Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I just got my spirit gum back from an ex-friend. I've used it in the past on myself as well as applying it on others. But I've always failed pretty badly. I've seen some FtM friends use it very successfully so I'm pretty sure it is possible to make convincing facial hair.

Does anyone else ever bother with making a beard who could possibly lend me some tips? My issue is that the hair always ends up flat with an obvious glued-down look, but I've seen it on some people standing as though it's practically growing from their face, almost naturally. Am I just clumsy or is there some technique I've yet to develop? Maybe all I need is more practice, haha.

Thanks!
Ryan

oh well......i tried crepe wool, i tried crepe hair, i tried my own hair chopped into something like a powder, which works best still....but to tell you the truth, to make it look anywhere near authentic and not lie down like you described, you need to leave the hair rather long - so that would result in a full beard or thick sideburns or whichever style you desire.

here's what i did, but a couple of words on that before you start buying crepe hair etc. :
1) you can't avoid that there'll be some shiny spots here and there which will look very unnatural in bright light
2) it takes about an hour even once you've found out how to do it right
3) it itches and causes spots and to take the spirit gum off you'll need alcohol or something like vaseline.
4) you can create a five-o'clock-shadow in less than 5 minutes with eyeliner rubbed on moisturized skin and it will look REALLY authentic...much more so than spirit gum beards.

okay so....
1) cut your strand of crepe hair so you'll have a straight edge about an inch long
2) put spirit gum on a small section (i usually started with one stripe from ear to chin, about a quarter of an inch wide) of your face
3) spread the strand of hair between your fingers so it doesn't look too dense
4) stick it to your face vertically, holding on to it until the spirit gum starts to dry
5) pull out excess hair
6) build up the next layer on top of this layer
7) trim in the very end after all layers are thoroughly dried

honestly, it's a hassle, and even make-up artists don't do it anymore these days, so it's pretty much useless for anything but sideburns or soulpatches maybe.

Bad idea.

here's a picture of the eyeliner 5-o-clock-shadow i was talking about:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5136%2F5405604599_2190ac9a9f_z.jpg&hash=9a0100a3d4d215308aa8c2e3bd594dc9f4674bd1)



(took this right after i applied the moisturizer + eyeliner, it looks more natural after the moisturizer has been absorbed)

Quote from: Sharky on January 31, 2011, 04:28:51 PM
Bad idea.

+1

and I don't see the 5 o'clock shadow in that last picture  ???
 
While the concept of creating false facial hair [in either manner] may seem appealing I think its more likely to draw attention [and make you look like a fool] than to help you pass.  Many MANY men don't have facial hair and take days to develop a shadow [I know bio men like this.]  Its not a requirement of being a man, or being seen as a man. 

Quote from: GnomeKid on January 31, 2011, 07:11:31 PM


and I don't see the 5 o'clock shadow in that last picture  ???
 

slightly over-exposed i guess. everything that looks sorta greyish would usually be pink though ;)

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5292%2F5406409460_63eccdd6cb.jpg&hash=c6e532d82d81b1e7655140ef35c6fe8f0b0d2638)

Hmm :/ Alright. Thanks for the tips Emil.

And I know facial hair isn't required. I just, really really really want a beard. I won't be going on T for a while for personal reasons (and I'm fairly likely going to grow a significant amount of body and facial hair, judging from my father and brother and the men on my mom's side of the family.)

I guess spirit gum is probably meant more for show, considering you can only buy it at costume stores.

I do not recommend making face facial hair.  If you want to wear it around your house or to a costume party that is one thing, but if you plan to go in public and act as if nothing is weird about it it's not really going to work.  For one thing up close people will be able to tell it's fake.  You will draw more negative attention to yourself than anything. 

I am a big fan of it and have had really good luck. I've actually been meaning to post a picture so you guys can see how good it can come out. (I do have a bit of a theatre background which helps...plus an eye for detail!!)

It DOES take a while to make it look good. I had them save my hair when I had a haircut, and I chop it up. Do it a little section at a time, do NOT rush or you will screw it up. I ordered actual human hair sideburns and cut them down to be more size appropriate for my face, and sort of shave them. Once it's all on, take a tiny pair of scissors and trim it all nice and neat. Sideburns are the easiest because that part of your face doesn't move. Also, easy to get a 'stache and go-tee type of deal with the scraps from the trimmed-down boughten one or your own hair, or a full beard if you have the patience. Like a lot of this stuff, it takes a LOT of practice. A trick I learned is when you are almost done, take a cork and burn the end, then dab it around lightly on your face to blend it all together and get rid of the shiny spots. Only in a dim bar would I really try to pull this off, in bright light it's not gonna work. But it IS a ton of fun to feel it on your face and have your girl play with your whiskers!

Well Ryan, the only facial hair I put together pre-T with my own hair and spirit gum was a soul patch since it is small. it's best to just cut up the hair really really really small hahah. but you can order synthetic facial hair online at a site called hisandher . I dunno, try it out maybe.

also, the picture of the 5 o clock shadow looks pretty good. normally it looks obvious that it's eyeliner.

when you're doing it right you really can't tell it's eyeliner. i wore it for months out and about and and no one, including my girlfriend at the time, ever knew. i guess i could make a tutorial if anyone's interested.

Thanks for the tips guys. I dunno. I might try practicing on those extremely rare days I have absolutely nothing to do out of the house.

Unfortunately, since I got my spirit gum back I've managed to lose it again. My apartment swallows things, I swear.

And Emil, you should totally post a tutorial. Same with Andy and your pic. And thanks Jay. You're awesome :)

Go on T. Grow your own. It won't look fake then.

i'm always stunned by how carelessly some people recommend hormones to anyone and everyone they don't know as though they were vitamins.  ::)

Yeah it's not easy for some people to 'just go on T'

and even people who are on T can't grow their own :/

Quote from: emoboi on February 04, 2011, 06:44:17 PM
Go on T. Grow your own. It won't look fake then.

Huh... never thought of that. Thanks man.

Quote from: Ryan D on February 04, 2011, 10:00:00 PM
Huh... never thought of that. Thanks man.

Hahahah

I'm just saying it's just gunna look fake and stupid so I'd never do that but then again I don't feel the need to have hair on my face.

Sorry for being an ->-bleeped-<-.

It's understandable not wanting facial hair, it is a little gross I guess.
I'm just a bit of a bear.

I only started this thread hoping I might get some tips to make a better goatee, if it were possible.

Ryan, I will post a pic ASAP--on a vacation with family right now so not really free to maneuver. Don't worry about being a bear, it's understandable. I will encourage you in your attempts to satisfy your need to have facial hair. We can't all do the T thing for one reason or many. All that ANY of us can do is be the best version of ourselves we can be. I'm with ya, bro.

cool Andy, sounds good, thanks. Enjoy your vacation man. And I can take T, just, not for a while and my girlface and inability to grow hair is starting get to me :/ So thanks in advance for the help

In my experience the best way to fake facial hair is to emulate the dark coloration a lot of guys retain even after a fresh shave.  The shadowing is most pronounced on the upper and lower lip.  There is a bit on the jaw near the mouth and some in the sideburn area.  All you need to achieve this look is a bit of lotion to act as a primer and some grey eyeshadow.  If you have blonde hair, a light brown should do the trick.  You want the non-shimmery kind.  Once you have the shadow you want, set it with some facial powder.  This will cover over the eye shadow and make it not look you're wearing make up. 

I did this example in less than a minute.  The shadow effect is only on the right side of my face just for the sake of comparison.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash1%2Fhs783.ash1%2F167297_196187970393953_100000082533084_747279_1182739_n.jpg&hash=86b709ace3cdc4b15a6f4d8d5ddf68f01522b094)

when you go to replay underneath the B (bold) icon there is an IMG icon, if you click on that it will look like
[ img ] [ /img ]
without the spaces though.
in there put in a URL address of a photo. you have to upload it onto a different server so it will look like

[ img ] [http://urlofphoto.img] [/img ]


you can use a server like photobucket or facebook or something.

I don't know what others use, but what I do is I go on Photobucket, put my mouse on the picture, there is the share button. In the pop-up window, go to the "Get link code" tab, and the fourth category there is IMG for bulletin boards & forums. There is the full size option and the clickable thumbnail option. You can check off the thumbnail option so it shows up automatically under each picture (so you can copy the code and in the future not have to click "share" or anything else). Regardless of whether you check that option or not, copy the code from there, and paste it here. It should be something like:

[ URL=actual link to full image ][ IMG ]thumbnail version of image (if filename of full image is PIC.JPG, this will probably be th_PIC.JPG)[ /IMG ][ /URL ]

Hope that helps! :)

Got sick of dickin with the picture thing so just changed my avatar. I would grade myself about a "B" on the job that night--sometimes I get an "A" and sometimes I fail! It's a hit or miss but fun activity. I was in Mexico when I took that. Afterwards, I grabbed a beer and wandered around the village in Mexico, just one of many Saturday night half-drunk hombres wandering around town!  ;)

You can walk around with a beer in your hand in Mexico?

I'm there man.

Quote from: Ryan D on February 26, 2011, 07:41:27 AM
You can walk around with a beer in your hand in Mexico?

I'm there man.

lol
i feel privileged now ;D

I got this from Norah Vincent's book, "Self-Made Man":

Facial Hair Technique

Use wool crepe hair instead of your own hair. Wool crepe hair comes in long braided ropes, which you can buy from specialty makeup companies. Unwind the braids, comb the strands of hair together, then take the ends between your thumb and index finger and cut them with hairdressing scissors into millimeter-size or smaller pieces. (Or for finer, more realistic facial hair, try using an electric razor.) By cutting them onto a piece of white paper and spreading them evenly across it, you can avoid clumping the hair when you apply the pieces to your face. You can use a large blush brush for your chin and cheeks, and a small eye-shadow brush for your upper lip.

You can use a lanolin and beeswax-based adhesive called stopplepaste, instead of using spirit gum. It's invisible so it won't show through, and it's easier to remove (you need to use acetone to remove spirit gum, which can be harsh for your skin especially if you're doing it on a daily basis). Stopplepaste is easier to apply if you use a hairdryer to heat it for a few seconds before applying it, since at room temperature it's too dense.

Hope that helps! :)

Wow, quinn, cool and thanks! I never heard of stopplepaste, can't wait to try it! (That is why I love this board, I love how we all help each other.)

For the record, after the first bottle I never used the spirit gum remover. Never seemed to need it, the stuff just comes off with hot water.

Also for the record, yes, you CAN walk around in Mexico with a beer, but only if you're a guy! ;) Go figure!

What happens if you're a girl? :/ Do I want to know? lol

Anyway, Quinn, that's an amazing tip O.o thanks! I'm guessing all those things can easily be found and purchased with the help of Google... lol.

stopplepaste: it's not smudge-proof, so it's pretty much useless. it's similar to a glue stick but less sticky ;)
for the record, if your spirit gum comes off with water, it's certainly not good spirit gum. it's made from resin and should dissolve in oil/alcohol only.

Yes, Emil, I only meant after wearing it for like 12-18 hours, swimming, sleeping, making love, etc., I can get what's left right off in the shower. While I'm actually putting in on, I dab alcohol on a Q-tip if I get it somewhere I don't mean to have it. No need to keep ordering the special stuff was my point.