So right now my hair is the longest it has ever been and honestly I am hating it. I don't like how it looks really. I get compliments on it a lot, especially from my girl friends. I'm honestly thinking about getting it and keeping it buzzed, for me long hair isn't the way to go. I understand that hair is a huge sign of femininity but I don't care. I feel secure in my femininity enough to go with the short hair and forget about growing it. Plus it is also really awkward now since a lot has grown back in the past and its very uneven. Maybe in the future I will let it grow back out but for now, for me long hair is not the way to go.
Long hair is not for everyone weat it the way you feel most comfortable and rock it! Honestly a lot of women wear their hair shorter.
I'm definately on the other end of the spectrum. If my hair isn't at least to my shoulders I get self conscious. Like Bethany said though, there are a lot of girls with short hair. You could always go for a cute pixie.
I got mine cut the other day. I posted a photo in the "you look fabulous"thread. I can do long hair, but it drives me crazy when it reaches that length where you spend time eating it because its not long enough to stay out of your mouth. I just cannot stand a buzz cut. I had to have it that short while I was in the air forde. Never again!
My hair is almost to my waist. I get compliments on it all the time, seems people like long grey/white hair.
Well I see everyone is advising you that it's okay to buzzcut your hair and it is but you should get used to never passing. Many women would have trouble passing with a buzz cut. It's very masculinizing. You need a heart shaped face. Even then. Just get a pixie cut and you'll be fine. I would advise against a buzz cut unless you don't care about not passing.Pretty much ever. But I guess does what makes you happy. Know the risks though.
We were out and about yesterday with two of our kinda butch friends that identify as a lesbian couple. They usually sport buzz cuts and cargo pants/shorts with t-shirts. We talked about rest room hassles and i was surprised that they have had more misgendering experiences than I have! People are just so sadly reliant on the short hand and quick identifiers of compliance. Ya, let's all be sparrows or Stepford wives? I love long hair but I love freedom even more.
Julie I encourage you to be and present in whatever haircut or style floats your boat! It is your life!
I agree that you should do what's right for you, but I'd ask you to consider whether buzzing is the right thing. There are plenty of girls with short hair. That's not a crime. However, a buzzed head is really difficult to pass with. You may regret doing that after the fact and it will take much longer to grow back. Are there any short styles that you have considered. Some pixie cuts look really nice and feminine.
Having said that, I know what you mean about long hair. I hate the maintenance, but like the look (after I get it just right.... which never happens).
Well I was thinking about my hair over today and I want it to grow in more evenly, it's becoming the reason why I'm really not liking it now as it all just grew back a number of months ago. I may end up growing it just long enough to be able to cover up my forehead but anyways I will ask my stylist what she thinks I should do with my hair. It's just so irksome at this point.
I've cut my hair off after growing it out for a couple years a couple times (and always regretted it afterwards). But there's always that period between the short hair and around the shoulder length hair that lasts around six months, where it's always awkward. Either it's too long to style properly, or it's too short to pull back. When it's at that length it sucks, and I've known a few people who would try to grow it out, but quit at that point because you can't do much with it.
I'm not saying to not cut your hair if that's what you want to do. But once it gets past that weird stage and you can actually do something with it, whether it straighten it or curl it or whatever, it's much more fun and enjoyable to have then if it's just buzzed off. And it does look much more feminine. If your willing to stick with it while it grows out, and then still don't like having long hair, you can always cut it off later on.
The problem with my hair are the split ends that make it almost impossible to manage. I think going to your stylist is a good idea because if you get your split ends taken care of it could make it easier to manage. Also make sure your using shampoo that's right for your hair and be mindful of the enviroment which can also damage your hair. I hear its also good to cycle shampoo's and conditioners so your hair doesn't get used to just one, I'm not sure about that though.
I wouldn't get it shaved though. If your worried about making your hair look nice give it time, love and care.
Hope this helps! ;D
Have some patience because there is a point when you grow it out that it just looks like crap no matter what you do. While growing it out you need to get trims ever so often to even it up. Believe me, if you let it grow and get trims, one time you go to fix it and it'll seem not so bad after all. It'll only get better from there other than the extra care for it in and out of the shower.
As for my long hair, I really don't mind the hastle too much but curly hair is pretty much wash and go and keeping it mosturized plus using anitifrizz products. Mine is just below my shoulders and I ain't gonna stop until its at least halfway down my back. I figured out I don't look good in a bob and had to wait four months for it to grow enough to even be satisfied with it again. Just think about it 'cause it only takes ten minutes to cut (Only a couple of minutes if you buzz it) but about a year to get anykind of length back or longer if you buzz it. Talk with a beautician and let them give you their opinion, a good one can work wonders.
BTW if girls are complimenting you on your hair, you got it made.
I had shoulder length hair until early this year, when I realised that it just wasn't me. My hair is now pretty much as it is in my profile pic..
???
Your hair isn't even close to being "long"
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on August 07, 2013, 06:51:02 PM
I had shoulder length hair until early this year, when I realised that it just wasn't me. My hair is now pretty much as it is in my profile pic..
I lovelovelove the hair in your profile pic. I think it looks so awesome and want to get my hair like that.
Well I had my haircut today and just had it trimmed a bit, going to see how longish, neck length, hair will work out. so far I really like the cut I just got :)
I love my longer hair!
And one reason I never thought of before is that now I can "hide" behind it when it's longer ;) for many years I've noticed girls do that for one reason or another, now I totally understand!
I love my long hair. It allows me to put it in a tail or bun to cover up a bald spot. I cant afford a hair peice at this time.
Hair looks it's worst at the stage between being short and long. I wouldn't give up on long hair until after you've let it actually get long and see then. You would have to persevere through the awkward phase, ofc, but you might be glad you did.
If you want to see what you look like with longish hair, you can use a makeover site like Taaz.com. There are others but Taaz is the best, IMO.
Julie, could you post a picture or describe your ideal length? Maybe we can find a good short hairstyle that will suit you. There is nothing wrong with wanting it short as we all have our own style. It just needs to fit you and enhance the feminine features of your face.
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on August 07, 2013, 06:51:02 PM
I had shoulder length hair until early this year, when I realised that it just wasn't me. My hair is now pretty much as it is in my profile pic..
I love your cut Kelly. I wish I could pull something like that off but the problem I have is that mine is too curly and thick and without the weight, it ends up poofing out instead of laying right.
Quote from: Joanna Dark on August 07, 2013, 10:19:49 PM
If you want to see what you look like with longish hair, you can use a makeover site like Taaz.com. There are others but Taaz is the best, IMO.
What a great site
I have had every type of hair - presenting as a pretend male - I have had to have short hair for school and business and I have had hair down to the small of my back looking like a biker >:-)
and as a womyn I have had everything from the shortest pixie cut to permed long hair again down to the small of my back for me the worst is when is is in the awkward middle area just starting to grow from short to the shoulder length because you can't do ANYTHING with it! ???
can't make a bun or pig tails or or put up nothing! :(
I can't see myself ever giving up my long hair, well, unless of course if it falls out. Its been between mid-back and waist-length pretty much since I was 12 years old. Unless I dress, however, I almost never get misgendered, thanks to my stupid manly giant square head.
here's my new haircut. I want it long but I just give up growing it out anymore. maybe this will help you get an idea on length.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi688.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv246%2FKeairaElisabeth%2F2013-08-0619-37-21400_zpsce5a460e.jpg&hash=8b5354b5135429f4a2c1c18e5b7c70c876160ada)
The only woman I know that can rock short hair on here is Rowan.
Keaira I'd love to have hair a bit shorter than you have but with a more boyish look to it. I'm going to end up trying long hair, well at least long for me lol. I'm going to be having to have haircuts a lot until it gets even up front as it has just been growing back though so it will be a while before it gets longish.
Quote from: JulieVB on August 09, 2013, 09:47:40 AM
Keaira I'd love to have hair a bit shorter than you have but with a more boyish look to it. I'm going to end up trying long hair, well at least long for me lol. I'm going to be having to have haircuts a lot until it gets even up front as it has just been growing back though so it will be a while before it gets longish.
That isn't too short. I would say Keaira's hair is more in the medium range. If you are going for something like that, it will probably work out fine. :)
Looking through a hairstyle website may help. I don't know any off the top of my head, but you can find something to suit your needs. ^_^
Quote from: Keaira on August 09, 2013, 12:28:48 PM
Looking through a hairstyle website may help. I don't know any off the top of my head, but you can find something to suit your needs. ^_^
if you dont know which haircut you want you can try go on this site, they got a seach option where you can seach in many diffrent hairstles for short or long, curly or anything, theres also diffrent articles about short hair, and so on, I guess the best way to decide a style is to figure out what you like and dislike in your face + which kind of shape you have and then sure find someone you like.
http://www.hairfinder.com/hairstyling/feminine-short-hair.htm (http://www.hairfinder.com/hairstyling/feminine-short-hair.htm)
I post "how to make short hair look femenine" since we are on the mtf board, but just look around, or as you already said ask your stylish.
My gosh so many different styles, I can't choose one lol. hmm...but if I had to describe it would be kind of like Yuna from Final Fantasy X, always loved her hair.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages4.fanpop.com%2Fimage%2Fphotos%2F19000000%2FYUNA-final-fantasy-19074063-519-768.jpg&hash=2ec3d787ced3f85abf326c497f1e1d46a6840396)
I always liked her hair too. And Motoko Kusanagi's:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_l8jm26ZFKS1qd3781.jpg&hash=e46491e44b331a2ba2ee26c81c28be758c691758)
Quote from: Jen on August 07, 2013, 09:48:22 PM
Hair looks it's worst at the stage between being short and long. I wouldn't give up on long hair until after you've let it actually get long and see then. You would have to persevere through the awkward phase, ofc, but you might be glad you did.
Yep i hated that stage, could do nothing with it. As it turned long it was nice to have options of keeping it flow in the wind or place in a scrunchie...
Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on August 07, 2013, 06:51:02 PM
I had shoulder length hair until early this year, when I realised that it just wasn't me. My hair is now pretty much as it is in my profile pic..
Yah but it does look right lush on you.
Rosie.
I wouldn't do a buzzed head, that's just me. You should really just grow it out before deciding short hair... that's what I did.
Quote from: JulieVB on August 09, 2013, 02:45:43 PM
My gosh so many different styles, I can't choose one lol. hmm...but if I had to describe it would be kind of like Yuna from Final Fantasy X, always loved her hair.
I found some pic of yune and made some photoshop, I send it to your so you can see how it look like.
Growing hair out will always look awkward for a more or less long period, from what I've seen. Mine was plain ugly until, well, recently. You need to be patient and not make a rash decision. If you cut your hair because you don't like the awkward in-between, thinking that maybe you'll grow it out later, then you're just making the periods you spend in that awkward stage longer.
There´s also lots and lots of cisguys with long hair...which doesn´t neccesarily makes them look ´feminine´.
And you´re right...I once grew my hair long, just under my shoulderblades and it just didn´t suit my facial structure.
Let alone the hassle of grooming etc. It´s very thick, unruly, wavy etc.
I have a cute pixie since then and it suits my facial structure perfectly. I have a flat forehead, natural high cheekbones, a natural ski sloped nose, a natural tapering jaw and a natural small chin....which all seem to fade away when wearing long hair which makes my full face also seems gaunt looking or narrower looking.
Also, long hair CAN emphasise masculine features.
That´s the exact reason why ciswomen have their hair cut short(er) after approx 35..because ciswomen´s faces also masculinisise when growing older.
I might be in the minority here but I love big hair. Maybe 'cause I'm form the south or maybe its a holdover from the eighties but teasing it and spraying it stiff in the eighties was pretty much the 'thing' for guys and girls in that generation. Now it's all flat and uninteresting. :P Left the mullet thing alone though, I was party all over.
if your post is legit. find a better barber. find a new hairstylist .wear a wig. have your girl friends give you advice.
Quote from: victoria n on August 10, 2013, 11:54:57 AM
if your post is legit. find a better barber. find a new hairstylist .wear a wig. have your girl friends give you advice.
Huh? No reason for TO to wear a wig?? She has a full head of thick hair??
Quote from: Dahlia on August 10, 2013, 09:40:56 AM
Also, long hair CAN emphasise masculine features.
That´s the exact reason why ciswomen have their hair cut short(er) after approx 35..because ciswomen´s faces also masculinisise when growing older.
Not contradicting the possibility, but I know for a fact that all older women with shorter hair I know cut it because:
-They thought it's easier to groom that way
-It was starting to get badly damaged and couldn't stand the dyings much more
-They had always wanted it that way but only later got the confidence to cut it
Honestly, whether long or short hair compliments features or not isn't an universal fact. The length of hair itself means little. Haircuts are varied and within long or short haircuts there are bound to be both good and bad ones, and it depends on the person. Side-swept bangs with natural waves, etc. is basically the universally recommended cut for trans women, but I'm pretty sure there are plenty on whom it'll definitely not work.
I have a short pixie cut and I am growing ti longer and my BF said I should just keep it short because long hair might look masculine by emphaszing certain features that short hair doesn't.
Quote from: Joanna Dark on August 11, 2013, 12:36:57 PM
I have a short pixie cut and I am growing ti longer and my BF said I should just keep it short because long hair might look masculine by emphaszing certain features that short hair doesn't.
before I believed that I would want to see a study, longer hair can be used in so many ways to soften the face , you can curl it in waves and bring it around , it can be shaped in all kinds of ways, just consult a professional it you have to.
If you actually do have masculine features cutting your hair short reveals them it would seem to me. plus if you have very little up the letting it grow allows you to use it to cover. I only cut mine when it was too thin to do anything with, now that my HRT is better and it has thickened I am releived to be able to have long hair again I luxuriate in it. (even though I am older)
I did have a pixie cut for a year
I love my longer hair and it's not even what I would call "long" yet. Longer, for sure...went from a VERY conservative men's business cut and have not cut it for about seven & half months. I *LOVE* my longer hair...it feels good and definitely helps with the gender recognition.
Quote from: vegie271 on August 11, 2013, 03:19:11 PM
before I believed that I would want to see a study, longer hair can be used in so many ways to soften the face , you can curl it in waves and bring it around , it can be shaped in all kinds of ways, just consult a professional it you have to.
If you actually do have masculine features cutting your hair short reveals them it would seem to me. plus if you have very little up the letting it grow allows you to use it to cover. I only cut mine when it was too thin to do anything with, now that my HRT is better and it has thickened I am releived to be able to have long hair again I luxuriate in it. (even though I am older)
I did have a pixie cut for a year
Well I am not sure if it is true or not. But I am pretty sure there are no studies about long hair emphasizing masculine features. It doesn't seem true. I have this mullet wig though and when I wear it I look awful My hair is horrible right now. And as you can see I wear this hat. I pass all the time easily with it but I think my face is becoming kinda pretty. But it is prolly my C cup boobs that eliminate any doubts that I might be a man. I never get sir'd unless my facial hair is strong. I love pixie cuts though and hate this hat so I might get it cut.
But Julie you could get a hat! I wear this hat and pass. Just make sure it is a woman's hat. Though my BF was wearing it as a joke and he looked totally masculine in it. He's so hot though. Gush!!!
Yup the cool thing about having short hair as a girl is you can wear hats, like beanies! (Only works for young people) Though there are hats for mature women.
maybe I could invest in a hat for this head of mine, guess thats another trip to the mall lol. If it would work then I'm up for giving it a try
Quote from: JulieVB on August 12, 2013, 08:51:07 AM
maybe I could invest in a hat for this head of mine, guess thats another trip to the mall lol. If it would work then I'm up for giving it a try
or always thrift stores thay are always a blast and you can find great ones - and consignment shops ;) a lot of my girlfriends are theater folk
You... can't wear hats with long hair? Why not? I'm going to freeze this winter if I don't have my big beanie.
Quote from: A on August 12, 2013, 12:31:38 PM
You... can't wear hats with long hair? Why not? I'm going to freeze this winter if I don't have my big beanie.
looks cool on short hair, lol.
Im going to stick with my current style I think.
Quote from: Jess42 on August 10, 2013, 09:47:23 AM
I might be in the minority here but I love big hair.
Big hair on a big ol' honking MTF head...creates a HUGE, ENORMOUS head, a dead give away ;)
my vote is for long hair I feel it makes me look and feel more fem than sort hair I think growing it long when trans m to f is the best move and helps you pass more
As with anything... It is the best thing to ask a professional. A stylist ora fashionista can tell you which style will work good for you. It is like for one thing, certain styles work only for certain face shapes. Like let's say that you have a favorite celebrity's hairstyle that you want to replicate, and you think it would look like absolutely fab on you. Now you go to the stylist, show them a pic, tell them to style it that way, and they hesitate... They may have a reason for it. So ask them what they think will be the best. Except the problem with that is that whenever I tried to get the advice of someone, they would hesitate on giving it to me. I guess they don't want to give it because they are worried about the liability involved if you don't like the cut. I mean, seriously... Some people are so ridiculous that they even sue people for a bad haircut. I mean come on, hair grows back! But then again, I understand it... I was trying to grow out my hair one time, and it got a decent length, but my parents didn't like it because I "looked like a girl." (No duh! That like is kinda the point!) So unfortunately they threatened to kick me out if i didn't cut my hair. I begrudgingly let my mom take me to the stylist, since I got tired of months of harassment, and I gave the stylist specific instructions to preserve the length, just to clean it up. But does she? NO! She goes and butchers my beautiful hair and cut it short. Unevenly at that! So I get in the car and I was upset, and practically crying. My mom said she couldn't understand why I was upset, that it was just hair and that it will grow back, and that the important part was keeping peace with my father. Argh, she just didn't get it then. I'm a girl for goodness sake! Of course my hair is important to me! It is like the favorite part of me, considering that I have like this awesome hair that is unnaturally shiny and changes color, depending on the light or whether or not it is wet. Heh, my aunt even pulled on my hair once to check if it was real and not a wig, because she couldn't believe that natural hair could be that shiny. But yeah... I get home, I was depressed, and at the time I was cleaning up my eyebrows. For some reason, rather than deciding to fix my bangs with the scissors, I decided to pluck it out, and I couldn't stop myself. Gawd I felt like such an idiot. It hasn't even grown back completely yet, but it is. Eh, it is what it is. Word of advice... NEVER pluck your hair! I think I've rambled enough. :-P
Yay! I've met the requirements! Now I can do anything, haha. (Within reason, of course.)
Come to think of it, what is big hair? I don't understand.
Also, Sanceria: Lol, your family is... well I was going to say mentally deranged but that's a big strong. Let's say that's a big problem. I don't like your hair, so I'll kick you out? Just lol. My mother did harrass me and convince me to cut my hair many times, and I did have a hair stylist who didn't understand the meaning of letting it grow and not cutting too much, so I really understand how you feel. But sheesh, kick you out? That's like killing for stealing an orange. Really, I'm worried. x.x
Quote from: A on August 13, 2013, 09:46:36 PM
Come to think of it, what is big hair? I don't understand.
Hair with volume and body.
Think drag queens or "scene girls".
The theory is that big hair will make a big face look smaller and more feminine, it will also disguise broad shoulders.
Oh, thanks. I guess I do have big hair then. It's pretty thick, even when thinned.
I think a lot of mtf girls, grow their hair, because that and shaving your legs is the easiest way to look female and help us pass.
I started to grow my hair when I started hrt, I hated my hair when it was started growing out, but once it passed my shoulders I got use to it.. I grew my hair down to about 3/4 down my back. It was nice to style and helped me pass, but it got too heavy and a pain to wash and blow dry.
Now my hair is just below my shoulders, i maintain it at that length.. I can still style it nicely.. I love my long hair now
My hair is completely unmanageable and out of control. I will just end up cutting it most likely. It will def hurt whatever minor passability I have but I can't stand it.
Ahaha. Joanna, have you tried a beanie? In all seasons. Wear it for real when it's appropriate, and wear it from when you get up to when you leave in the morning when it's not. It was THE thing that allowed my hair to look decent when I started growing it out.
I love my long hair and want to have it a bit longer yet yes it do take time to do but think that all part of being fem the days of being a guy and quick bush have long gone now and can now say that cant come out or byssi tonight washing my hair lol
My hairs finally getting rather thick and is growing like crazy now, its only a matter of time until I can start getting any length to it.
Julie just go to a real salon (not some great clips or anything, and def not a male oriented barber shop) and tell them you're growing it out and would like it texturized. It will feel much better. If they give you a choice between a thinning razor and shears, do the razor its better imo. But they can probably do both if they're any good..
Ive been growing my hair since before HRT and after several bad cuts I figured out a few things. A: When getting it cut you need to have the right terminology set and tell them what you want. You dont have to tell them you're transgendered or anything but you do have to make it clear what you want. B: Taking care of long hair just takes work. You have to switch up what you use to wash it, not all products work for everyone and you may not be able to buy cheap stuff anymore. You also have to figure out your washing it routine.. I can't wash my hair every day, shampoo and all because it leaves it far too dry. I dont produce a lot of oils, so its no problem...
When your hair gets longer you'll have to learn to style it which can be a real bitch. Just think of it that we have to learn a lot of stuff in a short time that most women learn over their life time.
Kelly I do go to a salon actually, I just used to get buzz cuts from there. I said plainly that I'm growing it out and right now we're just working on evening it up right now.
Quote from: Dahlia on August 13, 2013, 06:02:02 AM
Big hair on a big ol' honking MTF head...creates a HUGE, ENORMOUS head, a dead give away ;)
I guess it could but not on me. It was usually the other way around when I was trying to be a guy. I think nowdays big hair on anyone will get them noticed in everyday life. I still wear it big but it's usually before during and after gigs, to get noticed of course, other than that it's just plain ol' boring curly and wavy. Still looks good though, sometimes. 8)
Here's a jpeg of an antromorphic study of human heads and the average size of male and female skulls. The differences are minute.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HeadAnthropometry.JPG
Quote from: Joanna Dark on August 16, 2013, 04:22:06 PM
Here's a jpeg of an antromorphic study of human heads and the average size of male and female skulls. The differences are minute.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HeadAnthropometry.JPG
I agree. It think it's pretty much facial features that give the impression of male or female or make the head seem smaller or larger. As for sizes though, when I was in the military there were no male or female headgear other than for the dress uniforms. Males and females were pretty much the same when it comes to sizes, of course there are variations but I have seen females with some awfully big heads and males with some really small ones but pretty much everyone ran the same sizes with smaller variations.
In all honesty, I don't know what you're on about with the big head... I've never ever noticed men to have a big head. If anything, to me a big head gives a female impression, because it looks like there's more hair. Not to mention that in theory, a larger head on the same shoulders should make those shoulders look smaller. There are gender features that people actually know and think about... but this is one that, I'm sure, makes a difference for no one's passing.
Some of the measurements are significantly different, i.e half and inch difference between male and female averages. For instance, the length from forehead to chin is a half inch different in women. I think it boils down to women have a smaller, rounder face with bigger eyes. I think cis male heads tend to be bigger. But yeah I don't think it effects passing unless you have some extreme measurements like a 25 inch head (is that big lol).
I love my long hair :)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi244.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg4%2FKR3259%2Fodds%2520n%2520ends%2FDDB4890D-6F2F-43C6-B435-5D4AACE70742-24628-00000BD1A8FF40BB_zps04c426a1.jpg&hash=52f234458de6dd5188bb3e150921068f979be37c)
O-ouch. That sunburn looks painful.
Quote from: A on August 18, 2013, 10:54:42 AM
O-ouch. That sunburn looks painful.
It's just the lighting in that room, I have been lucky enough not to get sunburned all summer....sunblock is my friend ;)
2 months longer and loving it more and more as it grows. To me, the long hair just adds to the feminine look.
Mine is finally long enough (barely) to pull into a decent ponytail in the back. Now THAT is definitely a feminine look! :-)
Thank God I have good hair... I couldn't imagine how hard my life would be without it.
Quote from: Alainaluvsu on October 05, 2013, 09:44:30 PM
Thank God I have good hair... I couldn't imagine how hard my life would be without it.
That is so the truth Alaina! I love my long hair a lot, and I find it handy to "hide behind" as it falls around my face :)