Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Squirrel698 on August 12, 2011, 02:20:22 PM Return to Full Version

Title: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Squirrel698 on August 12, 2011, 02:20:22 PM
I'm a bit fuzzy right now, especially under my chin.  Right now I'm just letting it grow and waiting to see what happens.  It's about 75% dark hairs and 25% lighter hairs.  So it probably won't ever even out but it's worth a shot.

The funny thing is, people who I thought were accepting are suddenly freaking out.  For example the babysitter is an older woman and she's always been perfectly friendly.  Now she's pointedly keeping her distance and not meeting my eyes.  It's like I have the plague or something.  The same story goes for my neighbour.  Also an older women and she has a tendency to poke her nose in where it doesn't belong.  She'll avoid pronouns while talking to me and gets them wrong when talking to my partner.  It just pisses me off.  I've been at this for 18 months or so.  You'd think they would learn by now.

It's fine for me to be transgender without any facial hair but as soon as I have some it's a whole different story.  Which really sucks because it tells me that those people were just doing lip service.  They didn't actually believe what they were trying so hard to remember to say.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: wallflower on August 12, 2011, 02:28:05 PM
For those that knew you previously I'd imagine it is tough as it is one of the defining physical characteristics between gender lines. It's odd when any guy goes from being clean shaven to having a beard though so don't take it to heart!
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Ratchet on August 12, 2011, 02:30:29 PM
I think the beard, or facial hair growth brings the reality home. Without it they can act like it isn't true, or there. But you introduce the beard, it's a whole different ball game. My little cousin always goes "You're growing a bearrd!" She's so used to seeing no hair on my face. I find it amusing.

All I can really say... DO IT!
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Renate on August 12, 2011, 02:35:22 PM
I think that many of us run into other people's invisible borders.
"I knew that you were transsexual but I never thought that you'd ever do that."

Grow a beard.
Personally I think that it's the only perquisite of being a male.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: tekla on August 12, 2011, 03:02:02 PM
Facial hair pretty much equals weird.  Weirdo Beard-O.  You might be one of those - neck beard hipsters / bikers / hippies / Gay Bears / Amish freaks.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: PixieBoy on August 12, 2011, 03:10:48 PM
If you can grow it, show it!

I want some kind of facial hair, I'd love to have sideburns and a goatee or something. Or at least the ability to grow it.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Sharky on August 12, 2011, 03:11:18 PM
Go for it! I guess it's just sinking in for them. Maybe you could dye the lighter hairs.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Devlyn on August 12, 2011, 03:16:05 PM
Paul, go for it, and I want a picture posted, too! Remember, what anyone else thinks is unimportant at the end of the day.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: bojangles on August 12, 2011, 04:53:09 PM
Come on in, dude. It'll grow on ya.
:laugh:
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: cynthialee on August 12, 2011, 05:45:35 PM
Having facial hair seems to be the one thing all the trans guys I know IRL are obsessed with. And I can't say I blame them. Facial hair is a MALE thing. It would be natural for you to want it.
Yay for growing facial hair.
Boo for the ass hats that cant get over it.

18 months is long enough for people to wrap their heads around this.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: xAndrewx on August 12, 2011, 05:48:41 PM
Go for it man!
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Greg on August 12, 2011, 06:44:58 PM
Have a go, it's your face after all. Prepare yourself for it looking scruffy for several weeks though. I've got to about the 3 week mark a couple of times but it looks crappy so I end up trimming it.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Squirrel698 on August 12, 2011, 06:55:25 PM
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!  I'm not sure how this is going to go.  I'm thinking maybe a chin strap as there seems to be no growth on my chin.  Only under my jaw and on my cheeks.

We will see.  ;D
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: tekla on August 12, 2011, 09:54:57 PM
Hipster neck-beard, then you can wear the ironic trucker cap and go to Burning Man.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: sneakersjay on August 13, 2011, 07:52:51 AM
Quote from: cynthialee on August 12, 2011, 05:45:35 PM
Having facial hair seems to be the one thing all the trans guys I know IRL are obsessed with. And I can't say I blame them. Facial hair is a MALE thing. It would be natural for you to want it.
Yay for growing facial hair.
Boo for the ass hats that cant get over it.

18 months is long enough for people to wrap their heads around this.

I also keep it as a reminder to those prone to forgetting pronouns.  When all the clients see is MALE, you look like an idiot when you mess up.  That and I'm too lazy to shave.


Jay
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Squirrel698 on August 13, 2011, 08:22:35 AM
Quote from: tekla on August 12, 2011, 09:54:57 PM
Hipster neck-beard, then you can wear the ironic trucker cap and go to Burning Man.

Hehe are you going to buy me a ticket Tekla, because I'd love to go.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: tekla on August 13, 2011, 08:27:27 AM
No doubt you'd love it too.  Lot's of people like you up on the Playa having a good old time.  I love BM myself.  Those two weeks in SF are great.  All the cool bars are empty, no crowds to fight, mellow.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Squirrel698 on August 13, 2011, 09:16:54 AM
Quote from: sneakersjay on August 13, 2011, 07:52:51 AM
I also keep it as a reminder to those prone to forgetting pronouns.  When all the clients see is MALE, you look like an idiot when you mess up.  That and I'm too lazy to shave.

I swear I want to introduce your coworkers to my good friend, Mr. Baseball Bat.  How can they misgender you when you have a beard?  My God.

Quote from: tekla on August 13, 2011, 08:27:27 AM
No doubt you'd love it too.  Lot's of people like you up on the Playa having a good old time.  I love BM myself.  Those two weeks in SF are great.  All the cool bars are empty, no crowds to fight, mellow.

I'm hoping all of those cool empty bars serve tea, because I'm thinking that will be right up your alley. 
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: tekla on August 13, 2011, 09:21:28 AM
Yeah, when they see me comin' they think "Better get that tea ready, she's going to be pounding the Arnold Palmers today."  Don't 'ch dare stand between me and some nice Oolong or else.  It ain't pretty when I get me tea in me.  Just look what tea did in England last week.  Not to mention the Tea Party here.  Tea binges are destroying society.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: PixieBoy on August 13, 2011, 09:25:40 AM
Neckbeards are hipster now? Why? That's just what lazy fa/tg/uys have because they can't be bothered to shave properly.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Squirrel698 on August 13, 2011, 09:28:26 AM
 
Quote from: tekla on August 13, 2011, 09:21:28 AM
Yeah, when they see me comin' they think "Better get that tea ready, she's going to be pounding the Arnold Palmers today."  Don't 'ch dare stand between me and some nice Oolong or else.  It ain't pretty when I get me tea in me.  Just look what tea did in England last week.  Not to mention the Tea Party here.  Tea binges are destroying society.

Thankfully when you're rampaging down Market Street, I'll be smoking a blunt with my feet up.  Just taking it slow and easy man.

Quote from: PixieBoy on August 13, 2011, 09:25:40 AM
Neckbeards are hipster now? Why? That's just what lazy fa/tg/uys have because they can't be bothered to shave properly.

Thanks for the clarification angel
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: RyGuy on August 13, 2011, 09:38:21 AM
Quote from: Squirrel698 on August 13, 2011, 09:28:26 AM

Thankfully when you're rampaging down Market Street, I'll be smoking a blunt with my feet up.  Just taking it slow and easy man.

+1 hahahhahahahahaha
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: Bird on August 13, 2011, 01:52:05 PM
I say, get a manly beard. Guys with beards are hawt.

Some of the people I knew were "fine" with mebeing TG, but after I went full time began to freak out. It is how it is.
Title: Re: So I'm thinking of growing a beard
Post by: N.Chaos on August 13, 2011, 06:19:17 PM
Quote from: PixieBoy on August 13, 2011, 09:25:40 AM
Neckbeards are hipster now? Why? That's just what lazy fa/tg/uys have because they can't be bothered to shave properly.

That's the irony, of course. Because, y'know, it's ironic. And hipsters are ironic. Ironically.

Squirrel, I say do it. You'd rock the hell out of some fuzzyness. I've got a doofy little soul patch-ish thing that I treasure, and I don't care if it weirds my friend out. I like it. And while it sucks (a lot), it's always good to weed those kind of people out.