Hair extensions/making longer looking hair look natural?

[WolfNightV4X1]

Hi, I figured the ladies might know more about this than I would. Since (most) girls tend to like to grow their hair out and might start out with shorter hair ,

In my case, I want to cut my hair...and I need to keep it long enough to hide it around people Im not 'out' to.

I wanted to know where I can get them, which ones will work, if they're realistic enough, etc.

Itd probably be best to find a store or something so I can try it out

[alex82]

Hi, I figured the ladies might know more about this than I would. Since (most) girls tend to like to grow their hair out and might start out with shorter hair ,

In my case, I want to cut my hair...and I need to keep it long enough to hide it around people Im not 'out' to.

I wanted to know where I can get them, which ones will work, if they're realistic enough, etc.

Itd probably be best to find a store or something so I can try it out

Can't you just get a short bob style, with a fringe, that tucks behind your ears? You can either volumize it or flatten it, depending on your intended audience. Wear it all flat and coming forward in that mid 2000's indie band style - I don't know your age, but enough young men still have that style that you won't stand out as remarkable. Or with a lot of gel on the back and sides to keep them close to the head, you can have the front up in the more modern quiff thing, that is so associated with young guys it seems practically mandatory. Then if you need or want to feminize it, blow dry it bigger, and tuck it behind your ears and style it properly. Tell the hair stylist that you want the versatility to be able to do both.

That's what I've always done, and it's much easier and better for your hair than extensions. Unless you get them properly done with real hair, for a cost of hundreds - in which case you can't just take them on and off at will - it'll just look really naff and fool nobody.

Your best bet as I say is a completely androgynous hairstyle, of which there are plenty. You might find you prefer them so much, you don't want to go shorter. I certainly don't especially intend to go much longer. If I ever do, it'll be sharp and grazing the shoulder but no more than that. You see a lot of trans women with long straggly hair, often in not very good condition. It's a bit of a shame. Irony of cruel ironies, most would look more feminine with a much shorter haircut.

[WolfNightV4X1]

Can't you just get a short bob style, with a fringe, that tucks behind your ears? You can either volumize it or flatten it, depending on your intended audience. Wear it all flat and coming forward in that mid 2000's indie band style - I don't know your age, but enough young men still have that style that you won't stand out as remarkable. Or with a lot of gel on the back and sides to keep them close to the head, you can have the front up in the more modern quiff thing, that is so associated with young guys it seems practically mandatory. Then if you need or want to feminize it, blow dry it bigger, and tuck it behind your ears and style it properly. Tell the hair stylist that you want the versatility to be able to do both.

That's what I've always done, and it's much easier and better for your hair than extensions. Unless you get them properly done with real hair, for a cost of hundreds - in which case you can't just take them on and off at will - it'll just look really naff and fool nobody.

Your best bet as I say is a completely androgynous hairstyle, of which there are plenty. You might find you prefer them so much, you don't want to go shorter. I certainly don't especially intend to go much longer. If I ever do, it'll be sharp and grazing the shoulder but no more than that. You see a lot of trans women with long straggly hair, often in not very good condition. It's a bit of a shame. Irony of cruel ironies, most would look more feminine with a much shorter haircut.

Aye, that is ironic. But it does go to show that hair length means not much in association with gender, since a lot of guys have long hair and girls short. I dunno, I guess it just helps with dysphoria to have a certain 'typical' hairstyle, whatever makes one feel more masculine/feminine

But anyways, thanks for the input. That's sort of unfortunate, I guess. I do have mid-length hair thats something androgynous and combined with other traits I get called male (or female).

I really do want to try a short hairstyle for the first time though...unfortunately I cant do that without lots of social derision from certain parties who would hate that of me (even before transitioning I was berated for cutting it 'too short')

[alex82]

Aye, that is ironic. But it does go to show that hair length means not much in association with gender, since a lot of guys have long hair and girls short. I dunno, I guess it just helps with dysphoria to have a certain 'typical' hairstyle, whatever makes one feel more masculine/feminine

But anyways, thanks for the input. That's sort of unfortunate, I guess. I do have mid-length hair thats something androgynous and combined with other traits I get called male (or female).

I really do want to try a short hairstyle for the first time though...unfortunately I cant do that without lots of social derision from certain parties who would hate that of me (even before transitioning I was berated for cutting it 'too short')

Well, they're going to object anyway in that case, and about much more serious things, so sod them. It's your hair. If you want it short, get it cut. Tell them you're not doing it to look like a man, but that you've decided to channel Annie Lennox circa 1980 something.

[Lyric]

I found your question pretty confusing. Hair extensions are used to either make hair look longer or fuller, not shorter. The only way you could do that with a hair add-on would be to wear a short hair wig of some sort. I've been around wigs for a very long time and I can't recall ever seeing a short wig look convincing over long hair very well. I have to agree with the other posters. Lots of women wear very short hair these days. Have you seen Scarlett Johansson lately? Just take the plunge and get a haircut. Nobody has to know your reason for doing so.