Don’t try that mascara/arm hair shit. I’ve been passing for more than a year with short, blond arm hair. It’s not an important secondary sex characteristic.
Board shorts (without pockets in the front) do wonders to minimize the width of your hips. Always choose board shorts over swim trunks. Choose them over cargo shorts if it’s appropriate.
Speak from your chest, never from your head.
The goal of binding should not be an entirely flat chest; you should bind for your body type.
GC2b makes the best binders out there, and their products are designed specifically for trans men/transmasculine people.
It might seem useless if you’re pre-T, but working out can be a big help for dysphoria.
Eyebrows are really important to passing pre-testosterone. Muss that shit up. Make them look unkempt.
When you ask for a haircut, make sure the edges in the back are squared, not rounded.
If you have peach fuzz, I would advise shaving it. Cis guys shed theirs when they go through puberty. Shaving can also help with facial hair dysphoria.
Don’t ever buy a binder from Amazon. They run in strange sizes (I was an XXL even though I’m a M in GC2b) and take weeks/months to come. It’s also difficult to breathe in them after a few hours.
-Patience is a virtue you need to come to terms with. Even on T, things take time. My voice dropped immediately, but my cycle continued for 6 months. We’re all different.
-In the summer, HYDRATE YOURSELF. A binder is an extra layer, and mine have always been very warm.
-When its not too hot, layers are your friend. You’d be surprised what even simply an undershirt can do to smooth out your look.
-You are going to get misgendered. This is a fact, and it sucks. Learn to politely correct people. Remember you might be the first (openly) trans person they meet, so be a good ambassador.
-When you start T, your smell will change. You will sweat like you’ve never sweat before, and it WILL STINK. Adjust your bathing habits accordingly.
*coughs in direction of my trans friendos*
If you have a really large chest you might do better with Underworks binders. They aren’t pretty, they’re not soft, but they do a good job and were the first on the market for a very long time. I couldn’t stand gc2b so if you’re like me, try Underworks.
Don’t double bind.
DON’T USE DUCK TAPE. I still have scars from a dumb decision I made as a teen and I’m 31 now.
When the time comes for top surgery, shop around. Find someone who will tailor your chest to your needs. Look at their portfolio. Compare surgeons. See if you can find someone who will work with your health insurance if you have it.
Be safe. Be healthy. Take your time. It’s not a race or a competition.
To any trans women and transfeminine followers of mine, did you know there’s a pretty huge Etsy store which does gaff underwear and swimsuits specifically designed for trans people amongst its products? They go in a pretty decent range of sizes, including sizes for young girls, and while I do not personally know anyone who has used them, there’s a fuckton of positive reviews on the Etsy store. They have a ton of colours to choose from, different fabric choices, the works.
And for once they’re not marked “for crossdressers” too, they actually under “transgender”, so that’s (depressingly) unusual.
I’m mostly posting this because I’ve seen a lot of younger people recently in particular saying they never knew what gaffs were… a lot of people find them WAY MORE comfortable and convenient than tucking, so I would recommend looking into them if you’ve never done so before!
And even if you yourself don’t use or need this stuff, do pass this kind of info on to any friends of yours that might, guys! There’s always like a million more PSAs about transmasc stuff as opposed to transfem stuf tbh…
fun tip for cis people: instead of saying “back when she was a he” or “back before [birthname] became [preferred name]”, try not being a pile of shit by saying something like “before she came out” or “before she began her transition”!
Pls friends and thanks.
“before she came out” is so easy and preserves so much dignity, PLEASE
I’ve been wondering the best way to say this. Thank you.
also if their transition is irrelevant to the story, don’t bring it up! just say “when X was a kid/ younger/ in college/ etc” and carry on using their current name and pronouns.
That last point is very important! DO NOT OUT ANYONE! Do not bring up their trans status or transition unnecessarily! And you trying to look more interesting/cool/whatever by having a trans friend does not count as “neccessary”!!
This is a *really good* article that both handles anatomy concerns and presumes zero background makeup knowledge. Well done.
It’s amazing that the cover photo is showing both older women and people of color, something that the media consistently ignores regarding the trans community.
start headcanoning masculine dudes as trans u cowards. if you’re cis and every single transmasc hc you have is some ultra twink ass mfer just know im side eyeing you ultra heavy rn
those gruff strong dudes with the facial hair and shit? the ones that seem to be a dudes dude, a bros bro? they’re trans now ive just decided and there’s nothing you can do about it
Depending on when you come out or change your name and pronouns, being called by the “right” name and pronouns can feel weird for a while. This is because it’s new, not because it’s the wrong name or pronouns.
Even after coming out, you will misgender yourself. Maybe in your head, maybe in conversation, maybe both. This is normal. Laugh it off and move on.
Your dysphoria might get worse before it gets better. Coming out and starting hormones causes a lot of changes both socially and physically that can stir up dysphoric feelings. It will get better.
HRT can cause mood swings/fluctuations. Some people notice a dip in their mood before their dose, or a boost in it afterward. Some people on testosterone notice they get angrier easier, or more impulsive. Some people on estrogen notice they feel sadder/less energetic, or just more emotional in general. (They also sometimes experience the symptoms of PMSing without the actual PMS.) This is not universal, but it exists. If the symptoms get bad, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. They won’t just stop the HRT and tell you to go home. They WILL figure out a dosage that works best for you, and they WILL help you manage the side effects.
NOT ALL EFFECTS OF HRT ARE PERMANENT. Most aren’t. For T, a lower voice and hair growth or loss are permanent. For E, breast growth is permanent to a certain degree, and after a few months on E there’s a high likelihood of becoming sterile, which is also likely permanent.
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