Transitioning prior to T

[sneakersjay]

When you decided to transition, did you just go all out from the beginning? ie toss all women's clothing, cut your hair, stop shaving legs, etc?  Or did you do it gradually?

Just curious.  Today I got rid of 7 garbage bags of clothing most of which I had never even worn and a lot still had tags on it.  I've been staring at it for>2 years.  I also tossed my women's underwear and socks and  makeup.

Wondering how other guys do it/did it.

thanks!

Jay

[Osiris]

I'm taking gradual steps because I just think that's the pace I need to go at. I still have women's clothes though they don't tend to look very feminine on me as I find some way to butch them up. I do still wear some makeup at work as to not freak out my co-workers since I show up wearing traditional mens suits and cologne.

I guess I'm presenting more androgynous so that people don't think I've randomly snapped and decide not to take me seriously. Well I doubt they'll take me seriously anyway, but I digress.

I'm trying to set a bunch of small goals for myself before I move to the next stage. I tend to be very methodical so it only makes sense that I go through my transition methodically.

[sneakersjay]

My clothes were never feminine, mostly just jeans (black, tan, green, and blue) and tee shirts or sweat shirts at home, and button-down shirts (never girly).  All the clothes I tossed were fancier clothes I needed to wear heels with.  I tossed the heels, too.  Every time I wore those clothes I felt conspicuous and phony, same with makeup.

My current male wardrobe is similar, only cargo pants, polo shirts, and button-down shirts (casual, not fancy).  so it's not a drastic change but the clothes are more comfortable.  I also got new pajamas, underwear, and socks.

I've never looked androgynous, probably because I've had long hair, so I'm not getting a really short haircut yet, but in between.  I've been needing a new wardrobe so this seemed like a good time as any.

Any more ideas/suggestions/stories?

Jay

[Christo]

When you decided to transition, did you just go all out from the beginning? ie toss all women's clothing, cut your hair, stop shaving legs, etc?  Or did you do it gradually?

Jay

Yep I did all that on the spot.  Got tired of the long hair, cloths.  One day I woke up & said no more of this s--t   I didnt start T till years later though. It worked ok 4 me

[Jay]

I have always worn mens clothing so most of my clothes where womans to begin with. I cut my hair short two years ago.. and I think I have worn eye liner once since then. I gave all my make up to my partner and the few clothes that I had to her aswell. I never really did shave my legs to be honest however they defiently didn't get this long, how I have them now.

The only thing that I do is shave my armpits because I just dont like that hair there its gross..

[sneakersjay]

Chris, how did that work during those 4 years before T?  I'm just starting transition but am on the fence about T.  I'm glad I'm not the only one to ditch all of the girly stuff all at once!!  My brain was saying, finally!!  LOL

Jay

[J.T.]

ah for me never wore girly clothes or makeup or shaved legs so can't say anything about that.  so i guess gradually 'cause i cut my hair short over a period of several months, each time a bit shorter.  then i got boxers and my binder.

[noxdraconis]

I always had short hair, unshaved parts, and men's clothing, so there is not much to say in that respect, but then a few years ago I was able to convince my mother to by me boxer shorts and a compression shirt all in one shopping trip so I think that would count as "all-at-once" in that regard.

[sneakersjay]

When did you guys start asking your friends and family to call you 'he'?  I have 2 kids and the Mom thing is going to be hard.

[Stephen]

I have always been trying to compress my boobs. only ever shaved for highschool classmates but never cared to so I haven't since I started college. I did however stop shaving my armpits a few months ago. I have been gradually cutting my hair shorter. I wanted to see how I looked with many styles and so my mom could get use to the idea (she hasn't seen me with my binders on yet but she will either tonight or tomorrow morning).

I never wore make-up. I wore and still wear my women's jeans (mostly cause I only have one pair of guy jeans). although as soon as I have money I will be getting guy jeans cause all my women jeans have worn-out. I always wore unisexed shirts. I do have some of my summer shirts which are feminine which I haven't gotten rid of but I rarely wear. I already wear guy dress clothes for the most part so no big change there either.

[J.T.]

When did you guys start asking your friends and family to call you 'he'?

as soon as i told them... which was probably premature i should have given them more time to process things.  but it was driving me up the wall.

you've got kids so that's a delicate situation.

[Dennis]

I did it when I started living ft as male, about 6 months on T, and after chest surgery. It's different with kids though. If it's hard for them, you may have to take it really slowly and compromise some.

Dennis

[Nero]

Always wore men's clothes. Did cut my hair way too short for my taste. practically a buzz cut. hated it. it's grown out a bit now. still short for a girl though.
Never tossing out the mascara. What can I say, I'm blond. I need it.

[Judge Yourself]

well i did everything mentioned in your post haha registered for college as male causei  had to do a yr RLT (in UK) prior t o  getting T anyway .... went thru many a buzz cut weird hairdo before settling on growing out the top of my hair and getting rest shaved...  college people must think im weird since my voice sucks but all part of the process i guess

the one yr was really important to me even though i didnt take it gradually - i never do

[Jay]

I haven't told my parents to start calling me he they haven't even stopped calling me my birth name yet...*sigh*