Some Examples of Passing Haircuts

[Squirrel698]

Hello!

I have a hair appointment tomorrow morning.  My picture is the last one in the passing thread.  I agree with Kyril when he says that I need to change up my haircut.  What I really need is some pictures to show the hairdresser what I want.  I try telling them I want to look like a guy but they always end up cutting me like a lesbian (no offence to lesbian's I love you) and I'm tired of it.  So does anyone have any pictures of good haircuts that might work?  Sadly style has never been something I'm very good at.  Thanks

[Ryan]

Short back and sides is the generic man cut.
You don't want anything too short (like a buzz cut) as it will reveal the feminine shape of your skull.
I find that short back and sides and then longer on top squares the top of your head out into a more masculine shape.

[kyril]

My main advice is not to go to anyone who can be referred to as a "hairdresser", at least the first time. Go to a barber. Tell him (or her, but probably him) to give you a short back and sides, a tapered nape, and leave most of the length on top. You should end up with something like this:

which is a very masculinizing cut, but retains some of the length to allow you to experiment with different styles the next time you go back.
Other styles: http://mens-haircuts.net/short-mens-haircuts/
The short back and sides can be modified into a fade, an Ivy League or a Caesar with very little difficulty. The differences between the cuts are really subtle but they have a major effect on how your face looks, so start with the longer cuts and go shorter gradually if you need to.

[Squirrel698]

@Ryan.  You are so cute.  Is it okay to say that?  I think I've seen some of your youtube videos before.  Sorry if I offended.  It's the T talking I swear.

Any rate, thanks for the advice.  I'll tell the hairdresser that and hopefully she'll listen this time

Edit: Sorry Kyril your message came in as I was writing.  Thanks for the picture!  You might be right about the hairdressers.  I'm not sure why they can not follow simple directions.  I have been to Sports Clips a few times but wasn't happy with the results.  There really are not that many barbers around where I live. 

[Ryan]

Haha, thanks!

Also, I think the Beckham photo that Kyril posted would probably look a bit lesbianish on a transguy. You want to keep it as plain as possible in my opinion.

[Carson]

I think the Beckham photo that Kyril posted would probably look a bit lesbianish on a transguy. You want to keep it as plain as possible in my opinion.

Agreed.

I get short back and sides and have experimented with the top length. If they use clippers on your hair(back and sides) I usually go with a 3 and then get the top trimmed with scissors. Unfortunately I think if you try to go for a really stylish mens cut early on you look like a lesbian, not a guy.

[Zack]

Maybe?

Only decent picture I could find that resembles what you're looking for.

[Nygeel]

It all depends on your face shape, what style you prefer, etc. In general flat top type hair cuts masculinize a person's face.

[Squirrel698]

Thanks Addison, that's actually a good shot.  Maybe just a little bit longer on top for me.

[Osiris]

My main advice is not to go to anyone who can be referred to as a "hairdresser", at least the first time. Go to a barber. Tell him (or her, but probably him) to give you a short back and sides, a tapered nape, and leave most of the length on top. You should end up with something like this:

Yup, I've had that style several times while experimenting with looks. It's a good place to start.

At the moment though I have a haircut more like Ryan's in his avatar. I had my brother comment that I my look is very military now. lol

[Devin87]

When I get the guts to shear off my hair (which is chin-length right now and only seems to pass when I wear a backwards baseball cap with it) I'm totally getting my haircut like Russell Crowe in Gladiator.  I love those little points at the forehead.  Not sure how it works for passing, I've just always wanted that haircut.

[LordKAT]

I give. I pass almost all the time but my hair is waist length. I'm growing it back after chopping 2 feet off a couple months ago.

[M.Grimm]

Coolmenshair.com has a variety of photos of different male hairstyles, long and short, if you want more to browse.

I'm wondering about what to do as I transition, however. That is to say, I like the place that cuts my hair, it's good. I'm wondering if I should just continue to go and explain I'm trans, and assure them this isn't so I can pay the slightly cheaper men's haircut price. It seems like an awkward conversation.

[Lachlann]

Maybe?

Only decent picture I could find that resembles what you're looking for.

I plan on getting something like that soon.

[Devin87]

That is to say, I like the place that cuts my hair, it's good. I'm wondering if I should just continue to go and explain I'm trans, and assure them this isn't so I can pay the slightly cheaper men's haircut price. It seems like an awkward conversation.

If a woman's getting a men's haircut, they should be able to pay the men's haircut price, anyway.  That's discrimination to force someone to pay more for the same haircut because of their gender.  The woman's haircut price should be for a woman's haircut, not any haircut on a woman.

[Alessandro]

If a woman's getting a men's haircut, they should be able to pay the men's haircut price, anyway.  That's discrimination to force someone to pay more for the same haircut because of their gender.  The woman's haircut price should be for a woman's haircut, not any haircut on a woman.

I had this happen to me though.  I had a men's cut and had to play £14 more just because I was read as female!

[Lachlann]

I had this happen to me though.  I had a men's cut and had to play £14 more just because I was read as female!

I've had the same happen to me pre-T.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

Man if someone did that to me....read me as female and made me pay that price, I'd demand to speak to the manager and explain that I was definitely male... I never let on that I'm anything but male in everyday public. But that's just me. I'd be infuriated.

Personally I cut my own hair, and I usually go short on sides, longer on top. I love a fade, but can't really do that myself. Right now I have it all shaved though, I got sick of having hair to mess with. But that is often very non masculizing. I've been lucky in that it hasn't hindered my passing, but I don't like the way it looks on me.

[M.Grimm]

I've noticed it's pretty common in some hair salons that women's haircuts are more expensive. I don't know if this is because they think women's hair requires more fussing, or if they want to lure more men in. Regardless of the reason, it IS discrimination. A short back and sides is straightforward, but a shag cut on a guy will take just as much fussing as it does on a woman, so I don't really get the price difference.

[Osiris]

I never knew about the price difference thing. Then again I never went to get my hair cut professionally that often. I'd usually have someone I know cut my hair and lately since I've been going for simple masculine cuts I'll tackle it myself.

As mentioned before I recently cut my hair much shorter than I've had it before. Personally I like the results and it seems to be working well for passing too.