Transitioning is a very complex process. Every transgender woman has a unique transitioning trajectory. The approach that she adopts towards transitioning depends totally on her personality and her own priorities as an individual. There is no ‘one fits all’ method to transitioning. Every transgender woman has a distinct individuality and that is what guides her future life choices.
She might go all the way up to altering her physique and facial structure surgically as much as possible to look more feminine. That is, she might go for Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS). Or she might just opt for the Hormone Replacement Therapy and take it from there. But irrespective of whatever approaches she takes, a basic grounding in etiquettes of femininity would certainly help her in projecting that feminine image.
She is taking a leap of faith by choosing to live like a woman. She is a beautiful woman already. She feels like a woman inside out. It’s just that as a transgender woman, she needs to master some external manifestations of femininity in order to take forward her journey as a woman.
And it’s not just about fitting in or some stamp of approval from society. It is very much about her own desire to give a beautiful, sublime expression to her innate femininity. Societal codes and conventions aren’t always binding and suffocating. Sometimes, they get us the kind of recognition that we have been craving for. Adhering to a certain etiquette of femininity would also make a transgender woman feel that her body and heart are completely in sync.
This article is going to list some tips that a transgender woman can follow for bringing out her innate femininity.
Dressing & Fashion
The dressing is more than just an external manifestation of femininity. What a woman wears offers a window to her soul. For a transsexual woman, it is important to choose stylish, chic, feminine attire that will complement her looks, personality and body type.
Whether she is wearing dresses or skirts, the colours and cuts should complement her body type and enhance her femininity. She should also keenly follow all the latest fashion trends. Of course, she should not blindly copy these trends. She has to eventually evolve her distinct style in accordance with her unique beauty and attributes. But it is very important to know about all the happening trends in the world of fashion. She should not come across as someone who wears beautiful but outdated clothes. For a modern, feminine woman, looking contemporary and chic is equally important.
In fact, a transgender woman should read fashion magazines on a regular basis. She should never miss out on the ‘Fashion’ and ‘Lifestyle’ pages of the newspapers. Constantly checking out what celebrities are wearing these days gives one a perfect peep into the world of fashion and glamour. It will also give her innovative ideas on how to design her own wardrobe.
Yet another advantage of reading a fashion magazine is that it will give her an idea as to where she can buy the clothes from. She will get an update on all the latest and happening ladies’ apparel stores in the town.
Last but not the least, it is very important to check out what other women around you are wearing. You just have to walk around the street and observe the kind of clothes that women are wearing. This will give you more practical and hands-on tips for dressing up. Maybe, what a fashion model featured on the magazine cover is wearing is not practical for you to wear in day-to-day life. Maybe, it doesn’t suit your body type. But if you notice women around you, which will give you an idea on how to merge the high fashion sensibility of designer wear with the more practical sensibility of day-to-day wear.
Learning the Art of Applying Makeup
A transgender woman has to perfect the art of applying makeup. It might seem like the easiest thing in the world considering that most women apply makeup on a day-to-day basis. But applying makeup well is not that easy. It is a skill that can be mastered with constant practice and learning.
A transgender woman should always choose the right kind of makeup according to her skin tone and facial features. If her eyes are small, then she has to highlight her eyes using adequate eye makeup. If she already has large eyes, then the eye makeup would be somewhat different. If she has fuller lips already, then she has to be very careful while applying lipstick. If she has thin lips, then it is very important to enhance those through makeup.
A good way of learning make up is by watching YouTube tutorials on ‘how to apply makeup’. Social media sites like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. have amazing makeup tutorials. Depending on your skill and experience level, you can choose the kind of videos you want to watch. If you are a beginner, you can watch videos listing ‘makeup tips for beginners’’. If you as a transgender woman want to learn how to apply basic, nude makeup for an everyday look, there are specific tutorials for those. If you are interested in learning party makeup or more edgy, dramatic makeup, then there are tutorials for that too.
Practice is very important for perfecting the art of makeup. Just watching YouTube videos isn’t going to do the trick. One has to constantly practise what one has learnt.
Appropriate makeup that highlights her facial features will make a transgender woman bring out her gorgeous self in full bloom. And after all that makeup, do not forget to ace the look with that gorgeous, alluring smile!
Feminine Voice
Makeup, dressing sense, all these constitute the 1st step towards the external manifestation of femininity. But communicating in a feminine voice is equally important. And this can be tricky terrain for a transgender woman. The transition process is complex and multi-layered. Finding a feminine voice during and post-transition can be challenging.
But with a few tips and tricks, a transgender woman can simulate a feminine voice. Even if she has a deep, manly voice, she can make the pitch somewhat higher and the voice would sound feminine. If she breathes from the stomach and then speaks, it would help in getting rid of vibrations in the chest.
A transgender woman with a somewhat manly voice can also consider taking singing lessons or just practice singing by herself. She can try out her favourite numbers. Singing is an excellent way of training the voice in a way that makes it sound more feminine. Singing would add the high-pitched notes to her voice. It would also make her voice smoother. All this would certainly enhance the feminine quality of her voice.
If she wants to go a step further, she can even consider taking professional voice lessons. There exist professional voice training courses specifically targeted at transgender women to help them make their voice sound more feminine. A professional coach can give you numerous tips and tricks for voice projection that can make your voice sound smoother and sweeter. You could also try out YouTube videos that teach voice projection and offer lessons on how to make the voice sound more melodious and feminine.
Speak Softly
It’s not just the quality of your voice that makes you sound feminine. The way you speak is very important. A transgender woman should try to speak as softly and politely as she can. A soft, soothing deep, husky voice can also sound very feminine. On the contrary, a screeching voice, the kind of voice where the speaker is literally shouting can be very unpleasant on the ears.
So, she can step up her feminine quotient by speaking softly and politely.
Eyebrows and Shaving are Very Important for her Grooming
Eyebrows define the shape of the entire face. For a feminine look, it’s very important that the eyebrows are regularly plucked and in great shape. Messy, bushy eyebrows aren’t going to make you look all that feminine. Neatly plucked eyebrows with a bit of arch are what will do the trick.
It goes without saying that shaving is very important in order to get rid of all that stubble. Also, you shouldn’t shave in a hurry. Take your time and make sure you are doing it perfectly. Be gentle so that you don’t end up developing any rashes or infections by being too harsh and rough on your own skin.
Clear, smooth skin is the hallmark of ultimate femininity. And for getting that type of look, you have to be extremely meticulous and patient with your shaving routine. Waxing is of course the easiest and most convenient practice. But you can even consider electrolysis or laser hair removal.
Be Confident
Just as a woman cannot wear any makeup better than a smile, she cannot wear any attribute better than confidence.
A confident woman literally radiates with the unique beauty of her personality and she spreads her special aura everywhere she goes.
People are naturally attracted to a confident woman, they wish to speak with her, they want to be around her and take her opinions seriously.
So, a transgender woman should be confident in all spheres of life. When she radiates with the beauty and confidence of her innate femininity, absolutely nothing can stop her from conquering the world.
The Wall