While I will admit, I am not an expert on hair, I can say one of the first things I look at when people watching is hair. I love to watch people and since working with the transgender community, I can pretty much read a person by their hair within the first 30 seconds.
Looking through a lot of information on this subject, I have found some pointers on how to not be read by your hair. Here’s five of them:
1) Choosing the right color is vital. The wrong shade will wash you out and highlight the harsh angles of your face. Staying within 2 shades of your natural hair color works. Most girls can’t pull off extreme shades like “Barbie” blonde or jet black. Choose a hair color that compliments your skin tone. First, identify whether you have a WARM or a COOL skin tone. (Hint: If the veins on your inner wrist appear blue, you have a cool skin tone. If they look green, you have a warm skin tone.) 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.
2) The wrong hair hairstyle can throw off your entire appearance. Hairstyles that are too short, too long, or too angular have a masculinizing effect on your face. Shoulder length cuts with soft waves or layers are most feminine and flattering. Soft bangs are also a must if you have a high forehead.
3) While it’s great to grow out your own hair, make sure you have enough of it to show off! Slight hair loss might not be noticeable in guy mode, but it instantly reads as masculine in girl mode. Hair loss treatments and hormones can help with hair regrowth, but in the meantime, wear a wig or hair piece. Hats are fun too…experiment. I just found the cutest hat at a yard sale, it could be worn by either gender and it was only $1.
4) Get a cute wig. 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.
5) Positioning your wig is very important too. If you are new to wigs, it’s normal to be scared your wig is going to fall off. Your instinct might be to push the wig down, but the low-forehead look is NOT flattering. On the other hand, if the wig isn’t properly secured, it can creep up your forehead. That’s not pretty either. To avoid slippage (and paranoia about your wig falling off), you can sew wig clips to the inside of the wig. Wearing a wig cap or a wig grip can also help keep your wig in place.
Let me know how people read you and your hair…
Happy Dressing,
Ladyone
