What was the first thing you changed?

[Natalia]

I know there are a lot of MTFs that were already feminine before, or at least had an androgynous look...but this question is mainly for those who were passing as males, that couldn't be misgendered, that were definately males.

What was the first thing you changed on your body and or on your wardrobe after starting to transition?

I let my hair grow (one year without cutting it and it is finaly getting a good lenght) and I think this was the first noticeable thing. Some people think I am into rock'n roll (hmm yes I am, but this is not the reason I allowed my hair to grow). I also plucked a bit of my eyebrows (just a bit, no one really noticed as I already had thinner eyebrows than most men), I trimmed my arm hair and completely shaved some hair I had on my hands, I now make a vey close shave everyday and I try to hide my beard shadow with a bit of make-up (totally noob with make-up) and I traded my glasses for contact lens so my eyes look way bigger (and more feminine) than before.

I am also dressing more androgynously, wearing only unisex T shirts, jeans and sports shoes (here I call it tennis, I don't know if this is the correct name out here).

But I am curious and I really would like to hear from all my sisters

[Sandra_Dickinson]

I already had long hair when I was younger, that I'd cut off to be more manly. I started growing that back and I really started shaving all over, like you - especially my legs, but also hairy knuckles and forearms. I suppose I was always a bit feminine so it was a bit more of stopping trying to fit in (Stop trying to grow a beard, for instance)

When I look back at  those pictures of me at 21 with two feet of hair it annoys me. My hair was GORGEOUS! :p

[sam79]

To answer this question would mean knowing when I started to transition... and that's really unclear.

Did my transition start when I started to lose weight, knowing I may go down this path? Or when I first came out to friends / family? Or from the first appointment for referral? Or from the first day of HRT? Realistically there was no decision to transition because it was inevitable, and not a real choice.

So assuming I've been transitioning all my life ( interesting to think this way )... the first body change was shaving arms and legs. Hate body hair so much.

Oh... I still remember the first day I went outside in womens jeans... They're basically the same... nobody would pick it. Anyway, girl did my face turn red walking past that first random Joe. Pretty funny looking back at it.    Although the crippling anxiety wasn't all that fun.

[Xhianil]

The first thing i plan to do is grow out my nails and paint them, then hair and dresses! *swoons over pretty dresses*

[suzifrommd]

Grew my fingernails. Began shaping them and putting enamel on every couple weeks.

Alas, I cut them a few weeks ago when I started going to lesbian meetups. One hears lesbians don't generally date women with long nails.

[KabitTarah]

I think this has been my progression so far... I'm discounting any clothing I don't use on a daily basis (i.e. skirts, etc... that I wear in safe places like therapy & home).

0. Started growing hair (hey... that started before I came out -- I didn't get a haircut the day I came OOTC).
1. Came out... changed my diet (lost 45 lbs to date since Aug 5, 2013).
1b. Shaved just about everything... arms came last and most recently.
2. Laser Hair Removal (the most important thing to start early... I'd be entirely happy if I started a year earlier and it was practically finished by now -- it's the only thing preventing me from going out in public in a fully female presentation)
3. Panties (one pair)
4. Panties (two pair)
4b. Painted toes. It goes in here somewhere...
5. Voice (I try to use a higher, more feminine voice everywhere... I use my high head voice w/ my kids, especially reading books to them)
6. Panties, Gaff, Panties (hey... a lot of experimentation was required to get to this point)
7. Shoes around the house and out in public sometimes (not at work) - I wear Tom's flats and they're very androgynous.
8. Cleaned up eyebrows.
9. Socks (everywhere - they're the same as men's, really... but the Champion logo is in pink, purple, and baby blue)
10. Tiny bit of shaping to the eyebrows (I'm trying to get them thinner and better shaped on a gradual basis.
11..... probably will be HRT ~ Starts December 26th. YAY!!!

As my hair gets longer, I also am trying to keep it in a fairly feminine style. I think this and my eyebrows is the main reason I get double-takes.

Somewhere in there I also added skinny jeans (men's) and boot cut (women's) ~ Levi's. This was more a response to losing weight than to being girly... but the skinny jeans really work well for androgynity. I got my first check-out wearing them (by a guy ... who either didn't notice my face, or who was gay).

[KabitTarah]

The first thing i plan to do is grow out my nails and paint them, then hair and dresses! *swoons over pretty dresses*

I want a pretty dress! I have two skirts... and will be wearing one tomorrow to therapy!!!!! ♥ ♥
I may need safety pins... I bought it early on and it was big for me *then*!!!

[Xhianil]

I want a pretty dress! I have two skirts... and will be wearing one tomorrow to therapy!!!!! ♥ ♥
I may need safety pins... I bought it early on and it was big for me *then*!!!

Awesome, i can't wait till i can do this stuff, you are one lucky girl!

[kellizgirl]

I started with the undergarments (i.e. panties, chamois, and hose) also started shaving my legs.

[KabitTarah]

Awesome, i can't wait till i can do this stuff, you are one lucky girl!

It's so much fun... I just wish I didn't have to change there... but I couldn't possibly do it otherwise ... yet...!!!

[evecrook]

long hair, panties . nails, eyebrows and jeans.

[Robin Mack]

Before I even came out to *myself* I began to shave my legs, chest, and armpits.  I had always hated hair in those places, and it helped with what I didn't realize then was dysphoria.

Alas, by the time I came to my senses and started to accept myself as I really am, most of the hair on my head was totally, profoundly, irretrievably gone... but I was able to pluck my eyebrows.  So that was number two.  At about that time I also started to exfoliate and moisturize my face on a daily basis.

Then I started to keep my nails better trimmed and clean and file/buff/polish them (with clear nail polish during the week, colors on the weekend).

I acquired some wigs from a friend (and now finally bought one of my own now that I know my style better) which I wear now when going out until I become confident enough to go bald and beautiful. 

And in the last month I have started electrolysis.  Every two weeks is all I can afford at the moment, so it is slow going... but it is progress. 

Oh, and a bit of body spray helps me feel more feminine when I come home from work. 

Add to that frequent shopping trips in thrift stores to expand my wardrobe, and that's pretty much all that I'm doing (in order). 

[kariann330]

First thing i did was start shaving. It was either cuz of the denial or an attempt to pull off the manly look but i always had a beard or goatee. I swear the day i took the clippers to all of that my face lost 10 years instantly lol. Other then that i started shaving from the neck down and started changing my posture and the way i sit to match who i really am.

[Andaya]

My first thing was shaving my legs. It was glorious and I was totally obsessed with them for a while. It still is super nice to have them smooth, I can barely remember what it was like to have hair on them.

[Sabrina]

The first thing I changed was wearing ladies undergarments, progressed to jeans, some t-shirts, shoes, and all the while growing out my hair.

[MyKa]

My attitude!

[FrancisAnn]

 I cannot remember anything specific. I did everything & anything that was feminine & felt good. Polish, shaving, panties, pierced ears in my early teens, etc.........

[TerriT]

The first thing I did that was actually to alter my body was LHR. I did a lot of other stuff, like shaving and waxing and dressing up or wearing female clothes out, but to really make a permanent change, I got LHR as soon as I could afford it. That was my motivating force for like 2 years. First face, then arms and chest. Being rid of that was a huge relief. I had also started getting my hair cut in a more fashionable style and getting highlights and eventually getting very female cuts. I had pierced my ears and nose around the same time. These are things I felt were definitely female traits and were things that would get noticed. I went on a serious diet and lost 40 lbs. I built a very andro wardrobe and wore clothes that were in style but were closer to what girls I knew wore. All this was before HRT was even on the table.

I don't remember all the timing on everything, but I do remember feeling like LHR was the first serious step and like the first "major" event on my path.

[JenSquid]

I already had long hair, and I already carried a bag everywhere, so those don't count.

I shaved my chest. I never liked having a hairy chest to begin with. I also, bought a few skirts, though I don't get to wear them as often as I'd like.

[Missy~rmdlm]

An entire body shave when I was in my teens. I have always been dysphoric about extraneous hair. I didn't even know I could be TS back then. Throughout adulthood I always kept body hair in check.