Masculinizing my face without testosterone

[Guest praisedbeherhooves]

I have a very rocky relationship with my face. Sometimes, I find it fairly attractive though there are things I don't like so much about it. I'd probably prefer is a little more masculine, but as a whole, when no one else is commenting on it, I'm okay with it. Unfortunately, the moment I realize my face, to the majority of the population, looks like a woman's face, I start to hate it. I actually would prefer my face to be of a very androgynous sort, the kind that can be either a man or a woman's face. I think to do that, I need to move a little more in the masculine direction. I noticed through playing with a wig that shoulder-length, straight hair actually makes me look more masculine than short hair, so I'm growing my hair out. I know that there is much more to gender cues other than just the face, but it still bugs me. I don't want to take testosterone, though, for fear of moving too far in the masculine direction, as well as potential issues with my bipolar.

With glasses:

http://tinypic.com/r/34s1kdy/5

Without glasses:

http://tinypic.com/r/oqkcio/5

Some questions I have are:

1. Would a septum piercing make my face look more masculine, or would it just pull me into "tomboy" territory? What about an eyebrow piercing?

2. Would thicker rimmed glasses make my face look more masculine?

[Guest Raging Shadow]

i would say more male with glasses, and not so much frame thicnkness, as lenses shape. something more square/rectangular will make your face look more angular. as for pericings I personally think they don't help anyone, but thats just me...

for the most part, expecially the top pic, i think you look pretty male. a little young, but male

[Guest Clair Dufour]

There are a lot of thing you can do or rather not do. You want to use just soap to wash your and face. Eyebrows are a big indicator, you want them as thick and bushy as you can get them and should try some makeup on them to help the effect. Without burning yourself, tan your face. Ever notice women who work construction? Get you hair styled only by a lesbian hairdresser that you can explain to what your want. You are correct, short is not always more masculine. Work on the rest of your clothes to reinforce the image you want to present. Glasses, pick mens styles. You can buy them online now so you don't to be embarresed.

Piercings are a mixed bag. They are powerful symbol but one of female power. I don't think they make men look more masculine but rather the opposite. But, I do have to say you have the cultural look for them. Other piercing can make it hard for people to take you seriously and which is the goal of being more masculine. Even before they were popular, tattoos have have been the signal for women who wanted to let others know they were not like other women.

Where to go for first hand info. The best place is Northhampton. If your not there you should be. Its the Mecca of Liberal-radical Lesbian Femmist Culture. There much in Boston too. In both there are many people who are what you want to be.

[Guest Exeter]

For what it's worth, I'm actually envious. To me, your eyebrows and nose look pretty masculine. I think your face is very androynous, youthful, and I'd say male-leaning. Not so sure about how glasses or piercings would figure into this. I'm not good at judging how accessories or even hairstyles tag gender.

[Guest leo]

There's not much you can change about your face you look pretty masculine already xx

[JJ]

You look more male with glasses to me. Makes your face look less soft.

Do piercings if you like them I'd say but not to masculinize. It may actually draw attention to your more feminine mouth below with a septum piercing and the lack of a brow ridge with an eyebrow piercing. Sometimes the contrast between the hard metal and soft skin can even have the opposite effect than you are seeking-not to mention that I have seen more women than men with those piercings

My advise would be to image your face as masculine to yourself and start from the inside out. I went from only occasionally being correctly gendered to being 100% correctly gendered in two weeks time and the only difference was how I saw myself. As long as I saw myself as a man with a woman's body and trying to pass I really didn't much. When I saw myself as a man with anatomical anomalies and moving through the world as myself-a man -rather than passing I was never mis-gendered again. In those two weeks I made no other changes. Not in haircut or clothing-not anything except a little weight which was a slow steady thing all along..

I am sure when I changed how I saw myself I changed how I spoke and moved and the look in my eyes as well as on my face.

Body language is 85% of real life communication. And largely unconscious. Change how you see yourself and you will change how you look more than anything else ever will

Johnny

[Guest Call me DEAN]

Yup, the glasses help make your face sharper. As for the piercings, I'm not sure. In my mind, piercings are associated with womenfolk, but I guess it also depends on the kind of earings.

Also, I agree with Johnny, body language is the key. Those few times I've been called 'sir', I was always with some friends, having a good time and feeling well in my body. Just thinking about yourself in a masculine way and with confidence will make you behave in a manlier fashion. You can also try working on your voice.

Anyway, keep the glasses. They look good on you. Maybe I should get glasses too? Meh...

[Guest Rowan19]

Glasses are definately more guyish, thicker would probably be better though. Maybe a fake goatee? I think one would suit you. I know a lot of them look fake, but you could probably find something realistic enough on eBay. I've also heard something called spirit gum and hair clippings work well.