Do I Look, or Could I Pass, as Female? 4.0

[Meadow]

Hi! Have been lurking for a while.

I have had two laser treatments but am otherwise pre-everything - will i pass? Obviously, shadow needs to be worked on... any other tips/criticism?

https://38.media.tumblr.com/f54025c86ca101791d910e2ed42d405c/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o1_1280.jpg
https://33.media.tumblr.com/db465b43f0b6cd928361c12efa2b30cf/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o2_1280.jpg

Sorry, couldn't figure out how to embed the images..

[boatgirl]

Thanks, I've been one hormones, including finesteride for two years, and this is my usual look at work, I don't like having my hair back,for obvious reasons and I am considering going for ffs.and getting my teeth sorted.
My main reason for posting was I wonder what people see when they walk into the workshop, I have no idea.

[boatgirl]

@ meadow, im quite sure you have potential to pass, you have pretty eyes, and nice features hormones soften your face so it's very much going to improve your cheeks pad out below your eyes, which is nice.
Clearly there's plenty of other things to get passing, but it's a good starting point, size of hands and overall dimensions are a distinct advantage if well within female norms, but everything can be made up for or lost with voice, I've known pretty rough looking people with great voices pass and potentially stunning girls who give it all away when they speak, so that's the thing that costs little but the gain is most critical to being easy for strangers to accept you as female without question.

[speckyhailey]

Hi! Have been lurking for a while.

I have had two laser treatments but am otherwise pre-everything - will i pass? Obviously, shadow needs to be worked on... any other tips/criticism?

https://38.media.tumblr.com/f54025c86ca101791d910e2ed42d405c/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o1_1280.jpg
https://33.media.tumblr.com/db465b43f0b6cd928361c12efa2b30cf/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o2_1280.jpg

Sorry, couldn't figure out how to embed the images..

You look like a pass but eyebrows are a big thing for me. I think if they were a bit thinner you would look more feminine

[amber roskamp]

Hi! Have been lurking for a while.

I have had two laser treatments but am otherwise pre-everything - will i pass? Obviously, shadow needs to be worked on... any other tips/criticism?

https://38.media.tumblr.com/f54025c86ca101791d910e2ed42d405c/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o1_1280.jpg
https://33.media.tumblr.com/db465b43f0b6cd928361c12efa2b30cf/tumblr_ngqnlj42t41u2aw82o2_1280.jpg

Sorry, couldn't figure out how to embed the images..

I think you will look stunning with some hormones. you are already pretty and that's a compliment coming from this lezzy over here! but I agree that eyebrow shaping would help but its not necessarily!

[Bird Goddess]

you do have a very neutral face, the only thing that is man-ish is your nose. Hrt can cause changes in the nose though because a lot of the nose is fat. You also shaping eyebrow has a real feminizing effect as well.

being 6'2 140 means that you can experiment with weight gain after hrt to see if you like were the fat goes.

Thanks for looking at my pictures! My nose is large indeed(it is high on the why-are-you-part-of-my-body-list), and I hope there can be made some adjustments to it. I don't know if I would want to gain weight... if it will help a lot I might consider it, but I like my figure as it is now. HRT usually increases your weight right?

[amber roskamp]

Thanks for looking at my pictures! My nose is large indeed(it is high on the why-are-you-part-of-my-body-list), and I hope there can be made some adjustments to it. I don't know if I would want to gain weight... if it will help a lot I might consider it, but I like my figure as it is now. HRT usually increases your weight right?

some people do because of a lowered metabolism, other people don't. But it can help if you aren't seeing results and you feel comfortable putting on 5-10 pounds. just to see where fat is redistributing. I have heard of people doing this and liking the results. but if you like how your figure is don't do it.

im planning on experimenting with weight gain 8 months down the road if i am still were im at now. i weigh 140 as well but im only 6'0.

[MirnaMinkoff]

So, I'm four months in on HRT, waiting for my hair to grow out. Do you think I'll lose that masculine look to my face? Do you think I'm a good candidate for FFS or do you think I'll be fine on HRT?

I'm just using your pic to make a general comment about glasses in general and how to pic good frames as a woman. (You look cute in glasses, so please don't think I'm saying otherwise.)

I've noticed a lot of the members here include glasses with the physical female presentation they are working on and most tend to go with the frames that are a bit trendy now, a bit hip, heavier, square frames.   I'm a csi woman who also wears glasses and I'm very careful about frames.  I'm dark haired, 5'7 but thin and very small boned (size 4 engagement ring) so look very feminine and delicate looking according to most men.)  Even I think the boxy glasses can make me look a bit butch or more masculine - esp if the frames hit right near your eyebrows.  It can make you look like you have huge eyebrows if the frames top rim hits right at your brown line - and it's not a good look.  My main dislike of the frames for myself is the hitting of the brow line and screwing up the look of my eyebrows by adding another dark heavy straight line above my eyes. 

Since most of the women here are very interested in passing in most cases I would suggest going less with the fashionable heavy square frames of the moment and with a more delicate type of frame if you need glasses. I think the glasses appeal is partly in having a kind of boyish/masculine looking frames on a girl - its the unexpected contrast. (Much like a girl looking sexy in her boyfriend's white collar shirt, if you get my drift)  But if you're trying to avoid any masculine connotations in the public's perceptions, go with more femme, delicate frames.  They can still have the thicker frames - but go with some that are a bit rounder at the bottom, or even the cat's eye frames.   

Obviously, this doesn't apply to every transwoman - certain frames can flatter certain faces very well, but the boxy heavy frames tend to work best on very feminine women. Even I don't go all in for them and I probably could pull them off better than most, but the brow line hit is my biggest issue with them.  I DO understand that some of the photos I'm seeing here are probably a result of MtF still living in two worlds and needing glasses they can use when presenting as a male, but for those who want flattering glasses for living as a woman - go more delicate, bit less square and most importantly pay attention to how they go with your natural eyebrows. 

PS> Thanks to S. who sent me a very kind PM. I'd like to respond but can't figure out how, but just wanted to acknowledge some way.

[LadyoftheRockies]

Thank you, Mirna Minkoff! I got these before I came out and agree that they aren't doing me any favors. I just started looking for new frames.

[MirnaMinkoff]

This is me at work, do I look male or female?

Based on that photo alone, I would assume you were male. But I think that has more to do with visual cues that are easily adjustable if you want to appear female.u are androgynous looking person, so because of that the little things like hair/wardrobe are what people will look at to try and gender type you. (I don't know what your voice is like, but that also would be a big factor)  Your hair (at least in that photo) is a typical laid back guy look - and since you either have a bit of a receding hairline OR a high forehead the "male" look effect is exaggerated. Then you have a laid back guy t-shirt type style going on and the gender neutral glasses.  I would just think you were a delicate, laid back guy, with maybe some femme inclinations from that photo. 

If you want to present as a female, one word. BANGS.  Bangs would make a huge difference and that alone would probably have most average people assume you were female at a glance.  Also, going with more form fitting, less baggy guy, t-shirts would also make a difference.  I believe you said you are HRT so show your new boobs off a bit.  Get glasses that are less gender neutral - a bit more curve in the frames to give a more femme effect. 

Also, possibly look into having your hair done with highlights or a stronger colors.  Women tend to look at their hair as it goes with their skin/complexion.  Guys don't care.  Your light hair (I think its light its hard to tell in photos, but it just seems a bit bland only from what I can tell in the photo) color kind of makes you looked washed out and subdues some pretty features on your face.  Not caring about that is a typical guy thing, so people seeing that will chalk that up = guy.  Women will have hair/ make up that accentuates their features more.

Now, you said you were at work so I don't know your situation.  Maybe you aren't comfortable or able to fully present at your job? If not you are doing a good job at a gender neutral type of look but you typical member of the public can't compute androgyny so they will try to put you in one box or another.  With just a few touches they could easily think you were female, but it takes a bit of effort.  Most csi women don;t go totally natural at work anyway, so it's not just a transwoman thing. 

[Skrm]

Hey guys I'm kinda just wondering if my chin/jawline/nose are too masculine to be fixed by HRT; in this picture my eyebrows are 100% still masculine, but I figure if I just pluck them I'll be alright. I'm only 17 right now so my guess is HRT will fix most of it, but the last time I put on make up I literally looked like Fiona from Shrek, and that's not what I want to look like. Of course I haven't started HRT and I didn't have any makeup or anything on in this picture. Critique?

[Jade_404]

Hi again 

I am very interested in MirnaMinkoff opinion on this  , other opinions are welcome as well.  Honestly my body just seems to be feminizing itself. I was very ill for a long time with Lymes Disease and lost a ton of muscle. I have been trying to gain weight back but it seems to be filling in girly spots. I have been trying to take care of my skin as well, I think that is making my face more feminine too. I got a size A cup bra a while back but that is now not fitting, so sorry no bra in the picts , time to get a bigger one I think! I added 1 body pic (kinda shy about my bod!) Anyways, in these picts I had no makeup, I had just worked out and saw that I was glowing all feminine like so I took these picts. So my questions are...

1) Should I dye my hair? (I have NEVER colored my hair and am afraid it might damage it...)
2) How old do I look?
3) Do I need to shape my brows?
4) Could I pass without HRT?
5) Do I look girly?

(I need a trac shave and maybe fix the broken nose)

[click the pic to make it bigger]



Love,
Jade

[Jade_404]

It's a little blurry, but that's how I like it!

Do I pass?  I still get dude-bro'd by all my friends/family.

You would pass if I saw you. You look good. You know family / friends will always dude-bro you no matter what...

rekog face rec rated you female and beautiful! The computer thinks you are sexy! http://rekognition.com/index.php/demo/face
race :
white(0.76)
face brightness : 0.28
face sharpness : 1
emotion : happy:94%,confused:3%
age : 32.91 ( value : 32.91 )
smile : true ( value : 0.97 )
glasses : no glass ( value : 0 )
sunglasses : false ( value : 0 )
beard : false ( value : 0 )
mustache : false ( value : 0 )
eye_closed : open ( value : 0 )
mouth_open_wide : 0% ( value : 0 )
beauty : 95.81 ( value : 0.95814 )
gender : female ( value : 0.12 )

[amber roskamp]

Hey guys I'm kinda just wondering if my chin/jawline/nose are too masculine to be fixed by HRT; in this picture my eyebrows are 100% still masculine, but I figure if I just pluck them I'll be alright. I'm only 17 right now so my guess is HRT will fix most of it, but the last time I put on make up I literally looked like Fiona from Shrek, and that's not what I want to look like. Of course I haven't started HRT and I didn't have any makeup or anything on in this picture. Critique?

Honest critique coming your way.... The only thing that looks overly manish is your nose in my opinion. i have talked to many girls that said there nose got thinner from hrt. I personally believe that you could have some very good results on hrt. you are very young and your bad puberty hasn't taken its course completely. so i think you have a lot to look forward to.

[MirnaMinkoff]

Hi again 

I am very interested in MirnaMinkoff opinion on this  , other opinions are welcome as well.  Honestly my body just seems to be feminizing itself. I was very ill for a long time with Lymes Disease and lost a ton of muscle. I have been trying to gain weight back but it seems to be filling in girly spots. I have been trying to take care of my skin as well, I think that is making my face more feminine too. I got a size A cup bra a while back but that is now not fitting, so sorry no bra in the picts , time to get a bigger one I think! I added 1 body pic (kinda shy about my bod!) Anyways, in these picts I had no makeup, I had just worked out and saw that I was glowing all feminine like so I took these picts. So my questions are...

1) Should I dye my hair? (I have NEVER colored my hair and am afraid it might damage it...)
2) How old do I look?
3) Do I need to shape my brows?
4) Could I pass without HRT?
5) Do I look girly?

(I need a trac shave and maybe fix the broken nose)

[click the pic to make it bigger]



Love,
Jade

Hi Jade:  First I will answer your direct questions.

1) Should I dye my hair? (I have NEVER colored my hair and am afraid it might damage it...)
I understand the fear, because it appears you have nice, silky healthy hair, but think some color would really bring out more of your features. A good colorist or even color in a box shouldn't do and bad damage.  If your really concerned get a non-permanent box color to try out and see if you think the difference is worth a little risk. Though you are not super fair, you are light complexed/colored.  I'm personally dark haired/ featured the "faded" look has never been an issue with me, but I have fair complexed friends and the difference between them with a bit of make-up and hair color, and none, is night and day.  If you are worried about damaging your hair you could go darker (that actually adds to your hair and makes it thicker) or (and this would be my suggestion) just add some highlights or lowlights to your hair, it would look lovely on you.  Also, maybe get a bit of trim so your hair frames your face a bit - a few layers around the face to show it off would be great. 

Really, though most hair does just fine with some color,  It;s the people who constantly strip then color their hair regularly that end up with the awful straw hair - but that takes a lot of dye jobs, curling irons, teasing and hair dryer marathons to get it to that point.


2) How old do I look?
Early 30's?

3) Do I need to shape my brows?
Yes, we ALL need to shape and take care of our brows.  No one gets a pass on this. 

4) Could I pass without HRT?
I had assumed you were on HRT so I believe so.

5) Do I look girly?
Your body is quite feminine, amazingly so for no HRT. I will admit I'm not the best person to ask body questions about, because I think men tend to look at bodies far more than women do.  Women look at faces and weight.  You look slender and toned, which is what every woman I know tries to achieve. 

Etc.. advice if you want it....

The one feature that adds a masculine sense to your face (and which you mentioned yourself) is the broken nose.  I guess it's because guys with broken noses are seen as really macho/tough - so it's one of those things that stands out as a hyper-masculine attribute in some respects.  I'm sure getting it fixed will solve that issue, in the mean time if you wear make-up a bit of contouring with blush and foundation would dramatically alter the appearance of your nose and greatly reduce any masculine effect i might have on your appearance.  (You can find a million videos on youtube that show exactly how to use make-up contouring to hide a "big" nose or change the shape - and the effects are amazing.) 

I would also suggest using some blush on your cheeks to bring out your cheekbones a bit - or even just add to that natural glow you mentioned. Soft pink would suit you well - I love cream blushes for this and it looks so natural if used correctly and blended in well. (I'll even go so far as to plug Make-up Forever at Sephora as my favorite cream blush, and foundation for that matter. Very natural and flattering.) 

[MirnaMinkoff]

To be clear, when writing about brow shaping above it was in regards to eye-brow shaping and how everyone needs to do it.

I just remembered as part of face surgeries some transwomen have they actually do work on the actual brow, and shave it down, so I wanted to be clear I am talking EYE-BROWS in the above.  I didn't want anyone to mistakenly think I meant brow-surgery or shaving was a necessity by any means.

Oh, and Jade, I know you mentioned a possible trac-shave.  I've actually noticed there seems to be a lot of focus on the trac/ adam's apple stuff on these forums and in the trans-community but honestly I rarely notice it as an issue on most transwomen who mention it or think it's something that stands out on them.   

[Damara]

Okay, I'm posting the photo that is also my pp because I personally don't have the best eyesight and assume everyone else doesn't as well. lol! Had my brows waxed yesterday which was fun!  Although the hairdresser suggested (actually pushed way to much) that I get all kinds of damaging treatments on my hair ("to help it") PLUS suggested I grow my fringe out and have it side swept.. not. happening.. not until I get my hairline more feminine somehow.. Anyway, what do you think? I was just out of a lovely bath.. epson salts lol! I didn't wash my makeup off but this was the end of the day so it is quite diminished here.. okay too much talking! Hugs all!

[Jade_404]

Okay, I'm posting the photo that is also my pp because I personally don't have the best eyesight and assume everyone else doesn't as well. lol! Had my brows waxed yesterday which was fun!  Although the hairdresser suggested (actually pushed way to much) that I get all kinds of damaging treatments on my hair ("to help it") PLUS suggested I grow my fringe out and have it side swept.. not. happening.. not until I get my hairline more feminine somehow.. Anyway, what do you think? I was just out of a lovely bath.. epson salts lol! I didn't wash my makeup off but this was the end of the day so it is quite diminished here.. okay too much talking! Hugs all!

Damara, I think you look stunning!  I saw some of your other pictures before and those were also gorgeous. Maybe its the lighting  lol I'm a bit jealous! Your eyes are hypnotizing  I forgot what I was writing... stop looking at me, hehe!

Love,
Jade

[Damara]

Damara, I think you look stunning!  I saw some of your other pictures before and those were also gorgeous. Maybe its the lighting  lol I'm a bit jealous! Your eyes are hypnotizing  I forgot what I was writing... stop looking at me, hehe!

Love,
Jade

Thank you so much, Jade! I am sure it's the lighting! Haha! I am terribly self conscious so all of your lovely words are very welcome. <3 I am trying hard to be happy as I am. I think estrogen will help immensely. Patience..

[Jade_404]

To be clear, when writing about brow shaping above it was in regards to eye-brow shaping and how everyone needs to do it.

I just remembered as part of face surgeries some transwomen have they actually do work on the actual brow, and shave it down, so I wanted to be clear I am talking EYE-BROWS in the above.  I didn't want anyone to mistakenly think I meant brow-surgery or shaving was a necessity by any means.

Oh, and Jade, I know you mentioned a possible trac-shave.  I've actually noticed there seems to be a lot of focus on the trac/ adam's apple stuff on these forums and in the trans-community but honestly I rarely notice it as an issue on most transwomen who mention it or think it's something that stands out on them.

MirnaMinkoff you are awesome!

Thank you so much for you insightful input! I didn't even know there was temporary hair color, hehe. I am going to check out that blush you mentioned too. I did figure you meant eyebrow hair shaping. I could pluck them but I don't want to mess it up. Again thanks for helping me, I do not have any girls around that would help me with this type of knowledge. I am 40 (shh I want to pass as early 30s so THANK YOU for that complement  ) At this age all my friends are all married and off doing stuff and no time to help me be more feminine. Hanging around 20-30 year olds to learn makeup tips and fashion stuff seems like a bad idea, so youtube it is...

Here I included another pic, 2 with makeup. I was trying to make the bad nose smaller, still needs work..How does the make up look tho?. Also YES I used to be one of them tough guys and got the nose broke a few times. (see the image of me in the corner, my hair is pulled back, i was in my mid 20s). I also added other body shots of me now for comparison. My theory is Lymes disease can turn you into a girl. I was so sick and lost so much bulk muscle mass there is no way I could get it back now. Working out now just makes me look girly I guess. I am starting to accept it. I am still a badass tho 

p.s. I LOVE doing my nails!  Who would of thunk it!


Love,
Jade