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by Panalientato

by Panalientato

[Credit to @transdudesarehot on instagram. If you have Instagram, and you're a trans male/trans masculine, you should follow them. They have numerous posts about tips for trans males/trans masculine people such as binding, hair, makeup, and clothing.]

[Its long, sorry.]

[ill find a list for trans feminine/trans women and put it on my next update]

How to Look More Masculine:

How to Bind Safely:
- Put on a tight (not TOO TIGHT!) unpadded sports bra backwards, then put another slightly larger one on forwards.
- Or use a one-piece swimsuit (no Velcro, clasps, or zippers) that fits you, and is not too small.
- Do NOT: put on any more than that. (Do not double bind - like adding trans tape, bandages, or anything else.
- Only bind for up to 8 hours.
- Do NOT BIND WHILE SLEEPING.
- DO NOT BIND WHILE EXERCISING.
- If you swim in your binder, you'll need one that is a size bigger than your normal binders (there are binders made specifically for swimming even!)
- Do not take off (or put on) the binder while it's wet. Wait for it to dry.
- Take breaks. Take it off if you're in pain or if you're out of breath. I suggest carrying around a sports bra to change into if needed.

Hair:
- If short, make your sideburns darker and more square to give a more masculine feel.
- If long, tuck into hat or beanie. (If you're dressing up for school, and your school has a strict dress code - no hats or hoods - try pulling your hair back into a low bun that way it's out of your face and off of your neck. That is what I did when I had longer hair.)

Facial Hair:
- Try applying mascara lightly to the fuzz of your cheeks and upper lips to darken the color. (This can vary from person to person.)
- Also, growing your brows out and filling them in can make them appear thicker and more masculine. (I do this often.)

Makeup:
- wear little makeup/or no makeup at all.
- look up male contouring tutorials on YouTube to make your cheeks and jawline more sharper.

How to get binders without your parents knowing (for kids with unsupportive parents):
- save up about 50 or 60 dollars if possible.
- get to the nearest convenience store/gas station/grocery store etc. and purchase a Visa card.
- you can choose your binder online (gc2b is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED)
- their binders rain from 30-50 dollars each and they have a large variety.
- half binders/tanks/and various colors and 5 different shades of nudes
- Find your size before considering (DO NOT PURPOSELY GET A SIZE TOO SMALL!) go online and look up gc2b size scale and measure yourself.
- usually, it's a size down from your shirt size (large -> medium, medium -> small, etc.)
- Plus you can always enter giveaways online.
- If closeted (or parents are unsupportive) try sending it to a close friend's address that way it's safe for you to Get the binder without getting caught.

Excuses to Get Short Hair:
- it's easier to take care of.
- you can say you want to look like a female celebrity.
- you want to "step out" of your comfort zone.

Excuses to Get Clothes:
- cheaper (not always)
- better quality.
- bigger pockets.
- say you didn't notice they were men's clothes when you picked them out.
- say you found them on the Clarence rack and you didn't realize.
- can also shop online.

If your parents find your Binder (and they're unsupportive or you're just not ready to come out):
- say it's a sports bra or tank top.
- say it's for cosplay (if you're into that)
- say it's your friends and they accidentally left it there.

Washing your binder (if parents are unsupportive):
- when you shower, take it into the bathroom with you, lock the door (if you can), run it under cold water and wash it with laundry detergent/soap. Rinse throughly. Then hang somewhere safe and under one of your shirts.
- or wait until you're home alone and wash it in the washing machine (This is what I'd do.)

Hiding your binder:
- hang your binder on a hanger
- then put a shirt over the top of it
- button up the shirt all the way (if it's a dress shirt)
- hang it in your closet or any place safe way from your parents.
- use a shirt you don't wear often that way you won't mind it getting wet if you're hanging the binder up after washing it.
- or put it in between your mattresses (or under it)

Packing:
- Again with the saving money and purchasing a visa at a local convenience store.
- you can get underwear that is designed to give you a bulge or you can purchase a cheap packer (I've heard Mr. Limpy is only $12 (US) dollars.)
- if you can't afford a packer, socks can take place as a bulge (plus you can find plenty of DIY tutorials on YouTube to make them.)
- what I do, is put on men's underwear, then put a pair of socks in my pants to give myself the bulge, it helps with my dysphoria.

Some ways to cope with Dysphoria:
- work out and give yourself bigger arms/shoulders
- Grow out your body hair (I've grown out my leg/stomach hair.)
- possibly write down a list of your masculine traits.
- write about yourself using He/him pronouns and your preferred name.
- ask your friends to text you and refer to you as he/him and preferred name.
- listen to songs like YMCA it's fun and they call you "Young Man!"
- touch the flat part of your chest.

Foods that Increase Testosterone (some of these I don't know for sure):
- Seafood.
- leafy Veggies (lettuce/spinach)
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Eggs
- Some Cheeses
- Pomegranates
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Nuts
- Seeds (pumpkin seeds)
- Coffee
- Ginger
- Honey

Please feel free to add to the list! Let's help our boys out!