Susan's Place Transgender Resources

This is mostly geared towards guys with long hair [a little above shoulders to past the shoulders], but all input is welcome if you think you can answer the question(s).


I have long hair and I have a passion for long hair.  While I like short hair, I'm not always the biggest fan of it because of that awkward in-between stage and because it limits what I can do with it.  I also just love long hair and the longer it is, the happier I am.


However, I'm curious how one could pass as male, or at least androgynous, with long hair.  I'm not trying right now since I have to student-teach this coming semester and must present as female, but this is for further down the line.  But, I have had several people ask if I was male or female [all the while with my long, curly hair (I permed it.  Don't ask why because I don't have an answer. xD) and in my work outfit which is rather fitted because it's too hot for baggy clothes], but I have no idea how I did it. 


Anyway, this is for hearing about how other guys on here manage to pass [at least somewhat] with longer hair.

I passed a bit when I had long hair, I think one thing that helps is a low ponytail at the nape of the neck, having all of it the same length, and letting some of it drape in front of the shoulders. For some reason, girls with long hair seem to do this less often. Hope this helps!

I'm almost bald and love it, don't have to deal with it anymore but I did use to have hair down my back. Most guys with long hair wear it in a loose pony tail at the neck. Girls tend to wear it on top of their head, never seen a guy do that.

In times when I was boy (trying to look like one)
I wear it this way  (http://img.fotoalba.centrum.cz/img3/5164/3105164_5_inyyqr7.jpg)and most people saw me as a boy

personally I don't feel there such a big diffrence in me passing with long or short hair I even think I pass slightly better with long hair + I look more my age, with long hair I go for someone 19-20 as I am, but with short hair I turn 15-16.
Yes hair do something but I dont think its all about the lengt of it but more about how its cut, vs your faceshape.
the general point is to get a hairstyle short or long, who show off the boyish features and hide the girlish.

it can also be pretty good not to have too short hair since it can show off your femenine features if you got a very girly face.

again really depends from person to person like cis-genders you always need the style who fits you but if people say transmen cant pass with long hair then its bulls*.
Alot of people say "it would help if you cut your hair" but its not nessesarry the caise, you might look "boyish" with a "boyish" haircut, but looking boyish, dosent nessesarry mean you will pass as a boy, it could also mean people would just think your a tomboy.
--

I dont have long hair now, But I used to have hair around shoulder lenght. I like both but cant get my hair too short or I would look too young.
http://postimage.org/image/z59he0tdt/ (http://postimage.org/image/z59he0tdt/)

I have choppy, longish hair. I'd say most people consider me androgynous. I'd say to pass as male with long hair there has to be some other factors there like general facial structure, if you shave/don't shave, overall build, clothes, mannerisms ... Most guys that have long hair have other visual "signs" that give people "clues".

That said, I'm definitely a supporter of the fact that you should wear your hair however you like it and however it makes you feel comfortable.

I used to have long hair and have considered growing it long again.  Probably not a good idea at my age, LOL. But the thing I love about short hair?  Rolling out of bed and being ready for anything.  Of course, I used to have to do my hair and bangs just so, which I wouldn't  do now, so whipping it into a low ponytail could amount to the same lack of attention.  But I'd still have to comb and/or brush it.  Right now I don't even touch it.
Jay

Honestly I never passed untill I could grow my beard. I cut my hair after coming out but didn't pass at all when I had short hair, didn't cut it again after starting T. When my hair was a medium length I passed 80-90% of the time but when it got longer I didn't at all but I like long hair so I kept it.

@ Drain:


Thank you! And it does.  I generally wear my hair like that at work [it's more comfortable and I easily pull the pony holder out if I need to].


@ Medusa:


<.< >.> My hair is a similar type currently though my part is different because I have these weird areas where the hair is only about an inch long because I damaged my hair via dying it too often and they're just starting to grow back. 


@ Natkat:


I think you look great with your long hair. :3  Yeah, I can see how facial features play a role.  I've no issue there as my jawline is rather strong and I have a rather square face.


@ Insideontheoutside:


-nod-  I'd say everything plays into role.  :3 Thank you for your input. ^^

Quote from: sneakersjay on August 05, 2012, 03:19:40 PM
I used to have long hair and have considered growing it long again.  Probably not a good idea at my age, LOL. But the thing I love about short hair?  Rolling out of bed and being ready for anything.  Of course, I used to have to do my hair and bangs just so, which I wouldn't  do now, so whipping it into a low ponytail could amount to the same lack of attention.  But I'd still have to comb and/or brush it.  Right now I don't even touch it.
Jay

I have a cowlick on the back of my head that means I have to be very careful when I sleep if I have short hair [I've had everything from 1 inch to a little past my shoulders, which it's currently at.


@ Nathan:


Is that you in your picture?  If so, I think you look fantastic ^^


I don't plan on having a beard because I'm not the biggest fan of them [at least on me;  some people look great, but my family doesn't and they have a bit of an issue of growing them in because everyone has bald patches on their faces] so that's a little out of the question with me.

Quote from: Arawn Gabriel on August 05, 2012, 05:42:21 PM
I think you look great with your long hair. :3  Yeah, I can see how facial features play a role.  I've no issue there as my jawline is rather strong and I have a rather square face.

in that caise it should be fine as long your living in a place where men can have long hair (well I think, most places can, but you know theres always few exeptions)


and thanks btw.
8)

Sometimes a reshaping of the hairline, from receding or male pattern 'baldness,' has a strong impact on how someone gets read. The hairline going back a bit over the temples really can change the perceived shape of the face.

That said, rock your long hair, and remember that even nontrans men with long hair sometimes get mis-read.

Quote from: MrTesto on August 05, 2012, 07:13:26 PM
Sometimes a reshaping of the hairline, from receding or male pattern 'baldness,' has a strong impact on how someone gets read. The hairline going back a bit over the temples really can change the perceived shape of the face.

That said, rock your long hair, and remember that even nontrans men with long hair sometimes get mis-read.

true.. I misgendered my ex-boyfriend.. he got long hair and sitting in the buss I thought "wow.. she got such beutifull hair" and then he turned around and I saw it was him..
pretty akward sillence..

It depends on the hair length and attitude. If you're a guy that dresses dapper having very long straight hair might look a bit off. However, if you have a "skater" sort of style of dressing and a youthful attitude having long shaggy hair might be appropriate.

I have hair that's a little bit above shoulder length, and I don't pass at all (My hair is probably not the biggest problem there, though, because my face is very soft and round looking). Also, the bottom of my hair has a really annoying tendency to flip outwards, which makes it look even more feminine. =_=

I'd wear my hair shorter, but I don't think it would look good on me, and so I'm a bit afraid to try it.

I think the trick to long hair is finding haircuts that highlight masculine features of your face. It can be kinda tough, but if you do some research on longer guy's hairstyles, you might get somewhere.

Just keep in mind that for some guys, passing with long hair is harder, and for some guys, passing with short hair is harder. All depends on what you look like.

I've always had long hair and consequently have passed with long hair as well :P

I think, though, a big thing that helped me is I've also always been a metalhead, so even before coming out as trans people often assumed I was male because of how I dressed. People are just used to guys that look like me having long hair, so its less likely to raise eyebrows. Undercuts help as well, which isn't uncommon among male metalheads...so for me I think it was really thanks to that and feel like if I dressed in sweater vests or something it would be different, lol.

But also clothing style, body type, facial features and general demeanor + how all that really comes together is what really determines whether you pass or not with long hair, imo.

Even cis dudes with long hair can be misgendered. Imo, I don't see a problem with you wearing your hair long so long as you're happy with it. I'm sort of growing my hair out again for personal comfort. I'm okay with it short and all, but I feel a little closer to my country of origin/heritage with longer hair.

I can't really think of much that hasn't already been said, but I would definitely stress the fact that cis-guys with long hair get misgendered all the time. I have long hair and intend to keep it that way. I pass probably 80% of the time. I think it would be closer to 100% if I wasn't so small.

This was taken a little over a month ago: http://s17.postimage.org/3q4gmcw73/100_7114.jpg (http://s17.postimage.org/3q4gmcw73/100_7114.jpg)

A little bit of messiness can help, I think. Smooth and sleek with everything in place tends to be read as more feminine. I comb mine after sleeping and that's it.

As was said earlier, low ponytails at the nape are the most masculine of them... But what has not been mentioned is the last cut you got. I've noticed that most cis guys with long hair have it all one length. Most girls get it layered. So if your hair is layered or has grown out layers, you should probably get it cut straight.

I have hair down to my ass and I can still pass sometimes.  I'm pre-everything with quite big boobs so full time passing isn't yet an option for me, but even so I sometimes pass simply because I act like a dude.  Experience tells me passing isn't just about looking stereotypically male – it's mostly about acting male.  Your body language and speech patterns matter a lot more than if you have a "masculine" hairstyle.

The guys who are saying to wear it in a ponytail at the nape of the neck are giving good advice.  I would add that you want to be a bit scruffy with it; a few split ends are A-okay because, as a generalisation, men aren't nearly as particular with their hair as women.  Long hair for males tends to be worn as a marker of belonging to a particular subculture, e.g. they want to be seen as a rocker or a hippie, whereas women wear long hair to show femininity and will often style it in quite complex ways.  All the guys I know with long hair just let it do what it likes and that's what I do with mine.

My other piece of advice would be to avoid the hairdresser. They're used to styling women's hair and will often do girly things to it - like layering it - if you don't keep a sharp eye on them.  In my experience (your mileage may vary), they're also prone to doing what they think would look good instead of what you actually asked for.

i really doubt you could pass just because my cisgender brother with shoulder length hair was constantly being mistaken for a girl.