long hair vs short hair

[KrisRenee]

so, I just got my haircut...first time having anything even near my shoulders and I still feel like it's not short enough.  Of course not being out to my mom stopped me from getting the actual hair cut I wanted.  I wanted a longer buzz, but for now, I'm stuck with shoulder length until I muster up the guts to cut it short and deal with the consequences and whatever conversations may come with it.  I was wondering, how many of you stuck with longer hair (longish?), or did you cut it all off.  I think pre-t it's safer to go with short hair if you want to pass more, but that's just my opinion. 

What do you think?

pictures are good too.  If you have a comparison between short and long hair on someone...just appreciated though, not needed

Thanks guys
~<3~Aiden

[GentlemanRDP]

Honestly, I've heard of a lot of transguys saying that a buzz (Even a longer one) usually accentuates the feminine features in your face, that and it accentuates the shape of your head, which I heard is bad for passing. I've read a lot about haircuts on FtMs and a lot of people suggest getting it short on the sides and just a little longer on the top - think of a typical business man's haircut. I hear that the 'Traditional man's cut," and "Traditional boy's cut," is most popular among most FtMs.

And then...there's me...I'm not like most FtMs xD My cut is EXTREMELY unconventional. The sides and back were all cut to a 3 and the top is approximately seven to nine inches long in the front. I have it swept to one side and then it's angled to be shorter in the back, much like an a-line. Mind you, I have huge hips and a huge ass, and I can't hope to pass, even now that I'm on T, but the cut suits me well - for now anyway.

Good luck!

[Brendon]

Just before I started coming out (almost 2 years ago, dang) I got a pixie cut. You can pass it off as a trendy girl's cut to people you're not out to, and it's easy to style in a more masculine way.

Now I get it cut progressively shorter just about every time I get it cut. At first I hate it and think it's too short, but after 2-3 days it doesn't ever seem short enough, haha.

I think that for most pre-t guys it's probably easier to get read as male with a shorter (not too short!) hair cut. That being said, the first time I was read as male I had a girl's hair cut and I wasn't binding. So, the hair cut isn't everything, and there are some guys that pull off the longer hair better. It probably depends on your face to some extent.

[Wolf]

When I came out to my mum she was like, 'so do you want me to cut your hair now?' It was pretty long, but I'm into the whole metal scene and all that jazz, but off it went and the shorter I've had it the more I seem to have passed, though the look totally didn't suit 'ME'.

Anyway after the last cut I decided to grow it back into a styleable length, but it's just kind of coming out of the really awkward Jewfro stage now, the longer hair could be to do with this (it's at the longest, finger length...) but I haven't passed in ages. I can't remember the last time... /sigh

I'm thinking of getting a cool cut but I dunno if it will turn out how I picture it in my head haha but yeah when I am on T and I've had the surgery, and I've got me a goatee, I will just bust out the metaller waterfall of hair. Beard= man so if I'm mistaken from behind I'll just turn around and be like, what you talkin' bout fool.

Or I'll get a nice hat.

[KrisRenee]

When I came out to my mum she was like, 'so do you want me to cut your hair now?' It was pretty long, but I'm into the whole metal scene and all that jazz, but off it went and the shorter I've had it the more I seem to have passed, though the look totally didn't suit 'ME'.

Anyway after the last cut I decided to grow it back into a styleable length, but it's just kind of coming out of the really awkward Jewfro stage now, the longer hair could be to do with this (it's at the longest, finger length...) but I haven't passed in ages. I can't remember the last time... /sigh

I'm thinking of getting a cool cut but I dunno if it will turn out how I picture it in my head haha but yeah when I am on T and I've had the surgery, and I've got me a goatee, I will just bust out the metaller waterfall of hair. Beard= man so if I'm mistaken from behind I'll just turn around and be like, what you talkin' bout fool.

Or I'll get a nice hat.

That sounds like a good plan.  I like "longer" hair, but then again, I also like the shorter on the sides and longer on top cut too, mostly because you can spike it...and I like spikes

Oh, and i can only hope that my mom will be that chill if and when I  come out to her.

[Wolf]

I'm extremely lucky. My whole family and everyone I know is very open minded, before I came out, and as the kind of person I am, I kind of avoid associating with closed minded / bigoted people. Luckily, again, I have that luxury because I live in London

People here are bothered by some things and not others. Like, I could be FTM but if I followed the right style (trendy or chav) they probably wouldn't care, but being alternative, THAT gets you looks down streets ;P

[Liam K]

For me, the hair made all the difference.  Before I cut my hair, I dressed in guys clothes, bound my chest, and did everything I could to look masculine, but I was still always read as female.  As soon as I cut my hair short, I began to be read as male, or at least as someone of indeterminate gender, about 90% of the time (which was awkward, because I was not out to anyone at that point).  And I like having short hair - it's so easy, and I can cut it myself.  For reference, here are some old photos of me (3-4 years old at this point):

Pre-haircut


Post-haircut (still pre-T)



But a lot of folks like having long hair, too, and there's nothing wrong with that, although it probably would make it more difficult for most people to pass as male, at least without being on T.

[~RoadToTrista~]

Honestly, I've heard of a lot of transguys saying that a buzz (Even a longer one) usually accentuates the feminine features in your face, that and it accentuates the shape of your head, which I heard is bad for passing.

From my experience, being pre-hrt, I would say that's true, at least for me. But I've never grown out my hair that much.

[N.Chaos]

The most I can say is don't do something you're not comfortable with. If you go for a crewcut because everyone tells you "you CAN'T have long hair, that's TOO GIRLY" and you're uncomfortable, people are gonna pick up on that.

First time I shaved my hair into a mohawk, it was shouldlength and dyed blonde and pink. Without even trying, I passed about half the time, and that was years ago. I shaved it and I just had instantly more confidence, and it obviously showed.

If you're able to at all, try photoshopping different hairstyles onto yourself. That's what I did with hair color for a long time, to see if it'd look decent before going out and wrecking my hair on a whim.

[KrisRenee]

I did look into different hairstyles and did a little photoshop, but couldn't really find anything.  I found that if I pull my bottom layers back and just let my top layers down in a more boy-like style, I recognize the person in the mirror...after 17 years, I see me.  I know I want shorter hair, not super short, but shorter than I have...it's just, explaining it to all of my friends that remember me in october with ringlets to my butt.  I know I shouldn't have to explain it to them, but... they're very conservative, and think i still am, but i'm really not.

[N.Chaos]

That's a pain, dude. I'm sorry, I had to endure a lot of that from my less-close family members when I chopped 14 inches off my hair a few years back.

[skakid]

I hated getting rid of my locks, but I felt that passing was more important than keeping them.  I love short hair, but I really want to lock my hair again in the future.

[straightedgechris]

Skakid: love your locks! I looove me some dreadlocks :-) (your buzzed head looks great too by the way!)

Its funny--I buzzed my head all the time pre-T, like for years and years.
Now that I'm transitioning I have been letting my hair grow out a bit. Granted, I really love a buzzed head on girls and long-ish hair on guys but still...

I have found that buzzing my head used to make my face look a little more round and feminine while having a bit of a sticky-up faux hawk or otherwise taller hair makes my face look more angular (and me a bit taller).

Don't feel the pressure to get a traditionally male hair cut; go with what you're comfortable with.

[LordKAT]

I cut about 2 feet off shortly after my hysto, months after starting T. It is now to my waist and growing back ever so slowly. I quit cutting it when my Dad quit cutting it back when I was 10 or 11. I haven't noticed any problem in passing due to my hair.  To each their own tho.

[skakid]

Skakid: love your locks! I looove me some dreadlocks :-) (your buzzed head looks great too by the way!)

Thanks so much.  I really loved them too.  I cut them off myself and I still have them in a ziploc bag in my room.  I'm waiting for a good day to bury them.

[Frank]

I think that pre-t guys probably pass better with short hair but I passed just fine regardless. I keep it buzzed short with a rattail now though.

[insideontheoutside]

I feel more confident with my hair at a medium length in a really choppy, modern style. I think I look like a dork or really fem with really short hair. I can't grow sideburns or anything so that makes it even worse to me and I think people can tell straight away.

[kalshady]

all pre t





then me now (my display pic)

[Battle_On]

I think my hair where it is now is the shortest I'm currently comfortable with it being, but passing isn't so much a first priorty for me at the moment because I live with my parents, and I'm not out. It's current legnth though is a pretty drastic change from where it was nearly at my butt just two years ago. I'm really getting into j-rock/visual kei and I kind of enjoy the slightly femme look I can get with my hair.

[Sharky]

This is what my hair looked like a year ago.  Pre T.




It's shorter now, but still long for a guy. Since I'm starting T soon I don't know if I should let it grow so the facial changes are easier on my mom or get it cut. It's long enough to touch my collar in the back now. I honestly wouldn't even know what short cut to go with.