Oh, I love being able to grow it, but I love the sensation, the ritual of shaving. It makes me feel so masculine. So I don't plan to ever grow a beard. I've had fellow FTMs stress that I will never pass because of this....but I don't care. I like to be smooth. Am I alone?
Just ask yourself how many cis men are clean shaven; alot. If you're comfortable with how you present, I reckon that's the most important thing.
i can see that because the ritual of shaving your face is typically a more masculine thing, like shaving your legs is a typically more feminine thing. so the ritual of shaving helps you feel more masculine i guess. i like my facial hair because it shapes my face better and makes me look at least older, which is what i like. some people also look better clean shaven.
There's tons of cis men who can't even grow facial hair or it's patchy and they shave it. My brothers can only grow what basically looks like an unconnected goatee. It's not much that they grow so if I ever decide to start t I'm sure I would just shave mine too
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Nah, you're not alone! There are plenty of clean-shaven guys out there (cis and trans).
I'd wanted a beard since I was a little kid and got one lol but they're not for everyone. Do what you like!
You're not alone.
From what I see, there are lots of FTM choosing not to sport beardage. There's lots that do, but the good thing is you can try both.
Shaving tends to irritate my already sensitive face and make me break out, so I'm glad that facial hair is finally coming in well enough that I can stand to just trim it once a week or so. To each their own! I looooved shaving before it reached this point though, so I can definitely see the appeal.
I don't think facial hair implies passing at all, and I'm sorry that folks have said as much to you. I've seen even the most masculine guys will full beards and years on T get misgendered randomly, so having a beard isn't a guarantee that someone won't randomly use the wrong pronouns. I think it's much more down to face shape than it is facial hair, especially before they hear you speak. And that's just all letting T work its magic over a period of time.
I have really mixed feelings about facial hair. Like you, I really like shaving my face (mostly shaving peach fuzz at this point, lol) and I think I would like to have stubble. I already love the sandpapery feel my cheeks get after a few days. But I don't really want a beard either. Maybe years from now when I can grow an awesome Santa Claus beard, lol, but for now no. I worry about not passing too, but more because I really want to grow my hair out longer and I worry that having long hair and no beard will just doom me to constant misgendering. So for now my hair is short. Sigh.
Hi (I love your work by the way, only just now noticed you were on here!) I don't care too much for having any, but thanks to hairless genes it doesn't grow much or fast. I still have yet to figure out how to shave just because I don't feel like I even need to yet (despite being on T for almost three years) all I get is a small stache and my beard hair only grows under my jaw. I'm glad it doesn't grow fast/thick simply because that way it's noticeable enough close up that someone will not mistake me, but not enough it's totally obvious.
Quote from: JustZac on May 02, 2016, 01:58:03 AM
Oh, I love being able to grow it, but I love the sensation, the ritual of shaving. It makes me feel so masculine. So I don't plan to ever grow a beard. I've had fellow FTMs stress that I will never pass because of this....but I don't care. I like to be smooth. Am I alone?
I haven't found many people who talk about this but I don't think you're alone.
I actually don't want facial hair either actually I can relate what you said.
I've thought about maybe possibly wanting some hair under my nose I wont grow anything out anymore then a tiny amount. I was told by a couple of people something that really helped me that i'll share back to you. There are many men even cis men out there in the world that don't like facial hair. I have probably been scared at some point of the same thing even after being told this. Then I realized that there is really no reason to fear you will end up looking just as much like a man as anybody else facial hair or no facial hair. It'll be okay. I have another fear relating to this that I might not like that effect on testosterone. I've come to cope with it and i believe it'll work out. It'll be all good for you also i am sure :)
I want to grow a beard once and see what its like - but in general I think I'd prefer to be clean-shaven.