating a secure wrap — but nothing sticky ever touches your skin.
Cohesion vs Adhesion. Adhesive tape sticks to everything. Cohesive tape sticks only to itself. This single difference changes everything about how the tape performs.
Self-Adhering vs Adhesive Tape
- ✗ Leaves sticky residue on skin
- ✗ Painful removal
- ✗ Pulls hair
- ✗ Can damage fragile skin
- ✗ Single use only
- ✗ Fails when wet
- ✓ Zero residue on skin
- ✓ Painless removal
- ✓ No hair pulling
- ✓ Safe for sensitive skin
- ✓ Can rewrap and adjust
- ✓ Works when wet
Types of Self-Adhering Tape
Not all self-adhering tapes are the same. The two main categories are elastic (stretch) and non-elastic (non-stretch), and this distinction matters more than most people realize.
Elastic Self-Adhering Tape
Products like Coban and vet wrap are designed to stretch. They're compression wraps — ideal for holding bandages in place, wrapping sprains, and veterinary applications. The stretch provides gentle compression but means the tape loosens under load.
Non-Stretch Self-Adhering Tape
Products like Guard-Tex are designed not to stretch. They maintain tension throughout use, making them ideal for finger protection, grip support, and situations where loosening would defeat the purpose.
If you need compression (holding a bandage, wrapping a sprain), choose elastic. If you need protection or grip support (work, sports, hand protection), choose non-stretch.
