Denial beard

[Alana Ashleigh]

I spent half my life being ashamed of having feminine desires. When I started exploring my feminine side, and doing girly things, it made me so happy. Once I started being femme, I couldn't go back. When I came out to my cousin, she said she heard confidence and positivity in me saying I like being feminine.

I wore a beard of and on for 40 years.  A denial mechanism certainly.  I recognized it as such, but like purging my wardrobe, unsuccessful except for fitting into the homophobic culture of the 70's, 80's, 90's, ...etc.

I really did try not to be femme.  Giving up on that is a reward in itself.

Stupid itchy things....

[Lori Dee]

When I came out to my cousin, she said she heard confidence and positivity in me saying I like being feminine.

It is easy to feel confident when you are speaking the truth. The positivity comes from expressing your true self instead of suppressing it. 
 

[BlueJaye]

It's late and I'm tired. I read the title and thought it said "denial bread". I think that's my cue to get some sleep, lol.

[LucyEgo]

I wouldn't call what I had a denial beard, but I did have denial. So much, so much dysphoria covered with fear, that I stopped taking care of myself. I just couldn't be bothered.

Now I have a reason to be, my hope, my purpose restored, showers, shaving.

But I definitely think I slipped somewhat into the alpha male role a few times to get over the dysphoria. If I'm alpha male and keep telling myself that, I've got no need to transition, what gender dysphoria, I just need to build alpha male up! Grrrr. Hard.

[Faith]

I hated shaving, reason? I didn't look for one .. either, as Kathy stated, I shouldn't have had to shave or it helped cover up a face I didn't want to see

 

There is approx 10 years between those two photo

[Lori Dee]

There is approx 10 years between those two photo

Such a big difference. As my cousin told me, "You are a prettier woman than you were a handsome man." Thanks for sharing!

Here are my side-by-sides:

[KathyLauren]

As long as we're doing before and after shots, here's a couple of me.

[Lori Dee]

I find it interesting that, even though the photos could have been taken a decade apart, we look younger in the second photo. Part of that is the beard, but hormones and the sense of wellbeing also play a role in that. Thanks for sharing!

[Sephirah]

Is it weird that I see the "after" image in the "before" image? Probably, lol. But I do. I think your eyes don't lie.

[big kim]

All of you  make better  looking  women  than men. 

[Sephirah]

All of you  make better  looking  women  than men.

Agreed. You can't fake genuine happiness.

[Sephirah]

Sorry for the double post. Mods, feel free to merge this. Something I wanted to say, though...

How you look is only a small part of it. Kathy, Lori... you are both genuinely amazing people. And everyone here who accepts who they are, sheds the reptile skin of worldly standards.... when you are free to just express yourself... it literally doesn't matter what you look like. You let your soul shine and be a beacon for other people. When you can just be... you can just be awesome. I can recite a whole litany of people who... come out of their shell once they are free to just be.

I am someone who doesn't really care how someone looks. I care how they are. What they say. What they do. And I will say... without fail, when people are free to be themselves, they are much more open, giving, free.... true people. And that shows. In everything you do and say. Beauty is subjective. Being a good person... not so much.

[Alana Ashleigh]

I've noticed since I stopped hiding who I am, and expressing myself the way I truly want, people are super friendly towards me.  Women seem to be the friendliest towards me recently.

Sorry for the double post. Mods, feel free to merge this. Something I wanted to say, though...

How you look is only a small part of it. Kathy, Lori... you are both genuinely amazing people. And everyone here who accepts who they are, sheds the reptile skin of worldly standards.... when you are free to just express yourself... it literally doesn't matter what you look like. You let your soul shine and be a beacon for other people. When you can just be... you can just be awesome. I can recite a whole litany of people who... come out of their shell once they are free to just be.

I am someone who doesn't really care how someone looks. I care how they are. What they say. What they do. And I will say... without fail, when people are free to be themselves, they are much more open, giving, free.... true people. And that shows. In everything you do and say. Beauty is subjective. Being a good person... not so much.