Buzz
In the process of transitioning from female to male, you might worry about how to express yourself as a man. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to increase your chances of success. Start with simple external adjustments like getting a male haircut, shaving facial hair, and binding your chest. Then, incorporate masculine elements into your fashion style. Body language also conveys gender, so practice standing tall, shaking hands firmly, and speaking with a steady voice. Combining these tactics will help you present as a man more clearly.
Steps
Adjust Your Appearance
Get a male haircut. Nowadays, many women also wear short hair, so simply having short hair won’t make you appear male. It’s important to have a male barber cut your hair. Avoid unisex salons that might give you a feminine short haircut. When you visit the barber, be clear about what you want. Bring photos of the hairstyle you like and show them to the barber.
Use hair gel, pomade, or other male hair products. You’ll appear more masculine if you style your hair neatly back, avoiding stray strands in front of your face. This is especially important if you have longer hair, as bangs or hair falling on your face are typically associated with femininity.
- Applying plenty of gel to your hair and combing it back is a simple way to prevent hair from hanging in front of your face.
Shave the fine hair on your face. You might not need to shave if you don’t have noticeable peach fuzz, but it’s necessary because women often have a soft layer of hair on their faces, similar to peach fuzz. Men don’t have this layer of fine hair, they either grow facial hair or shave regularly to remove new stubble. If growing a beard is not an option for you, you’ll need to shave at least twice a week to remove this soft hair.
- Use shaving cream and a new razor for each shave.
- You can also use aftershave to prevent skin infections and add a masculine fragrance.
Avoid makeup or eyebrow shaping. Makeup tends to make the face appear more feminine, so not wearing makeup automatically makes you look more masculine. Men usually have thicker eyebrows, so not plucking them can help your face appear more masculine.
Chest binding to create a male chest appearance. If you have a small chest, you may wear a tight sports bra to conceal it. However, if your chest is medium or large, you will need to bind your chest to create a masculine appearance. Purchase a chest binder to wear underneath and simulate the look of male pectoral muscles.
- But avoid wearing the chest binder for more than 12 hours a day.
- Don’t wrap the binder too tight. Binding too tightly can cause difficulty breathing.
- Don’t try to make your chest completely flat. The goal is to create the appearance of male pectorals.
- Never use ACE bandages for binding. They often slip down and have an overly tight grip, which can make breathing difficult.
Advice: Consider the insurance costs for breast reduction surgery if you have large breasts. This type of surgery may be covered under certain health insurance programs, especially if your chest size causes back pain.
Enhance your pants to appear realistic. You can either purchase a fake penis or create one yourself using a condom, alcohol-free hair gel, and nylon tights. Fill half of the condom with gel, securely tie the end, and insert it into another condom to prevent leaks. Next, place the condom inside the nylon tights and tie it tightly so the tights firmly hug the condom.
- Most men do not have a visible bulge in their pants if their penis is not erect, so keep this in mind when enhancing your pants.
- You can also consider buying a fake penis to enhance firmness. These can be found in adult toy stores.
Consult a doctor about hormone therapy. If you want to alter your appearance at a biological level, you should consider using testosterone. This method helps develop masculine features such as facial hair and larger muscles. It will also stop your menstruation. Testosterone can be taken through injections, patches, or oral medication.
Wear masculine clothing.
Buy a shirt to conceal your chest. Choose loose clothing to hide your chest. Men's button-up shirts are a good option. Avoid tight-fitting fabrics like silk and synthetic materials. Instead, opt for shirts made from cotton or linen that are starch-treated.
- Wearing an undershirt under your shirt is also a good idea. Try wearing a white crew-neck T-shirt underneath a button-up shirt or polo shirt.
Tip: If you take your clothes to the dry cleaner, ask them to add starch to your shirts. The starch will make the fabric stiffer, which can help conceal body curves.
Choose straight-leg jeans, trousers, and men's shorts. Men's and women's pants are cut differently, so it’s best to wear men’s pants for a more masculine look. Black trousers or khaki pants are excellent choices to achieve a masculine appearance. If you prefer jeans, opt for straight-leg jeans designed for men.
- Avoid tight-fitting jeans or flared jeans, as they accentuate body curves.
Tip: Today, men’s pants come in a variety of patterns and colors. You can try these if that's your style and you feel comfortable, but solid-colored pants or traditional trousers can make you appear more masculine. Choose navy blue, black, gray, or khaki pants for a more masculine look.
Wear shoes and socks meant for men. Shop for shoes in men's stores and choose colors that reflect masculinity such as gray, black, blue, brown, etc. Invest in a pair of dress shoes for special occasions and a pair of casual shoes, like sneakers. If your feet are smaller, visit a children's shoe store.
- You can find shoes at a shoe store or buy them online for more size, style, and color options.
Purchase a special swimsuit for use at the beach or pool. Displaying a different gender identity at the pool or beach can be trickier, but possible if you select the right type of swimwear. Men often wear swim trunks and go shirtless at the beach or pool. However, you can buy thermal swimwear or a swim jacket to conceal your chest. Alternatively, wear a t-shirt with swim trunks.
- Remember to wear a chest binder underneath thermal swimwear, jackets, or t-shirts.
Accessorize with items that emphasize masculinity, such as watches and belts. A men's watch, belt, or another masculine accessory can help shift your gender expression. Buy sunglasses, wear men's jewelry (if you like jewelry), and use men's cologne.
- Avoid oversized watches if you have small wrists, as they will make your wrists appear even smaller.
Exhibit masculine behavior
Walk with confidence instead of trying to appear demure. Women often make themselves appear smaller, such as crossing their legs, slouching, or keeping their arms close to their body. Act in the opposite way to convey masculinity. Sit with your legs spread apart, sit or stand upright, and let your arms take up more space.
- For instance, when standing, place your feet shoulder-width apart, stand tall, and let your arms hang naturally at your sides.
- If sitting, place your feet flat on the floor with your knees about 12 inches apart, lean back slightly, and rest one or both hands on the back of the chair next to you.
Practice giving a firm handshake with confidence when meeting others. A firm handshake is a crucial sign of masculinity. When shaking hands, either stand up or lower yourself to their eye level. Look them in the eye, grasp their hand firmly, and shake it up and down 2-3 times. Then, release their hand and return to a relaxed standing or sitting position.
- Avoid holding a handshake for longer than 5 seconds, as prolonged handshakes can create an awkward feeling.
Tip: Men typically smile less than women. You can smile when greeting someone, but don’t overdo it or smile excessively with a nervous expression. Try to remain calm and offer a natural, friendly smile.
Maintain a steady tone of voice at all times. Women often change the pitch of their voices, which is a trait associated with femininity. Practice speaking with a consistent tone to convey masculinity. The pitch of your voice—whether high or low—is not as important as its stability, so don’t worry too much. Men’s voices may fluctuate, so a higher-pitched voice doesn’t necessarily indicate femininity.
- Listen to how men speak in movies and TV shows to mimic their style of speaking.
Try using a standing urination device if you prefer not to sit. Sitting while urinating in a men’s bathroom is perfectly normal. In fact, some men choose to sit because they enjoy it or find it necessary. However, if you prefer to stand, there is a solution. The best option is to use a standing urination device. You can either make one yourself or buy a ready-made one.
- Practice using this device at home until you become comfortable. Start by practicing in the shower, and then use it whenever you need to go. Once you're comfortable, you can carry the device with you when you’re out.
- Standing urination devices are small, so you can easily carry them in your pocket.
Tip
- Remember, all men have some degree of femininity, so what you perceive as feminine traits may not necessarily be viewed the same way by others.
- Building muscle will make you appear more masculine, but this requires time and effort. Start a weightlifting program to develop your muscles, especially in your arms, shoulders, and chest.
Warning
- Pay attention to your body’s sensations when wearing a chest binder. Feeling some soreness or mild discomfort in your chest is normal, but if you experience pain around your rib cage, difficulty breathing, or respiratory issues (even if they are unrelated to the binder), stop wearing it until you fully recover.
