The Official 'Do I pass?' topic (Ver 5.0 - in 3-D)

[KarlMars]

I think you pass, but I'd maybe shorten your hair a little bit more and stop any eyebrow maintenance you're doing.

I'm not doing any eyebrow maintenance. That's my natural eyebrows. I just got my hair cut, but it's not exactly the way I want it. When I get a chance I will get it shorter.

[WorkingOnThomas]

Just a question on the eyebrow thing - I was told that if you used to pluck (and I did - not you know, strenuously, but a little cleaning up around the edges) then your eyebrows never really grow back. Is that true?

[FTMax]

Just a question on the eyebrow thing - I was told that if you used to pluck (and I did - not you know, strenuously, but a little cleaning up around the edges) then your eyebrows never really grow back. Is that true?

I don't think that's true, but I'm by no means an expert in hair removal (learning more due to electrolysis for surgery though!). I was never really into plucking my eyebrows or doing really anything with them. I might've plucked a few here or there to clean up around the edges as you say, and they've all come back.

Plucking doesn't destroy the regenerative ability of the hair follicle in the way that laser or heat related hair removal would, so while growth may take longer, it should still be occurring.

[Peep]

Just a question on the eyebrow thing - I was told that if you used to pluck (and I did - not you know, strenuously, but a little cleaning up around the edges) then your eyebrows never really grow back. Is that true?

Nope, i used to pluck mine because i was made fun of otherwise and my eyebrows came back all over the shop
they're a little thinner at the outer sides but they were like that before i started tweezing

[KarlMars]

I don't think that's true, but I'm by no means an expert in hair removal (learning more due to electrolysis for surgery though!). I was never really into plucking my eyebrows or doing really anything with them. I might've plucked a few here or there to clean up around the edges as you say, and they've all come back.

Plucking doesn't destroy the regenerative ability of the hair follicle in the way that laser or heat related hair removal would, so while growth may take longer, it should still be occurring.

My eyebrows are naturally arched.

[WanderingFace]

No worries about the eyebrows. They look darker and thicker than mine are at 7 months on hormones. Some people have brows that grow in that pattern, male and female. I was given a similar comment early pre-t and it was frustrating to be told to stop maintaining brows that you never touched in the first place. Not that it's anyone's fault. You just have good looking brows. Even guys shape their brows that way.

Honestly I agree you could pass as a young boy with a slightly more masculine haircut and a few other tweaks. One being the shirt you are wearing. Having a button up with a collar that loose and wide at the neck will emphasize your smaller build. Especially when your neck isn't beefed up from testosterone. Look for large junior size shirts. They are more likely to fit in a way that both flatters your figure and helps appear more masculine. There are also smaller cuts in certain name brand clothing, they are just more difficult to find.

[KarlMars]

No worries about the eyebrows. They look darker and thicker than mine are at 7 months on hormones. Some people have brows that grow in that pattern, male and female. I was given a similar comment early pre-t and it was frustrating to be told to stop maintaining brows that you never touched in the first place. Not that it's anyone's fault. You just have good looking brows. Even guys shape their brows that way.

Honestly I agree you could pass as a young boy with a slightly more masculine haircut and a few other tweaks. One being the shirt you are wearing. Having a button up with a collar that loose and wide at the neck will emphasize your smaller build. Especially when your neck isn't beefed up from testosterone. Look for large junior size shirts. They are more likely to fit in a way that both flatters your figure and helps appear more masculine. There are also smaller cuts in certain name brand clothing, they are just more difficult to find.

So are you saying that shirt compliments me or not? I almost exclusively wear military style shirts, rarely casual t shirts.

[Elis]

If you want to look masculine I don't think the shirt achieves that. The open collar looks feminine so maybe go for something that buttons up all the the way or have the lapels less wide. I also think the pockets on either side of your chest kind of draws too much attention to that part of your body. The epaulettes on your shirt work great to make your shoulders look broader; but if your shirt was just a bit tighter it would look better.
I hope I don't come across as mean. If you like the shirt or are happy looking more fem then don't let me discourage you from wearing it.

[KarlMars]

If you want to look masculine I don't think the shirt achieves that. The open collar looks feminine so maybe go for something that buttons up all the the way or have the lapels less wide. I also think the pockets on either side of your chest kind of draws too much attention to that part of your body. The epaulettes on your shirt work great to make your shoulders look broader; but if your shirt was just a bit tighter it would look better.
I hope I don't come across as mean. If you like the shirt or are happy looking more fem then don't let me discourage you from wearing it.

Thanks for your idea, but I can't wear clothes I don't like just too look more masculine. I'm mostly concerned with gender expression through clothing right now, than passing. Someday in the future when I start the T the rest of the work will be done for me. I'm working on the fatty biceps but the amount of workout I can do right now is limited because of my living situation. For me transition is a slow work in progress, not an immediate gratification. People in my life since this last summer (2015) are still getting used to seeing me dressed as a male and male haircuts and making subtle comments about my appearance.

[WanderingFace]

So are you saying that shirt compliments me or not? I almost exclusively wear military style shirts, rarely casual t shirts.

Apologies for being unclear. My casual writing is not the best.
I'm saying the shirt does not work towards passing. Not saying that it looks terrible (It just looks like a work shirt), but it doesn't help make you look male bodied because of the loose fit and collar. Echoing the same sentiments as Elis here. Visually it leans you towards butch woman rather than young male.

Just helpful advice thrown out there if you wanted to try a different kind of shirt to experiment with. If you are early in coming out you are probably going to go through a lot of clothes and styles before you settle on something that works best for you.

P.S. My girlfriend says she likes your hair.

[KarlMars]

Apologies for being unclear. My casual writing is not the best.
I'm saying the shirt does not work towards passing. Not saying that it looks terrible (It just looks like a work shirt), but it doesn't help make you look male bodied because of the loose fit and collar. Echoing the same sentiments as Elis here. Visually it leans you towards butch woman rather than young male.

Just helpful advice thrown out there if you wanted to try a different kind of shirt to experiment with. If you are early in coming out you are probably going to go through a lot of clothes and styles before you settle on something that works best for you.

P.S. My girlfriend says she likes your hair.

As I said earlier, I'm not worried about passing until I start T. Military style and uniform style shirts are all I will wear, because it's my preference and my expression. I explained it to someone else above.

[WanderingFace]

As I said earlier, I'm not worried about passing until I start T. Military style and uniform style shirts are all I will wear, because it's my preference and my expression. I explained it to someone else above.

I saw. I just figured I would answer your question in a thorough way to be helpful. I thought it better to say why I thought you didn't pass instead of a blunt "no". A lot of people posting in this thread want to know whether or not they are passing in an image and the reason why to help curb misgendering. Everyone has different desires and levels of comfort however.

I think Elis may have been better explaining my feelings on the shirt since I had initially confused you with my first responce. I was just parroting about shirt fits some more to confirm that was what I initially meant.

[KarlMars]

I saw. I just figured I would answer your question in a thorough way to be helpful. I thought it better to say why I thought you didn't pass instead of a blunt "no". A lot of people posting in this thread want to know whether or not they are passing in an image and the reason why to help curb misgendering. Everyone has different desires and levels of comfort however.

I think Elis may have been better explaining my feelings on the shirt since I had initially confused you with my first responce. I was just parroting about shirt fits some more to confirm that was what I initially meant.

Thanks for your input.

[Daydreamer]

Took this earlier this month to have a little throwback earlier this month. I found my old "Ident-a-Kid" card that I got issued when I was five while looking for loose change for my top surgery fund jar.

[Elis]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezpdjnj63o3o7rh/20160212_150201.jpg?dl=0

The top was me 3 months on T.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/viuvplwhjow7->-bleeped-<-/20160402_125831.jpg?dl=0

This is me now at 5 months. I think I've changed slightly but not much. I can still see female in this photo. And I know I need a haircut  . I'm also not sure if my glasses suit me anymore. I don't think they look quite bad enough yet to change them; although if I were too I think the 1960s hipster style frames would suit me (rectangular with black frames). Also does it look like I need to lose some weight?

[KarlMars]

Apologies for being unclear. My casual writing is not the best.
I'm saying the shirt does not work towards passing. Not saying that it looks terrible (It just looks like a work shirt), but it doesn't help make you look male bodied because of the loose fit and collar. Echoing the same sentiments as Elis here. Visually it leans you towards butch woman rather than young male.

Just helpful advice thrown out there if you wanted to try a different kind of shirt to experiment with. If you are early in coming out you are probably going to go through a lot of clothes and styles before you settle on something that works best for you.

P.S. My girlfriend says she likes your hair.

Thank your girlfriend for me. This wasn't quite the style I wanted, so I appreciate her compliment.

[KarlMars]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezpdjnj63o3o7rh/20160212_150201.jpg?dl=0

The top was me 3 months on T.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/viuvplwhjow7->-bleeped-<-/20160402_125831.jpg?dl=0

This is me now at 5 months. I think I've changed slightly but not much. I can still see female in this photo. And I know I need a haircut  . I'm also not sure if my glasses suit me anymore. I don't think they look quite bad enough yet to change them; although if I were too I think the 1960s hipster style frames would suit me (rectangular with black frames). Also does it look like I need to lose some weight?

I like blonde nerdy guys in particular. I personally don't think you need to lose weight. If I were you I'd try some baggier shirts to hide your breasts. They are noticeable. I wish I was a naturally blonde with blue eyes, you're lucky.

[Elis]

Thanks . Yeah; my binder does that annoying rolling up thing so I have to keep pushing it down 

[FtMitch]

It's hard to tell since the phone is blocking your jawline which is kind of an important view, but you're looking pretty passable as a young man to me!  I agree you could use a better binder or a looser shirt and the glasses frames aren't my favorites, but I don't think they are feminine or anything.  Looking good, Elis!

[Elis]

It's hard to tell since the phone is blocking your jawline which is kind of an important view, but you're looking pretty passable as a young man to me!  I agree you could use a better binder or a looser shirt and the glasses frames aren't my favorites, but I don't think they are feminine or anything.  Looking good, Elis!

Thanks; maybe I'm not cursed to look female for the rest of my life after all