Susan's Place Transgender Resources

How does your hair look? If you're happy with your hair, how did you get to that point? Currently, I wear female styled wigs since I've a bald head. My hairline has receded A LOT! Should I begin growing my hair out?

HRT does little or nothing for T driven baldness, so you are looking either at wigs or hair transplants.  Go to a good wig shop. They deal mainly with cancer (chemo) patients and TG people. They depend upon us for their income and in my experience have been great.  They should advise you about your wig and custom style it to your look.


Cindy

Still doing the wig thing myself, although am currently growing my hair out.

Going to be awhile until it's anywhere near where I want it.

I really like this hair style though

http://www.latest-hairstyles.com/gallery/short/05.html (http://www.latest-hairstyles.com/gallery/short/05.html)

Right now I use a wig that I really don't like (the one in my profile picture). I'm going to the local wig shop soon to pick out the perfect one! :)

I LOVE that style, Tiffany!

I love love love my hair! I would cry if it was cutten off. It's really long, and only going to get longer!

I'm quite jealous! Lol! I Bic my head because I was balding, anyway. I'll be wearing wigs but eventually I'll save up for a hair transplant. I'm sure feeling your own hair against your face and neck and running it through your fingers is amazing! For now, wigs it is. Lol!

Don't be jealous! You will have beautiful hair in no time! I wore wigs when I was a child, and it is not much different! <3

I have a strip from the hairline to the crown that is very very thin.  I use a hair piece in front and have learned how to comb my normal hair to cover the rest.

There are many women who wear wigs day in and day out.  I guess it depends on how you feel about wearing them.

Ever since I started transitioning I've let my hair grow.
After 6 years my hair is pretty long.  It is naturally very curly.
Although a lot of people compliment me on my hair, I wish I had thicker, fuller, straight hair.
So, I guess we're just never satisfied. 
Just let your hair grow out and take care of it with some good conditioners.
And wigs are always fun.  I like to wear them from time to time.

I've been growing mine out since last June. It's taking forever, but it is all mine :D
Struggling with learning to style it and using a flat iron, as it is very thick, wavy and unruly. It's finally getting long enough to look more feminine. I had it cut last week in a more feminine style. My hairstylist removed a lot of the bulk and weight without killing the length, and it feels so much better.

Paige

I've had long hair since my mid teens I grew it out as part of my pragmatic period with my GID I was always extremely protective at the time and completely paranoid about pepole cutting it off or getting male pattern baldness because I had so few female attributes you become really clingy to those few attributes you do have and they become big defining parts of your identity.
Although I had long hair it wasn't great because I was so neurotically paranoid about loosing it I wouldn't get it cut so it was all scraggly and matted. In addition to that T made it really oily and dirty even washed it was greasy in 12hours. So I didn't really enjoy it.

Now I'm on E and living fulltime im abit more easygoing with it, I don't mind getting it periodically cut although I wouldn't want it cut short short still. I find the colour boring and always have I've had pepole tell me "I envy your brown hair" I'm always fighting the desire to dye it crazy colours. I resist it because it draws alot of attention as I've done it before... Also bleaching it is REALLY bad for it and I don't like the texture once it's been bleached and processed to hell.

Part of me is considering getting a normal looking wig for work job interviews and alike then I can dye it all sorts of punky colours for my personal enjoyment :)

Anti androgens will block the effect of dihydrotestosterone, significantly slowing mpb, estrogen will stop it pretty much outright. You may grow some fine hair back along your hairline, but once the follicles are gone that's it.

I use a wig too. My natural hair is dark brown / red and about four inches long (growing it) and I have some minor temple recession. What I want is hair about 18 inches long, and I'll highlight it honey / auburn colors.

I can't really have short hair and expect to be treated like a lady yet  :)

Bangs/Fringe are the best things for a transgirl to have.

You can have a full fringe:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi54.tinypic.com%2F28ip0kz.jpg&hash=c7404c2047f5ae6700c0cad5104393d73579f399)

Or you can have a half fringe (sort of like what I have.)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi56.tinypic.com%2Fa083m.jpg&hash=cc0cb27857d080ab6f91c1283db3016d94d27ab1)

The reason i think having a fringe (or sometimes called bangs) is vital, is because it works extremely well to cover the dips in our hairlines that most of us have. Since the fringe is short, it doesn't get caught in pony tails either, giving you coverage even while you have a ponytail.

Quote from: SamanthaFLA on March 22, 2011, 11:13:00 AMThe reason i think having a fringe (or sometimes called bangs) is vital, is because it works extremely well to cover the dips in our hairlines that most of us have. Since the fringe is short, it doesn't get caught in pony tails either, giving you coverage even while you have a ponytail.

I have one because it covers my brow bossing. :/

I luckly have very thick hair, although it is starting to gray... it's something that happens in my familiy and my mum went grey early so not to concerned as I'm looking forward to experimenting with colour.

I however do have the classic male M shaped hairline that has happened in the last few years. I'm hoping I'll get some regrowth now I'm on HRT. But to cover my bases I'm also trying Minoxidil and I think there has been some increase in fine hair around  the edges, so I'm hoping that it will be possible to recover to a more feminine hairline. Will let you know if it works.

I wan't dreads...as soon as it's long enough.

My friends think I should get a short-hair wig, but I like the feeling of long hair. So I'm going to get long hair with bangs. :) I've been thinking about growing out my hair just to see what it'd look like but I'm balding on top and my hairline has receded to nearly the top. Lol! So... wigs it is!

I am on spiro e and progesterone, I have been for almost two years, and my stylist said my bald spot that was there is now almost gone.  She said there is lots of new hair growth.  I must have a wierd body.

I'm not just happy with my hair, but I actually like it! It's definitely one of my best features, although I do occasionally have a bad hair day. My hair is long, much like Ayumi Hamasaki's in this picture (http://ayumi.primenova.com/cdscans/cdscanslarge/loveppears.jpg); mine is just dark brown in color. I've been growing it out for the past 6 years or so; can't say that I'd regret it.  ;) So if you're considering growing your hair out, I'd certainly recommend it!
On normal days I wear my hair in a high ponytail, because it's a cute and easy hairstyle. But with long hair you at least have options on how to style it, unlike with short hair. Short hair can nevertheless be feminine (see this picture of Halle Berry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Halle_Berry,San_Diego_Comic-Con_2003.jpg) for a good example), but it's just not my cup of tea, at least not right now -- I've had to have short hair for long enough, so now I'll enjoy the luxury of having long hair.

My hair and I have a love/hate relationship... It is rather curly so that somewhat limits my options for some hair styles... I often see cute hair styles that I'll never be able to do  :-\

About all I can do is just let it grow out and and either let hang down or put it up in a pony tail or a bun of some sort... I like the natural curls but hate brushing it out and I constantly have to clip the knots out of the ends

It would be great hair for dreads if I were younger, but that would just look silly on me at my age  :laugh:

Of all the parts of my body I have gender-related issues with... My hair is actually the one thing I am comfortable with and don't have issues with at all (well other than being way too short right now because I am in male mode).  I don't have any hairline problems thank god, which helps.  My hair is this dirty blonde color, yes an actual dirty blonde color that gets lighter in the sun.  When I have grown it out, one time to about 18 inches, it is wavy, but otherwise it is thick and straight... Ahh, I actually love my hair, literally can not wait to grow it out again.  Here is a pic of the side of my face and my hair when it was a little longer:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1032.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa402%2Fforallittook%2Fhar.jpg&hash=1a328392c1f2f6d1cdb5aad960f3c9d2cfe54e40) 

Currently using a wig as the hair on my head isn't long enough. Hoping in a few months I can actually do something with my hair. But all means grow your hair out  you will be glad you did :)

You could also grow your hair to a certain point, and get clip in extensions! :)

I've grown my hair out to about shoulder length. My hair is dark brown, very wavy, a bit curly and very think. I'm hoping estrogen will remove a bit of curl and thickness (I've seen. As it is right now If I don't use leave in conditioner and wear a beanie and pull it back while i sleep i wake up with a jew fro. lol

I'm gonna cry when my parents force me to cut it  :'( It grows way too slowly -.-

Quote from: SamanthaFLA on March 22, 2011, 11:13:00 AM
Bangs/Fringe are the best things for a transgirl to have.

You can have a full fringe:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi54.tinypic.com%2F28ip0kz.jpg&hash=c7404c2047f5ae6700c0cad5104393d73579f399)

Or you can have a half fringe (sort of like what I have.)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi56.tinypic.com%2Fa083m.jpg&hash=cc0cb27857d080ab6f91c1283db3016d94d27ab1)

The reason i think having a fringe (or sometimes called bangs) is vital, is because it works extremely well to cover the dips in our hairlines that most of us have. Since the fringe is short, it doesn't get caught in pony tails either, giving you coverage even while you have a ponytail.

I loooove full bangs, going to hide my hair problems :D

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_35vorrBNyP0%2FTNP8wzAkJYI%2FAAAAAAAACBo%2F8Tvkm9bC4ls%2Fs400%2FKatie%2BHolmes%2BShort%2BInverted%2BBob%2BHairstyles%2B2.jpg&hash=f0d656277858457cb652be021b66de1a25d62a62)

There's the bob as well.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fashionfame.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F11%2Fcheryl-cole-bangs-hairstyle.jpeg&hash=afdbc9f3c7797d16d9f9716e5c72a3b87eea24ce)

Another bangs cos it looks great :)

I'm rocking the wig every day, so tired of it :(

It's a pitty too, i'm dying to know what my gray streak would look like if I could grow my hair out.  But nooooooo

Quote from: pebbles on March 22, 2011, 10:20:02 AM
Part of me is considering getting a normal looking wig for work job interviews and alike then I can dye it all sorts of punky colours for my personal enjoyment :)

Pebbles, if I were you I would get a few wigs in a few different punky colours and that way you would not need to dye your hair,  I just love your hair, I wish mine looked like yours :)  Heck I wish I had hair like the picture in my avitar (I wish the picture was me too)  :)

I still have only short male hair, I use a wig right now but I want to grow my hair out to see what it would look like and I will also have to get a hair transplant for the front, but now much I am happy for that.  Aloha to all.

Jennie

If you are lucky enough to have your own hair, even if a bit male pattern at the front, then fringes (bangs) are the best way forward.

Growing hair is always an awkward thing, especially for older girls. However, once you get past the difficult stage it gets better. Start simple and then progress from there.

Caroline

My concerns are: 1) I haven't completely transitioned yet and I'm not a fan of boys with long hair. 2) I have a bald spot on the top of my head, as well as a horrid hairline. 3) My hair is extremely thin.

Do you mean thin on top Danielle?, what's the hair on at the back and sides like?  Thick hair in those areas means great donor areas for hair transplant.  I'm almost certainly going to have that operation, thinned top and balding spot, it actually looks thinner than it is if your hair is short that's worth noting :)

Also are you using minoxidil and finasteride?

Quote from: Gabby on March 25, 2011, 11:44:36 AM
Do you mean thin on top Danielle?, what's the hair on at the back and sides like?  Thick hair in those areas means great donor areas for hair transplant.  I'm almost certainly going to have that operation, thinned top and balding spot, it actually looks thinner than it is if your hair is short that's worth noting :)

Also are you using minoxidil and finasteride?

My hair is thicker on the sides and back, but thinner and balding on the top. As of right now I'm not using anything to promote growth.

I have a bad hairline too, it's made me upset in the past I'm now in the stage of hope :)

I actually like a high forehead, I'll have some of the hairline restored I don't want it to look male that's it and that's gonna need a transplant but I also loooooove bangs :)

Currently, my hair and I don't have a good relationship, but we're in therapy to rectify that. I have a little thinning top-front, which has been reverting since I've been on e, spiro, and finasteride (1.5 months), but I have a congenitally high M-shaped hairline (thanks, mom :P ). I don't have the length yet (grows soooo slooow) to do any style I'd like which hides the hairline, so I wear a wig. I don't like the artificial feeling which accompanies it, but whatcha gonna do. Long-term, I'm not cool with being limited in my hairstyle options or giving up sticking my head out a car window so I'm planning on scalp advancement.

Unless your long-term plan is a wig, I'd definitely recommend growing out your hair. It takes a while and the in-between stages can be not-so-pretty, but c'est la transition.

I have used the extensions, I had them dyed the same color as my natural hair by a hairdresser.. Made me feel much better about myself than the wig, and you have alot of style options evertime you put them in.

I grew my hair out about 6 years ago in that time I ve had some trimmings the pic in my avatar is recent wasnt sure if i liked it at first because my hair has always been longer than that. But in my observations of women my age I see alot more women with the length of hair.

forehead will not grow back in. I am going to have a custom wig top made. lace front w/ skin to tape to, monofiliment top for styling and parting where I like, w/ clips and pull through to tie it to my head. I live in Hawaii and need something I can surf in. I found a maker in NYC that can make this. Knowbody has anything like it yet.

My avatar is the Tiffany wig by Louis Ferre which I have two each of the red and a blond.  During my CD period (which lasted about XV years) I acquired about two wigs per year, a couple so darn pretty I'm afraid to wear them, so they do add up, but recently I was talked into an "integrating hair piece" from Revlon, (product name is: Moonlight) that lets me pull my own hair through a special weft pattern.  It nicely covers an area in the middle of my head that has fine and sparse hair.  It has taken me several tries to get it right, but on Saturday, my "Makeover Artist" helped me to fine tune it, so in a day or two I should have some good pics.  Its about half a shade darker than my own hair and when my hair is pulled through, the gray looks like highlights.   ;D  My own hair is so fine that I can't do much as far as style, so partial wigs and hair pieces are in my future.

I am in my first full week of transition and am very happy with how I look. 

Well I most definitely can't afford a hair transplant right now so I, too, see wigs in my future. I'm okay with that, though. I live very close to a shop that sells beautiful human hair wigs (so I can style them if necessary). I'm just not sure if I want long hair, shoulder length hair, or short hair. Hehe! The bright side of wearing wigs is that you don't have to do much (as far as trimming and styling). If I want a "hair cut", I can simply go to the shop and find a wig of the same color (or even a different color) with a different style and cut! It's not so bad. Hehe!

I'll be buying a wig or two this week so I'll post some pictures later.

The wig you're wearing in your avatar photo suits your face, quite well.  I never would have guessed it wasn't your own hair.  Seriously.

Quote from: Danielle Clark on March 28, 2011, 08:52:25 AM
Well I most definitely can't afford a hair transplant right now so I, too, see wigs in my future.

Danielle you are not alone I'm in the exact same boat as you, I saw this guy on TV today he was full baldness norwood 7 (I'm about a 5), they only took a line all around his sides and back and he now has a full growth on top again, it's the finasteride as well I think but still even if that doesn't work HT is gonna work pretty damn good.  Then there's HRT we have THAT wooohoooo :D

Same boat I'm here for ya :)

Hair is one of those really difficult subjects.  In my current avatar I am wearing a wig that is very close to my natural hair color and density.  I have very fine hair.  Even since I was young,  I absolutely hated to get my hair cut.  It was often a physical fight to get me to do so.  As I understand it now, all of the girls loved my hair and this is one area in which I could feel affinity with them. 

Fast forward a bunch of years, and T has done the damage.  I have typical MPB.  So after a year on HRT, Finasteride and Minoxidil, I went to Mexico and had transplants done.  It was a great way to be able to afford it.  Overall the results were very good.  The small bald spot I had turned into a thin spot, and is now covered completely without surgery.  In a couple of months I am going to get some more transplants, this time to thicken my part area so everything will look more natural.  I am not going to Mexico, I am staying at home.  For a smaller procedure, the cost differential does not justify the travel IMHO.

I have been through a ton of wigs and I will just say that if you buy cheapos, they will not last.  The main thing to be wary of is the part.  Get wigs that are monofilament.  That way they will look a lot more natural when you style them.  Make sure you treat them nicely as well.  Keep them conditioned and they will last much better for you.

All that being said, since I am still in male mode, I just had to cut my hair for something.  I went into a deep funk for a few days.  Everyone keeps telling me how great it looks.  I feel like gagging.  I just hate seeing it in the mirror.  Oh well, at least it should be about right in a couple of months to hide the new transplants, and from there on, no more short hair, hopefully ever!

Quote from: Caith on March 28, 2011, 03:37:10 PM
The wig you're wearing in your avatar photo suits your face, quite well.  I never would have guessed it wasn't your own hair.  Seriously.

Thanks, girl! The thing about that wig is this: It was used by a drag queen. Lol! It's actually TWO wigs stacked together with a bump in between the two. So in "walk around" (according to drag terms), it's definitely a drag wig.

My hair is shoulder length, after a year of growing it out. Not bad, though I wish it would grow longer. It also has a mind of its own and I'm still learning how to maintain it. Oh well, all good things come in time. :)

Quote from: CindyJames on March 22, 2011, 03:56:12 AM
HRT does little or nothing for T driven baldness, so you are looking either at wigs or hair transplants.  Go to a good wig shop. They deal mainly with cancer (chemo) patients and TG people. They depend upon us for their income and in my experience have been great.  They should advise you about your wig and custom style it to your look.

Cindy

I read that HRT can reverse male pattern baldness cause by T, or is that just that it prevents it from happening if someone has not yet started balding.

From what I understand, it doesn't exactly "reverse" it - it's just that some of the male pattern balded hair is dead, but some of it is just dormant, so when the T is taken away (to oversimplify) the dormant hair wakes up again, but the dead hair is gone. So there may be some regrowth, or there may not.

My hair is short, I lost a bet and had to shave it, but Im working on it...im workin onit.

I have almost no hair left, it would take a zillion transplants for mine to ever look like anything :P I've resigned myself to wigs and have gotten used to them. I tried short at first thinking they would be more comfortable and later longer. Finally decided on straight med length close to my younger days hair color. I'd love to have my own hair but have to be practical and accept the limitations I have to work under.

BTW to the OP, the style you have in your picture looks great on you.

Im growing my hair long! Its been a battle to grow it long all my life but I keep cutting and dying it.

Okay, going to dye my hair auburn (it's mostly-white grey these days) for Exeter Pride next weekend :). And I've decided to ask my housemate's girlfriend to help me, so I have an excuse to come out to her! (Note: my hair is longer than in the avatar, or no, I wouldn't be bothering ::))