O.K. It's not easy letting people know how bad I look. But this is what I'm starting with and there's a lot of work to do. Yes I have breasts already, and my waist is narrower than my hips, but oh god how ugly can I get. Not wearing a bras so things are sagging a little, and that's nothing new since the rest of me is sagging also.
So, is this bad or what?
Wish me luck, or liposuction. Either one will do.
Kathy
Looks like a woman to me.
And, as I recall, you are in your 50's?
(Changed avatar!)
I think I am missing something. I don't see bad or horrible when I look at your picture. I just see a woman's mid-section.
Quote from: Brooke777 on July 06, 2012, 02:14:04 PM
I think I am missing something. I don't see bad or horrible when I look at your picture. I just see a woman's mid-section.
Glad its not just me that see's that.
I'll try and find a decent picture of my face, or just take another body shot that includes my face. As I've said before the full beard makes me look like Santa Claus wearing 1970s glasses.
Quote from: kathy b on July 06, 2012, 03:06:08 PM
I'll try and find a decent picture of my face, or just take another body shot that includes my face. As I've said before the full beard makes me look like Santa Claus wearing 1970s glasses.
Full beard? I hate having stubble, how do you cope with a full beard? :-\
Well. Can I make this face look any better? Bad thing about it is I have some scars from a couple auto accidents under the beard that I haven't seen in 35 years.
First SHAVE YOUR BEARD!!! It really does not go with your body. Next, I would get new glasses, and work on your eyebrows. This is just my opinion. It really isnt worth much. I hope it isnt too critical either.
Quote from: Siobhan on July 06, 2012, 03:11:23 PM
Full beard? I hate having stubble, how do you cope with a full beard? :-\
onhestly i dont know how a lot of transpeople cope with having and growing an actual beard while in the male role . i was so depressed when hair started coming in on my face when i was 16 and could never let it get beyond stuble
Facial hair is nice to hide behind, and also shaving sucks. I had facial hair for a long time and the skin in the places where I didn't shave for years is still quite sensitive. I hate shaving, but hopefully I'll have laser in the budget soon.
Of course you can make your face look better, that's what makeup is for! First, you need to shave and start moisturizing to get the skin nice and smooth. I've got scars, too, not much you can do but make up war stories! Hugs, Devlyn
Quote from: Brooke777 on July 06, 2012, 04:01:55 PM
First SHAVE YOUR BEARD!!!
It can't get any simpler, your beard may hide some things, but they certainly display a lot of masculinity. Following that, start treating your skin, pamper it with massage every 2nd or 3rd day for about 15 to 20 minutes, a basic baby oil would do. Give all the love to your face, skin and body deserves and soon you'll realise how much they love you :)
I saw the title of the thread ("My starting point - I look horrible"), read the thread and saw the "Santa" profile pic, and my first thought was, "I remember a sculptor was asked where his talent came from...he said, "The beautiful sculpture was already in the rock...I just chipped away the excess."
Or something like that. Look at yourself, Kathy B, and see what is already there, just waiting to be seen. Remove what is not needed as a woman, polish and protect that which is needed.
8)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F230618_1016208322304_4478_n.jpg&hash=8324e19e1a80acfc38818cd94ff04409cc7e6763)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YrAvDW0uksA/Tz3OYlmPpGI/AAAAAAAAAOo/EKjdyx-yXFI/s512/Dscf0099.jpg)
Need I say more?
I too never thought I could look like a real women.
Hormones really help.
The last photo was over 3 months ago.
Now I can't even pass as a male. :)
Hugs Kathy,
Jillieann Rose
Thank you Jillieann, you give me a bit of confidence that I might be o.k. And you look great.
And Beth Andrea you're right. There is something under there for me to find again.
Quotation credited to Michelangelo ... Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop.
Kathy
Hi Kathy b,
Ok shave the beard, you will need electrolysis to lose the facial hair as it is too grey for laser.
Make up to hide and highlight, go to a beautician that specialises in make overs, they teach people how to do make up. In Australia and the USA they are quite common in the larger cities. Just tell them you are TG and need help, it costs money, they work for money. The people who helped my were totally delightful and I'm welcomed back with love and respect, (They do my waxing and eyebrow styling as well). They basically do half of your face and then you do the other half, it is how many girls learn to do their makeup.
Scars? Again make up and you can use Dermablend to hide really bad scars very successfully.
Hair is long enough to be styled. Same thing, professional hair stylist, tell them you need a feminine hair style and what can they do? They are expert and will probably want to add colour and volume. Go to somewhere that has professional stylists, not the local hairdresser. In Austrlia I would be paying about $150, for the stylists time, and then the work on top of that. Not cheap but it can be a once off, because if you like the style someone else can look after it.
Glasses, maybe a more feminine style or contacts? Leave them until your face and hair are done.
Confidence. The key. You have it.
Hugs Sis and let us see the new you
Cindy
Oh by the way, I'm 60 :laugh: With what I had to start with you can do it as well.
Quote from Cindy James "by the way, I'm 60." Keep hitting the books, hon, anyone can raise their IQ! <running away>
I will be 62 at the end of this year.
Yes really.
Oh by the way you look great Cindy ;D
Quote from: Devlyn Marie on July 07, 2012, 07:12:41 AM
Quote from Cindy James "by the way, I'm 60." Keep hitting the books, hon, anyone can raise their IQ! <running away>
ROFL!! :laugh:
*
gets ready to sprint*
Sweetie, shave the beard off and face up to the scars. I've got a twisted top lip from where a dog bit me when I was 5 and a mucked-up chin from where I went over the handlebars when I was 13. Lipstick, powder and paint disguise the lot but only because I can see what they look like.
Oh, and BTW, your nose is better than mine.
Loves,
Rosie
Thank you for the good advice and nice comments. No makeup has been on this face in 40 years, except for mascara and eye shadow for Halloween parties. Can't wear contacts because of a bad eye, but I really do like glasses. And really need to get rid of this beard. AND MUST CHANGING MY AVATAR AGAIN. But, pictures will be saved to look back on. Maybe in the before and after thread.
Thank you again.
Kathy
Quote from: Beth Andrea on July 07, 2012, 11:13:33 AM
ROFL!! :laugh:
*gets ready to sprint*
You two can run but you cannot hide from Aunty Cindy :icon_2gun: :icon_chainsaw: :icon_evil:
Quote from: Cindy James on July 08, 2012, 01:41:57 AM
You two can run but you cannot hide from Aunty Cindy :icon_2gun: :icon_chainsaw: :icon_evil:
Female rambo!
The Adelaide Terror!
Quote from: Jillieann Rose on July 06, 2012, 10:15:43 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F230618_1016208322304_4478_n.jpg&hash=8324e19e1a80acfc38818cd94ff04409cc7e6763)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YrAvDW0uksA/Tz3OYlmPpGI/AAAAAAAAAOo/EKjdyx-yXFI/s512/Dscf0099.jpg)
Need I say more?
I too never thought I could look like a real women.
Hormones really help.
The last photo was over 3 months ago.
Now I can't even pass as a male. :)
Hugs Kathy,
Jillieann Rose
Wow, this is really amazing :)
I can't say I ever had a beard or short hair. It would really repulse me. Interesting pics from Jillieann Rose and an excellent transformation considering that age is usually against us if we start later in life.
Quote from: Jillieann Rose on July 06, 2012, 10:15:43 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F230618_1016208322304_4478_n.jpg&hash=8324e19e1a80acfc38818cd94ff04409cc7e6763)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YrAvDW0uksA/Tz3OYlmPpGI/AAAAAAAAAOo/EKjdyx-yXFI/s512/Dscf0099.jpg)
Need I say more?
I too never thought I could look like a real women.
Hormones really help.
The last photo was over 3 months ago.
Now I can't even pass as a male. :)
Hugs Kathy,
Jillieann Rose
WOW! you look like my aunt Linda.
I believe it's more important to first know who you are inside and then to have a self-determination to get there. To be willing to give up everything for the goal and to have the courage to go forward against the odds.
I have faced allot of obstacles from family including loosing my wife and some of my immediate family. According to many of my so called friends and loving family I am selfish, sinful, sick and shameful.
I know many of us older girls come to the point were we say the hell to what other think I have to be me.
Kathy the old saying is true, "Were there is a will there is away."
I wish you the best hon.
Quote from: Jillieann Rose on July 08, 2012, 09:19:39 PM
I have faced allot of obstacles from family including loosing my wife and some of my immediate family. According to many of my so called friends and loving family I am selfish, sinful, sick and shameful.
I know many of us older girls come to the point were we say the hell to what other think I have to be me.
Kathy the old saying is true, "Were there is a will there is away."
I wish you the best hon.
I think we could start a new thread about the loss of family and friends after transition?
I've never been married or wanted to get married or had children (I was infertile), so that hasn't been an issue for me and my close family are supportive.
But I know other relatives are not so close, friends that used to call regularly seemed to have drifted away even though I was always quite feminine with long hair and androgynous looks and often taken as female way before I ever started transitioning. It seem exceptable to look quite feminine but to actually go that step further seems to change their whole perception of you and they seem to pretend you no longer exist.