Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Wasn't quite sure where to put this so if it's in the wrong place sorry!

I am having issues with my hair. For now I'm in a place where I don't have to have my hair short and neat for interviews, university etc so I thought I may as well grow it out. My hair is naturally curly and about an inch and a half long. However, all it seems to be doing is growing up or to the side. It refuses to go down!

How do I solve this issue? Correct me if I'm wrong, but do hormones cause the hair to 'soften?'

Also, even as I grow my hair, is it best to occasionally trim a small bit off to get rid of any damage?

Mine does this too. If you cut off the curly ends it will just re-curl and you'll be down a couple inches of hair ie. waste of time. You kinda just have to stick it out though the awkward phase of growing out as it will straighten more as it gets longer.

Not sure if cutting the ends is good for growing hair. I've heard both that and the contrary. Though for how your hair grows, just put on a hat every morning when you get up, until you leave. It should be enough to flatten your hair downwards. No guarantee it's gonna look good that way, but it's a start. I used to do that when my hair was about that length.

1. Find a good hairdresser
2. Straighteners and anti Frizz serum

Yes, guess I will have to be patient.

Quote from: A on September 06, 2013, 04:01:10 AM
Not sure if cutting the ends is good for growing hair. I've heard both that and the contrary.

I mention trimming the ends of simply to remove damaged hair.

I am in the exactly same stage now (for 2 months already :P ). I hope to see a hairdresser next week or the one after and get some consultations about hair care products (gels, foams etc). I am currently using some sprays and mousse but if left unattended then it tends to get messy and there are occasions when I need to present in a tidy and formal manner.

Did you try the hat? It was an easy method that worked really well for me.

Pretty much your stuck with it until it grows enough to get a little weight to it. Use gel, anti humidity shampoo and conditioner and antifrizz serum. You can try to use a blow dryer but with me it makes mine more bushy and less manageable with a lot of fly aways not to mention dries it out too much. Once it gets a certain length the curls will start dropping and hanging more except on the very ends. Just hang in there.

I leave mine damaged gives a more "male" look because its straight natural and uncared for :D weird I know but it works with my face.

Btw as far as I ever learnt for case studies E only lightens our hair's colour.

I'm in the same boat as you.  I have very thick black curly hair and if I let it grow it becomes what I call the "mom fro"  Now that I'm growing it out, I normally just use some good conditioner that I don't completely wash out and brush it back so it dries kinda straight.  I think my hair will look wonderful when long, but it'll suck to take care of.

Hair strengtheners will help you.  Since you are in the awkward growing period, you may have to wait a bit before you can properly style it.  Keep in mind that it could also be the natural texture of your hair.  Sometimes those anti frizz and straightening products don't work.  For example, my mom can use a product that will do nothing for either me or my sister and vice versa.  You have to sort of learn about your hair's texture and experiment a bit before you find the right solution because it differs for everyone.

Believe me, I feel your pain because I still haven't discovered what works for me.  My hair is fairly straight, but the ends curl and twist.  It's really frustrating because nothing works on it, except for a hair straightener.   I'm just going to continue growing it out until it gets past shoulder length and then I'll get a trim.   

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but I'm lost in this area as well.

This is a very normal grow-out issue and it's temporary. It's because those are the directions your hair grew when it was short. The hair continues to come out of your scalp in those directions long or not. As it gets longer toward the ends the weight of the length of the hair will change the growth direction and it will flatten against your head. This could take a year or so, though. On the upside, back in the 1960s everyone was trying to get their hair to to grow up and out whether it wanted to or not. You might try one of those early Jane Fonda dos ;). I'm just kidding. Give it time.

~ Lyric ~

Thanks guys and gals! So nothing to worry about really, just need patience. May need to cut it short for work experience/voluntary work though. :(

Currently in a very got Turkey at the moment which is making my hair very frizzy!

Just the issue of balding to  try and preevent and worry about now!

Uhm, why would you have to cut your hair for work? Honestly, apart from the army (stupid IMO), I can't see who would be that strict. I even worked at a hotel with relatively long hair (enough to obscure my view quite well, and this is one of the two reasons I was fired quickly, but that's just me for not keeping it out of my eyes - length itself wasn't an issue).

If a place says you need to cut your hair, you can ask them if they require the same of women. I've been so tempted to do that at another hotel I had an interview at.

Quote from: A on September 08, 2013, 08:05:39 AM
Uhm, why would you have to cut your hair for work? Honestly, apart from the army (stupid IMO), I can't see who would be that strict.

If I had a penny for everytime I've heard people that I've worked with and have worked for way, "You need a haircut." I would probably be Bill Gates rich. Believe it or not it's more about their own ideologies, the way they think someone should look like which pretty much is the same way they look, and their incessant need to control other people, no matter how small it is. As for the Army and other military organizations, it's supposed to be about hygiene in field like conditions, but women can have long hair and in many instances they are in the field with the same opportunities or lack of to shower as the men. But more and more women are going into those jobs too so really it's no excuse other than double standards. Just the good old standards of society at work controlling what someone should look like.

I agree... but really, don't let yourself be controlled by that. For every silly person who has a problem with longer hair, I'm sure you can find another who has judgement.

Quote from: A on September 08, 2013, 08:05:39 AM
Uhm, why would you have to cut your hair for work? Honestly, apart from the army (stupid IMO), I can't see who would be that strict. I even worked at a hotel with relatively long hair (enough to obscure my view quite well, and this is one of the two reasons I was fired quickly, but that's just me for not keeping it out of my eyes - length itself wasn't an issue).

Sorry for late reply and bringing back what is probably now an old topic as I've been on holiday.

As I haven't started transition just yet I have to present in male mode and I'm hoping to start a career in Law which means presenting yourself 'properly'. What is also key is that I am planning to do work experience so I need to make a good impression. It also stems from school where all the boys had to have short hair.

I want long hair but I can cope with short hair before I start transition for the sake of my potential career.

Well, after visiting hairdresser, I can only recommend the styling wax product "Short Sexy Hair. Control Maniac". This thing works wonders and is truly a quality product.

Hi. I have curly hair but I have always had the best hairdressers. Today, if you want straight hair go to a hairdresser and get the BBO (Brazilian Blow Out), its gauranteed to straighten your hair and will last 3 months at a time. There are other ionized treatments also. My only issue is that while my hair had alot of volume due to the curls the BBO reduced the volume - more than I wanted. I now have a program that suits me best. You will need to grow your hair longer -say 4inches but when straightened the length is much neater and easy to manage in a job. FYI my hair is almost 12" and with HRT has great volume. I'm still full stealth and work as an investment banker and have a ponytail. Hope this helps

It may be difficult to straighten if its too short tho.

Curly hair can be a real pain in the a$$ when its short. Wait till it grows out before you choose to straiten it. Using chemical straighteners, sulfates, blow drying, & straightening irons will fry curly hair. Let it grow out naturally and you will have a beautiful head of healthy curls.

Quote from: foreversarah on September 17, 2013, 01:44:26 AM
As I haven't started transition just yet I have to present in male mode and I'm hoping to start a career in Law which means presenting yourself 'properly'. What is also key is that I am planning to do work experience so I need to make a good impression. It also stems from school where all the boys had to have short hair.

I want long hair but I can cope with short hair before I start transition for the sake of my potential career.

Ehm, I've never ever heard of a lawyer having trouble finding work if they weren't incompetent. Maybe they're more in demand here or something, but usually they have all the choice they want.

As for school... eh, how many decades ago was that? I've never heard of a modern day school that places that kind of ancient limitation on people's looks. Even the private school which has a uniform doesn't mess with people's hair beyond unnatural colours and hairstyles with an "aggressive connotation", which several public schools do anyway.

Also... I saw a lawyer a year ago. He didn't have long hair, but definitely not short either.

I'm quite sure that as long as you keep it as tidy as you can, you can have your hair the length you want.

Quote from: A on September 17, 2013, 06:34:56 AM
Also... I saw a lawyer a year ago. He didn't have long hair, but definitely not short either.

I am a lawyer too :)

My hair did the exact same thing growing out and it was quite frustrating. It was almost a year of growing it out until it started to look a lot better.

So just hang in there! The awkward growth phase sucks but you gotta do it!

Quote from: A on September 17, 2013, 06:34:56 AM
Ehm, I've never ever heard of a lawyer having trouble finding work if they weren't incompetent. Maybe they're more in demand here or something, but usually they have all the choice they want.

As for school... eh, how many decades ago was that? I've never heard of a modern day school that places that kind of ancient limitation on people's looks. Even the private school which has a uniform doesn't mess with people's hair beyond unnatural colours and hairstyles with an "aggressive connotation", which several public schools do anyway.

Also... I saw a lawyer a year ago. He didn't have long hair, but definitely not short either.

I'm quite sure that as long as you keep it as tidy as you can, you can have your hair the length you want.

I went to the wrong school then! :) They were SO fussy about length of hair. Apparently long hair didn't make us look respectable!

Obviously length of hair has no reflection on who a person is or how they act. It's all stereotyped.

I've also never seen a long haired lawyer (unless you count those in the log white wigs  ;D). We are given plenty of warnings at uni etc.




I'll give all these methods a go. Thanks!

Y'know, people have pretty (stupidly) strong views on hair. When I was looking for a hotel job, I went to two hotels. Two high-class hotels, almost across the street from one another, in strong competition, with the five-star one only having the extra star compared to the four-star one because it had an outside pool on top of the inside one, which is a criteria for five-star hotels. (The four-star one has an interior water park though.)

Well, the manager at the five-star hotel, at the interview, said that I would have to cut my hair, despite her having long hair herself. The other one... nope, not a word on it. They hired me on the only condition that I would buy myself some chic-ish outfit.

They did fire me afterwards because a customer complained about me having hair in my eyes, but if I'd just planned for that properly and put a hairclip or something, that would've been prevented.