The basics of the basics. Once I outed myself, I made sure my friends and family referred to me with male pronouns and changed my name. I was a girl no longer and refused to be treated as such.
Now, in order to be male, you have to look the part. If you keep dressing, acting, talking, and all around being a girl, people are going to assume you are in fact a girl. To pass the part, you have to look and behave the part. It's not easy and it can be costly. Believe me, I know.
Now, in order to be male, you have to look the part. If you keep dressing, acting, talking, and all around being a girl, people are going to assume you are in fact a girl. To pass the part, you have to look and behave the part. It's not easy and it can be costly. Believe me, I know.
Luscious Locks, what is best for me?
Let's start with hair. Long hair on a transmale is never a good idea. Long hair makes you look feminine and makes your face and body look thinner. That is the opposite of what you want. On the flip side, you don't want anything too short either. With a clear lack of natural sideburns of any kind, having really short hairstyles will give you away in no time flat. Trust me when I say "stick to medium length men's haircuts".
Keep from using feminine shampoos and hair products. Obviously, you don't want to be smelling like a woman.
Breasts? What Breasts?
Does your body have bodacious breasts? Perky chest lumps? Wishing those pesky things weren't there to give your female figure away? There's an easy solution for that too. Wearing what's walled a "binder" can flatten your chest down and get those DDs under control! Even for someone like myself who started out as a measly little A cup, I still need a binder to keep my chest looking boob free.
Binders can be tricky though and there's a few things you should know before you begin your search for the perfect one. Here's a few tips on picking out the right binder and some binding Dos and Don'ts:
- DO - make sure your binder is the right size for you. (Binders come in all sizes so finding the right size shouldn't be too much of a hassle)
- DO - make sure you pick a color that isn't too visible under colors you war often. (don't wear a black binder under a white shirt!)
- DO - wash your binder on a regular basis to keep it fresh and smelling clean
- DON'T - use bandages to bind! (bandages can easily damage your ribcage and cause breathing problems
- DON'T - wear your binder too tight (even good binders can be bad if you wear them too tight! you should be able to breath without straining)
- DON'T - sleep with a binder on (sleeping with a binder on is bad for your lungs and ribcage, even with the proper binder)
- DON'T - wear a binder for more than 8 - 10 hours tops at a time
But what if someone thinks I'm missing the "parts"?
This topic can get a little iffy to some. With your new haircut and your nice perfect binder, you're left wondering, "what about my lady parts? will anyone notice my lack of male bits?". Yes, some people look. When it comes down to genitalia, naturally born females are lacking in the show off category. That's right, you can fix that too. A thing called "packing" can be done to make your pretty feminine bits look more masculine. Packing can be done a few ways and some of them take some getting used to. A simple and costless option is a rolled up sock! Yes, it's that simple. Rolling up a sock and sticking it into your underwear or the front of your pants can give a decent look of having male genitals.
Another form of packing, a bit pricier, is soft packers. Soft packers are made of malleable, soft silicone and are easy to wear. Like the sock, you can place it in your underwear or simply in the front of your pants. I use this method and recommend it to anyone with a low budget but a fierce desire to feel normal.
Below are some links to a few packers since sharing the pictures on here directly might seem inappropriate:
Below are some links to a few packers since sharing the pictures on here directly might seem inappropriate:
"Clothes, Clothes, Clothes!" Figuring out your Wardrobe
When it comes to clothing, transmen look damn good if the right clothing is mapped out. It's a given that girly clothes won't help your cause. But does that mean you have to throw out that one really nice skirt you still really adore wearing when nobody is around? Of course not! Keep any and all clothes you want. Just be sure to dress the part when leaving the house. Remember, woman have more rounded torso while males are more rectangular and boxy.
Shirts, what's best and what's worst?
Shirts are tricky. But if there's on thing I can assure you of it's that button up shirts are a transmale's best friend. Men's button up shirts are fantastic for pulling off a smoking hot masculine look. Most of these shirts fit nicely to just about any body shape and will keep you looking handsome enough to grab the eyes of all you see you. Keep in mind that there's a few things to avoid. Avoid horizontal stripes since they accentuate your chest and make you look curvier. Also, steer clear of t-shirts and button ups that are too big. The last thing you want is to look tiny in comparison to your clothes.
Rolling up your sleeves to your elbows makes for a good effect. Also, try tucking in your shirt once and a while, that can help bring up your charm even more.
One more thing. Avoid plaid at all costs. The only people who wear plaid are lumberjacks and lesbians. We aren't going for either of those looks.
One more thing. Avoid plaid at all costs. The only people who wear plaid are lumberjacks and lesbians. We aren't going for either of those looks.
Pants. Not much to say here.
And really, there isn't. Pants are pants for the most part. Just avoid oversized pants, looking small in your clothes is rarely ever a good thing. Also, look for pants that rest just below your ankle bone, and avoid skinny jeans.
That's all I have for this post. I wish you all good luck in your quest to find everything you need. I will see you next time with a few more tips and personal experiences! Until then, I leave you with my blessing and best wishes.