Did you realize that your hair is one of the first things people notice about you?
This means that your hairstyle can literally make or break your feminine image!
You deserve to look and feel your best as a trans woman or crossdresser – and it all starts with your hair.
Here are 5 male to female hairstyle mistakes to avoid – and what to do instead!
Mistake #1: Choosing The Wrong Hair Color
If you wear a wig or dye your hair, choosing the right hair color is key.
The wrong shade can wash you out and add years to your face, while the right shade will have an instant flattering, feminizing effect.
Here are my top two hair color tips to keep in mind:
Tip: Stay within 2 shades of your natural hair color
Unless your hair is naturally very light or dark, you should avoid extreme shades like platinum blonde or jet black.
Platinum blonde is not flattering to most skin tones.
Jet black is too harsh for many people’s skin tones.
Flattering hair color as seen on Janet Mock, transgender author.
Tip: Choose a hair color that complements your skin tone
Before you can choose a good hair color, you need to know if your skin has cool or warm undertones.
An easy way to determine your skin tone is to look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they appear more blue, you have a cool skin tone. If they look more green, you have a warm skin tone.
Then, choose a hair shade that coordinates with your coloring:
- If you have a cool skin tone, choose hair colors with a cool tone – like coffee brown, burgundy, or ash blonde.
- If you have a warm skin tone, opt for golden shades such as chestnut, auburn, or honey blonde.
For more on this topic, be sure to check out my blog post on Male to Female Hairstyles: What Does Your MTF Hair Color Say About You?
COOL hair colors complement cool skin tones – as seen on transgender vlogger, Gigi Gorgeous
WARM hair colors complement warm skin tones – as seen on transgender actress, Candis Cayne
Mistake #2: Opting For The Wrong Cut Or Style
The cut and style of your hair have a dramatic impact on your appearance. Hairstyles that are too short, too long, or too angular can have a masculinizing effect on your face.
Instead, flatter your face with soft waves and layers. Bangs are also a great choice if you have a high forehead.
I go into more detail on the most flattering hairstyles in this blog post: MTF Transgender Hairstyles: 6 Best Transfem Haircuts & Styles.
Long, straight, center-parted hair looks too severe.
Angular bobs emphasize the angles of your face.
Soft waves (as seen on trans actress Laverne Cox) are feminine and flattering.
Mistake #3: Revealing Thinning Or Receding Hair
If you prefer to style your own natural hair (vs. wearing a wig), be sure to pay special attention to its thickness. Slight hair loss might not be noticeable in male mode, but it can detract from a feminine appearance when presenting as a woman.
Hair loss treatments and hormones can help with hair regrowth, but in the meantime, wear a wig or hair piece. You could also try sporting a cute hat!
Mistake #4: Wearing A Cheap Or Worn Out Wig
If you’re going to wear a wig, pay close attention to quality. High quality human hair wigs can cost hundreds (or even thousands) or dollars, but you can find synthetic wigs for much less.
No matter how much you spend, you want to look for shine and softness. Wigs with dull, rough hair fibers scream “fake” from a mile away.
Also keep in mind that wigs have a limited life span. As soon as your wig starts to look dull or frizzy, it’s time to shop for a new one.
Mistake #5: Wearing A Wig Too High Or Too Low On Your Forehead
If you’re new to wigs, it’s normal to be scared that your wig is going to fall off. Your instinct might be to push the wig down, but this is not a flattering or feminine look.
On the other hand, if the wig isn’t properly secured, it can creep up your forehead. This doesn’t look good, either.
To keep your wig securely in place, use wig clips, a wig cap, or a wig grip.
For more information on wigs, be sure to check out my blog post on The Ultimate Guide to Transgender / Crossdressing Wigs and Hair Extensions.
Wig clips
Wig cap
Wig grip
Make everyday a good hair day!
Beautiful hair can transform your female appearance – and it all starts avoiding these 5 simple mistakes.
Now I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Share your best hairstyle tips and tricks and upload a photo of your femme hairstyle in the comments section below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Makeup Mini Course.
My wife has never liked me in a wig. She prefers my natural hair so I wear it quite long, generally about mid back. Fortunately, I’m a computer guy, so nobody really cares how long my hair is when I’m in guy clothes.
The tips you offered are great but I would like to say also just, learning to propely care for a wig or hair-peace will aid in prolonging its life span. Use a good wig shampoo and revitalizing conditioner and always wash in room temp to cold water. Also only use styaling products designed for or safe for the wig your using. Also use your eye brow ss a colour guaud
I am pleased to see that your advice on hair colors to suit your skin tone, match with the hair color my hairdresser persuaded me to try and have been wearing and loving it ever since. In my experience, keeping your hair in top condition all the time, requires a very good hairdresser and very good hair products. Neither come cheaply. But it is worth it. So I won’t be changing my hair salon anytime soon.
Thank you, Lucille !
I don’t like wigs because I feel like under a hat.
But I think it’s a the best solution when you are uncomfortable
with your own Hair.
Mandy
I have learned most of your points above over the years, often the hard way. I have used a wig cap in the past but had issues with it ‘popping off’ under my wig, there’s not a lot to grip to! more recently i have taken to using a strip of wig tape across the front which seems to be quite effective at holding the piece in place, and the front seems so much better at the end of the night.
Dear lovely Lucille;
Thank you for the nice topic, I alredy tried your advices about breast enlargment from male to fema
le look, and actually the nipple are bigger and softer and looke like a girl and the breasts become more bigger .. realy thank you for your cheap and effective methods.. but I want relly to get rid of my body hair, specially the face and chest and legs and arms
I tried more creams and more herbal pasts… but till now ,, and since around 3 months. but still my hair grow and the same density.
So, what is the final solution to remove all my body hair permanentl???
Thank you..
Great tips, thank you for sharing Lucille!!!
Ooops, heres the 6th immage