I need tips on passing pre-T ASAP as I'm getting very dysphoric and ppl keep misgendering me because I don't look 'male enough' and if anyone has any tips about swimming without a binder pls help
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Many guys will need to take T in order to pass consistently. If passing is important to you, T is something you should be considering. I think I remember you saying you lived in the UK? Have you spoken to your GP yet about making an appointment at the GIC?
It's really hard to give tips without knowing what you look like, how you act, and what you've already done to try to pass. So I'll just be general:
Haircut
- Get a short haircut. Very few guys will pass as male pre-T with anything but a very traditional male haircut. Shaggier hair may work depending on your face, but in general - the more typically male the cut, the better. Long hair will not help you pass.
Binding
- If you're large chested or not easily concealed in a sports bra, a binder will be required to mask the appearance of your chest. There's no real way around that. You can look into alternative binding methods like layered sports bras, athletic tape, etc. if a binder is financially out of reach. But the cost of the alternatives is about the same.
Packing
- Not as important for passing, but maybe with confidence. It's easy to make your own, and there are some inexpensive options out there as well.
Voice
- This is what gives most of us away. You can do some training of your voice to learn how to speak from your chest which will make it lower. People who are socialized as female though often have distinct vocal patterns or ways of speaking that men just don't use (like pitch choices, phrasing things as questions when they are not, etc.). So un-learning those habits is important.
Hips
- If you're a bigger dude or you have noticeable hips that you think people are noticing, consider wearing compression shorts under your pants.
Clothing Choices
- If passing is what you're going for, typical male clothing is what you want. Dress like other guys your age.
Swimming W/O a Binder
- Underworks makes a swimming binder that I've heard good things about. If you have an older binder, you could wear that and a rash guard. If you don't have a binder, you could wear two sports bras under a rash guard.
Mannerisms
- Watch videos of guys in public, or go to the mall/shopping center/university quad and watch people. Watch how they stand, how they carry themselves when they're walking, what they look like when they're talking to people. Mimic those things.
Ftmax has offered some great suggestions that I'd like to add onto.
Haircut
For me I looked more male with an undercut than shaggy medium length hair. It's important that hair is kept off your face as hair on your face will accentuate the roundness of it.
Binding
I find GC2B to be the best binders as they're the most comfortable. I found Underworks to be painful to wear after just a few hours but with a GC2B it's completely painless even when worn all day. The bra method sorta worked for me but made my ribs ache. You can get second hand binders from many LGBT social groups.
Packing
I found it slightly cheaper to buy a Mr Limpy packer from a sex shop website rather than one catered for ftms. But when I bought an stp I went to Tranzwear. I don't pack anymore due to it increasing ny bottom dysphoria as I bcame more focused on that area. Not something I considered before buying one.
Voice
Men tend to talk from the chest in a more monotone way; with no inflections.
Clothing choices
This website explains it all http://ftmguide.rassaku.net/
Swimmimg
GC2B make flesh coloured binders now could work for swimming. Maybe wearing a compression shirt on top. The Underworks binder is more expensive.