How to Disguise Yourself As a Boy or Girl

Co-authored by Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: July 10, 2022 References Approved

There are many reasons you might want to disguise yourself as a boy or girl. It's normal to want to know what it feels like to be someone of the opposite gender or to feel gender fluid. When you want to convince someone you're a different gender, it's helpful to look the part. However, there's no one-way to be a boy or a girl, so don't feel like you have to look a certain way. Once you have your style down, acting the part will help you complete your disguise.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Masculine Look

1
Opt for skinny jeans or baggy pants with a man's shirt for clothing. You can choose a t-shirt, polo, or button-up, depending on the style you prefer. If it's cool outside, wearing a jacket can add an extra layer of disguise.
- Accessorizing your look with a hat and sunglasses will make it harder for people to see through your disguise.
- If you typically carry a purse, switch to a backpack or man's wallet.
2
Wear a sports bra if you want to hide your chest. A sports bra is a safe way to minimize your chest without accidentally damaging your breast tissue. However, you may still have a visible chest, especially if you're curvy. If this is the case, you might try wearing baggier clothing or a jacket to make your chest less visible. You can also wear a binder bra.^{[1]
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- Don't feel pressured to wear anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Some boys have bigger chests, so don't worry if your breasts are noticeable.
3
Style your hair short or create a longer boyish hairstyle. Short hair is stereotypical for boys, so creating a shorter style will give people one less thing to question about your disguise. You could also wear a longer style, as many boys do. As another option, you can cover your hair with a hat, if you like.
- If you don't want to cut your long hair but want a shorter style, you can make your hair look short by tying it back and wearing a hat. Simply create a deep part to the side, then slick your hair down and put it in a low ponytail. Next, wrap the length of your ponytail into a tight bun. Wear a hat to cover the bun.^{[2]
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- As another option, wear a short wig to change up your hairstyle.
4
Use stage makeup to look more like a boy if you want to enhance your disguise. Apply a foundation that matches your normal skin tone. Then, make short strokes with an eyebrow pencil to change the shape of your natural eyebrows so they appear larger. Next, dip a porous makeup sponge, called a stipple sponge, into black and brown face paint and blot it onto your jawline and upper lip to create a beard and mustache. Finally, rub a foundation darker than your skin color around your eyes to make them look more deep-set.^{[3]
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- Use an eyebrow pencil that matches the color of your brows.
- If you have light-color hair and won't be wearing a wig, you might decide to use yellow and brown face paint to create your beard and mustache. You want to use at least 2 shades for your beard and mustache because they're typically more than one color.
- If you're too young to have a beard and mustache, skip this step and avoid wearing makeup, instead.
5
Cut your fingernails short and keep them polish free, if you like. Although some boys love wearing nail polish, it's more common for them to keep their nails unpolished. That means your disguise may be more convincing if you skip the nail polish.
- Gender norms are changing, so more and more boys are sporting nail polish. Don't worry about taking off your nail polish if you like the way it looks with your boy disguise.^{[4]
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6
Wear cologne so you smell more like a boy. Although this step is optional, using men's cologne will make people associate your smell with a male. Choose a scent that you like, and spritz a light mist onto your neck or wrists.
- Rather than buying a bottle of cologne just for your disguise, try borrowing one. Alternatively, get a sample from a store like Sephora.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling a Feminine Look

1
Shave any face or body hair that will be exposed for a stereotypical look. This will most likely include your face and possibly your legs. Additionally, you might also shave your armpits, if you plan to wear a sleeveless top. However, it's up to you whether or not you want to take this extra step, as more and more girls are choosing not to shave their body hair.^{[5]
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- Since you are biologically a male, shaving will help your look be more convincing. At the same time, your preferences are what's important.
2
Pick a unisex outfit if you want an easy style. Jeans paired with a top or t-shirt is a common outfit for girls. Similarly, leggings and an oversized shirt can be a cute look that will be easy to imitate. With the right accessories, you can make a simple, unisex style look very feminine.
- For example, you might belt a long t-shirt over a pair of leggings. Then, drape a few long necklaces around your neck, put on a bracelet, and carry a purse.
- Alternatively, wear a pair of skinny jeans with a flowy top, a necklace, and a big bracelet.
3
Choose a dress or skirt for a more dressed-up look. Additionally, wearing a dress or skirt will make your disguise more convincing, as boys don't usually wear dresses. Pick a dress that fits your shape well, and pair it with tights to make your legs look more girly.
- If you're worried about people figuring out you're biologically a boy, start with a long dress that covers most of your legs. For example, you might wear a maxi dress, which typically goes down to the floor.
- You can cover broad shoulders with long sleeves, a cardigan, or a light jacket.
4
Consider wearing a bra to create curves. Since girls come in all shapes and sizes, you don't need to wear a bra. However, it's an option if you'd like to appear like you have breasts. Choose a bra with the cup size you'd like to have, then stuff it with tissue or padding.^{[6]
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- If you want to wear this disguise often, you can purchase breast forms so that you don't have to stuff your bra. Breast forms are realistic faux breasts that are usually made from silicone. They can help you get the look and feel of natural breasts.
- Try on different bras until you find one that fits you well.
5
Style your hair or wear a wig to create a typical girl hairstyle. You don't need long hair to look like a girl, but it can help make your disguise more convincing. Depending on your current hairstyle, you may be able to use styling products like gel to create a typical girl hairstyle. Otherwise, wear a wig that gives you the style you want.
- You can also accessorize your hair with a headband, hair wrap, or hat to make yourself look more like a girl.
6
Use subtle makeup to make your face look more like a girl. Apply foundation to help conceal your face stubble and darker areas around your eyes. Then, use blush to add more color to your cheeks and lipstick to make your lips look more defined. Finally, use a bright eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara to make your eyes pop.
- Don't apply too much makeup because you don't want it to be cakey. It's better to go with less so your look is more natural.
- If your skin looks darker where your facial hair grows, using a concealer or foundation in a shade lighter than your normal foundation on just the darker areas can even them out.
- Watching makeup tutorials online can help you create the look you want.
7
Give yourself a manicure so your nails will look the part. To look more like a girl, you might paint your nails or apply fake nails, depending on what kind of style you want to create. However, don't feel like this is necessary.
- The easiest option is to trim your nails short and keep them clean. Remember, not all girls wear nail polish, just as some boys love to paint their nails.
8
Put on perfume to help you smell like a girl. This step is completely optional, as many girls don't wear perfume. However, spritzing on a sweet-smelling perfume may make people assume you're a girl. Pick a scent you like, and spray it on your neck or wrists.^{[7]
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- Try borrowing a perfume so you don't have to buy any. Alternatively, you may be able to get a sample from a makeup counter or a store like Sephora.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Acting the Part

1
Pick a new name to use while in disguise, if you'd like. It's okay to use your own name if you prefer. However, you might want to choose a name you really like, such as your favorite actor's name. Alternatively, you could use a name that works for any gender.
- For example, names like “Alex,” “Andy,” "Asher", or even "Cyrus" are great names that work for any gender.
2
Alter the tone of your voice to make it higher or lower. Girls typically have higher-pitched voices than boys, but this isn't always the case. For example, Scarlett Johansson is known for her deep voice. Play around with your voice to see how you want to sound while you're wearing your disguise.
- It's helpful to practice your voice with someone you trust who can give you an opinion about how you sound.
- To help you change your voice, look up videos online that offer tips on how to sound more like a boy or girl, depending on your disguise.
3
Swivel your hips and rotate your shoulders to walk like a girl. Additionally, take shorter strides and try to keep your knees close together and your elbows pressed in toward your body. Girls typically shrink to take up less space, so keep that in mind as you move around.^{[8]
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- Walk slowly when you're getting used to walking more like a girl.
- If you're wearing heels, be careful that you don't fall or stomp around. Give yourself time to get used to them.
4
Take long strides and walk with your legs apart to look like a boy. Squat slightly to make your spread-leg stance appear more natural. Additionally, hunch your shoulders forward slightly. To avoid using your hands too much, put them in your pockets or carry something you can play with, such as your phone.^{[9]
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- Boys don't use their hands as much when they talk. Additionally, they usually keep their hands occupied.
- It can also help to keep your movements more stiff.
5
Sit with your legs crossed or your knees together if you're pretending to be a girl. Society often teaches girls to be more modest, so it's common for them to sit with their legs together or with one leg crossed over the other. Adopting either of these poses while you're sitting will help you appear more like a girl.^{[10]
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- This is especially important if you decided to wear a dress. If you don't keep your legs together, people are going to see up your skirt.
6
Spread out when you sit if you're pretending to be a boy. Males often feel more comfortable when they spread their legs and arms when sitting. This is because of the way their body is constructed. Some people call this tendency to spread out “manspreading.” If you want people to think you're a boy, sitting with your knees apart and your arms stretched out around you can help.^{[11]
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- Don't worry about taking up too much space when you're “manspreading.”
7
Talk like the type of girl or boy you want to be. Remember, there's no one way to be a boy or a girl, so what you want to talk about will depend on your own preferences. Think about the type of boy or girl you would like to be, then pick topics that seem like they fit with your desired self-image.
- For example, boys and girls can like sports.

Community Q&A
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How do you make yourself look like a boy without makeup?

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Focus on styling your clothes and hair in ways that bring out your masculine features. For example, wear a baggy hoodie that hides your curves, and style your hair in a boyish way. You can also focus on using more masculine body language (e.g., sitting or standing with a wider stance).
Question

How do you look like a boy with long hair?

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Try styling your clothes in a masculine way and focusing on more masculine body language. Even if your hair is long, you can still style it in a boyish way, such as by wearing a man bun. If you’d rather hide your hair, pin it up and wear it under a cap.
Question

Is it OK for a boy to wear a bra?

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Definitely! It’s okay for a boy to wear whatever he likes. If you don’t feel comfortable picking out your own bras, you might try asking a female friend to help you.