Hi everyone!
I am new here. Somebody referred me to this link to ask for help about my gender identity.
I am a transgender FTM and I just started to come out, though not to everyone yet. I think it's best to start the change in myself. I mean, I already felt that I am a transgender. It's just now that I started to have the courage to take a physical change because I felt more accepted now than before. I slowly changed my appearance. Before, I have a medium-length hair because I was afraid to be called "different" or "weird". I also don't want to be identified as a lesbian, because I really hate it when they call me a lesbian. Plus, people in our country are not much educated on gender diversity so what they only know are male, female, gay, and lesbian. So, when you're a female acting like a male, you're automatically called a lesbian plus a stereotyping description of "wasted" type of person. And I don't even know why they always judge that way then they don't want to be educated about it. Okay, I'm being off the topic already, sorry. lol.

Okay so, I'd attach a photo of me before and now. I gradually cut my hair until this short, but I am thinking of cutting it shorter or have another haircut which is different from this maybe, but I don't want a fully short hair. I think I want to maintain the length on top so my face wouldn't look chubby, lol. What do you think?

And also, I just bought my binders last month. I've been dying to wait for my binders. I was so excited when I got the package. I am enjoying it.

Uhm, right now, I am focusing on naturally boosting my testosterone. Well, I'm not yet on HRT. Because, LGBT+ rights are not yet legalized in our country (meaning, it's not yet part of the law so there's still discrimination), therefore, HRT is very hard to pursue here. But I'd be moving to Canada maybe next year, because my family is already there. So I am planning to have the therapy there, whatever it takes. Also with the surgery. What I do now is I regularly do workout, plus I include T-boosting food in my diet, like the cruciferous vegetables and nuts, those kind of stuff. I am not that too dedicated to Natural Transitioning because it's too expensive. What I just want is to at least ease and temporarily satisfy myself on my needs as a transgender man. I want my natural transitioning be as healthy as possible. I also have a hormonal imbalance, like I have a bit of very visible chest hairs, and leg hairs, which is I kind of like it. I heard that there's something you can do to have facial hairs? I mean, like shaving your peach fuzz. Does that help you grow facial hairs? lol. And what's this DHEA? Has anyone of you tried it already? Or anyone tried Natural transitioning?

And advices, anyone? For a pre-T FTM, especially on passing as a male. I'd be happy to read your comments on this. Thank you! I'd be reposting this post if there are problems with the photos. Lol. I have troubles on this. HTML linking is not working, I think. Haha. anyway, I could give you the link if you can't view it here: http://picpaste.com/cats-CtIkF9Ro.jpg   I would love to hear some haircut suggestions

Your current hairstyle looks nice!
For general passing tips, you can just search "passing tips ftm" on Youtube, there are tons of videos there, and most of them give pretty good advice. A lot of the videos give the same advice though, but whatever hahah.

http://skepchick.org/2011/09/ask-surly-amy-natural-transitioning-for-ftms/

This person has a good article on the mainstream 'natural' transition, but here are my own thoughts with basically 'naturally boosting testosterone' it's not going to have an effect on you. Even the mainstream way is costly and effectively is just a way to build up muscle but not necessarily make you look more masculine. In some people it will have an opposite effect anyway because most times they want you to take male oriented proteins and boosters that are not right for your body. You already pass pretty well and if you have an imbalance of hormones don't push your luck. I had high levels of T before I started taking it so I was lucky but I didn't have extra hair or anything. DHEA is actually for Cis men and not for female born people. Basically naturally transitioning is anything but. Eating healthier is good for you and if you want try it you can eat things like

Fish
Eggs
Orange juice/milk
Red meat
Legumes

These things are good for your health and cholesterol too so eat up! Remembering breakfast is important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzCH9uC9Yds&list=UURj7HXvKV3AXGTbGeOX5Wzw

Chase Ross talked about the supplement path.

http://youtu.be/OopTxboW2wI?list=UURj7HXvKV3AXGTbGeOX5Wzw

Talking about DHT cream a T cream for Trans men to get bigger genital growth.

http://helpfultransinfo.tumblr.com/tagged/nt

Information about Natural transitioning, it talks about all the supplements and why they aren't good for you.

I think a good haircut for you would be

http://menshairstylestrends.com/stunning-popular-men-short-hairstyles-ideas-2014/short-stylish-popular-men-short-hairstyles-2014/

I wouldn't recommend using DHT without being on T, because it'll throw off your hormonal balance a ton and your body won't be able to regulate it since DHT can't be converted to estrogen. If you have an estrogen dominant system and then introduce such a potent androgen that can't be converted into estrogen, then your body will compensate by producing a ton of estrogen.  Having high levels of hormones in your body all fighting each other is not a good thing. 

thank you so much! I'd be checking on the links you all have posted after my exams maybe. Haha Thank you all!!!

Thanks for the links, I'll look them up.

Thanks for these links, will come in handy for a few of us still waiting to start T and the process of physical transitioning. 2 year wait at the moment in the UK to even see a DR in a gender clinic.

Quote from: JJones on September 10, 2014, 03:01:22 PM
Thanks for these links, will come in handy for a few of us still waiting to start T and the process of physical transitioning. 2 year wait at the moment in the UK to even see a DR in a gender clinic.

Leeds or Charing Cross? If you're up north could you travel to Nottingham? They're much closer and your GP can refer you to any GIC in the country. The Laurels in Exeter is an option if you're down south. Both have much shorter waiting times, around 4 months for the Laurels and around that for Nottingham as well I believe, and their admin is generally better than Charing Cross.

PM me if you want to know more.

When I decided to really make the change to match how I felt inside I did it all at once.  I went to a hair place one day and I just said I wanted a boys haircut.  She asked me what kind of length I wanted and when she knew how short I wanted it they went right to work at it.  Needless to say, I am really happy with how short that it is and theirs no mistaking me what my intentions are or who I should be referred as.  It helps that my mom has been my biggest cheerleader to date and she approved of my haircut.