How to Pass As a Male (For FTMs)

Co-authored by Shahpar Mirza

Last Updated: March 26, 2023 Approved

If you’re transitioning from female to male (FTM), passing can be a major concern. Luckily, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of passing. Start by making some simple adjustments to your appearance, such as by getting a masculine haircut, shaving, and binding. Then, work on adding more masculine elements to your wardrobe. Mannerisms can also be a giveaway, so practice things like standing tall, shaking hands, and speaking in a monotone voice. Using these strategies together will help to increase your chances of passing. Keep in mind, there's no one right way to pass or transition. Whatever makes you comfortable is the best thing to do!^{[1]
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Expert Source

Shahpar Mirza
Community Transgender Expert
Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.}

Things You Should Know

Adjust your appearance by getting a masculine haircut and styling it with pomade. Wear a binder on your chest and stuff your pants realistically.
Dress in masculine clothing by getting tops that hide your chest and straight-legged pants. Wear suits for formal events and a special swimsuit for the beach.
Adopt masculine behaviors like sitting with your legs spread, giving firm handshakes, and training your voice to sound deeper.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Adjusting Your Appearance

1
Get a masculine haircut from a barber or men’s hairstylist.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Shahpar Mirza
Community Transgender Expert
Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.} Since many women now sport short hair, simply having short hair won't help you pass. It’s important to get your hair cut by a barber or by someone who cuts men’s hair often. Avoid going to a hairstylist who does not cut men’s hair and who might give you a short, feminine cut. When you go to get your hair cut, tell them what style you want. Save a few pictures of haircuts you like and show these to them.
- Ask the barber or stylist to shave your sideburns as well. Any long hair in the sideburn area can read as female.
- Keep in mind that the barber or stylist will likely ask you questions about how you want your hair cut. Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what you want and don’t allow them to talk you out of it. You have every right to get your hair cut however you want it!
2
Style your hair with gel, pomade, or another men’s hair product. You’re more likely to look masculine if your hair is styled back and out of your face. You can achieve this using hair gel or pomade. This is especially important if your haircut is on the longer side, since bangs or hair hanging down next to your face may be read by strangers as female.^{[3]
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- Try applying a generous amount of gel to your hair and combing it straight back for a simple way to keep it out of your face.
3
Shave your face to eliminate peach fuzz. While shaving may not seem necessary if you don’t have visible hair on your face, doing so is important because women tend to have a soft layer of peach fuzz-like hair on their faces. Men usually don't have this after puberty. They either grow long facial hair or shave regularly to remove any new growth. Since growing facial hair may not be an option for you, it’s important to shave at least every other day to get rid of the peach fuzz.^{[4]
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- Use shaving cream and a new razor every time you shave to prevent cuts.
- You might also consider using an aftershave to help prevent skin infections and for a masculine scent.
4
Avoid wearing makeup of any kind or plucking your eyebrows. Makeup causes your face to look more feminine, so by avoiding it, you’ll automatically look more masculine. You could look up contour videos on YouTube to sharpen your jawline for example, if that's something you feel like you'd be more comfortable with. Men also tend to have thicker eyebrows, so not plucking can also help to make your face seem more masculine.
5
Bind your chest to create the appearance of pecs. If you have a small chest, you might be able to get away with wearing a tight-fitting sports bra. However, if you have average or large breasts, binding will be necessary to help you pass. You can purchase a binder to wear under your clothing and get the appearance of a masculine chest.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Shahpar Mirza
Community Transgender Expert
Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.}
- Make sure that you don’t wear a binder for more than 8 hours daily.
- Wear a properly sized binder. Wearing a binder that is too tight restricts your breathing and can damage breast tissue ^{[6]
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- The goal of binding is not to make your chest completely flat. Instead, the aim is to imitate pectorals ("pecs").
- Never use ACE bandages to bind your chest. They tend to slip down and they are also quite tight, which can restrict your breathing.
Tip: You may want to look into breast reduction surgery coverage if you have very large breasts. This type of surgery might be covered under some health insurance plans, especially if your breasts are so large that they cause you back pain. There is also top surgery which many FTMs decide to get, which creates a male chest.
6
Stuff your pants in a realistic way. You can purchase a prosthetic (these are called "packers" and are available online) or create your own item using condoms, alcohol-free hair gel, and a nylon stocking. Fill a condom about halfway full with hair gel, tie it off, then insert it into a second condom to prevent leakage. Then, place the condom in a nylon stocking and tie this off so that the nylon is tight against the condoms.^{[7]
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- Most men don’t have a noticeable bulge in their pants when their penis is not erect, so keep this in mind if you stuff.
- You might also look into prosthetic devices for packing hard. You can buy a prosthetic penis from adult stores to wear for sex.
7
Talk with your doctor about hormone therapy. If you want to change your appearance on the biological level, you might consider taking testosterone. This will help you to develop more masculine features, such as facial hair and more muscle. Taking testosterone will also help to stop your periods. You can get testosterone injections, gel, or patches.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dressing in Masculine Clothing

1
Buy tops that hide your chest. Opt for looser fitting clothing to help hide your chest. Men’s button-down shirts are good options. Steer clear of anything that clings to your body, such as silk and synthetic fabrics. Chose structured cotton and linen shirts instead.
- Try to get tops with designs on them. This will draw attention away from your chest and more to the print.
- Layering your shirts can also be helpful. Try wearing a white crew-neck t-shirt under a button-down shirt or polo shirt.
- Hoodies can be a lifesaver. They're androgynous, baggy, and hide your chest well. Go with a black hoodie when possible, as it will mask your chest even more.
Tip: If you take any of your clothing to the dry cleaners, ask for extra starch on your shirts. This will help to make them look and feel more structured, which can help to hide any curves.
2
Choose straight-legged jeans, pants, and men’s shorts. Men’s and women’s pants are cut differently, so it’s important to wear only or mostly men’s pants to help you pass. A pair of black men’s work pants or khakis is a great option for building a masculine look. If you prefer jeans, buy loose-fitting men’s jeans that have straight legs.
- Steer clear of skinny jeans and bootcut jeans as these will show off more of your curves.
Tip: Men’s pants come in all kinds of colors and prints now. You can experiment with these if it’s your style and you feel good wearing them, but opting for plain or conservative pants might help you to pass. Go with navy blue, black, grey, and khaki pants to seem more masculine.
3
Wear men’s shoes and socks. Shop for your shoes in the men’s department and stick to masculine colors, such as grey, black, blue, brown, etc. Invest in a pair of dress shoes for special occasions and a pair of casual shoes, such as sneakers. If you have small feet, check the boys shoe department to find a pair that works for you.
- You can look for shoes in a shoe store, or shop for your shoes online for a wider variety of sizes, styles, and colors.
- Good shoes to opt for are sneakers, loafers, and boots. Women are often seen in flats, heels, and sandals, so stay away from those.
4
Get a special swimsuit to use at the beach or pool. Passing at the pool or at the beach can be more challenging, but it is possible with the right swimwear. Men generally wear swim trunks and no shirt at the beach or at a pool. However, you can purchase a wetsuit or swim vest to cover your chest. Or, you can simply wear a T-shirt with your swim trunks.
- Take precautions to bind safely. It's commonly advised to wear a binder that's one size larger than your usual wear if you go exercising or swimming. Also check whether your binder's material can safely get wet.
5
Wear a suit for formal events. They're very masculine and work for most serious occasions. Try to get a coat with shoulder pads to emphasize your shoulders and make them look more masculine.
- Brightly colored suits are pretty uncommon, especially with men. Go with black, grey, or navy.
6
Use a backpack, satchel, or just a wallet instead of a purse. Men are rarely seen with purses, so steer clear of them. Even fanny packs work better when trying to appear masculine.
7
Wear hats like baseball caps and beanies. Hats can make you look a lot more masculine. If you have long hair, you can tuck it into the back of the hat to make it appear short.
8
Accessorize with masculine items like ties and watches. A stylish men’s watch, a tie, or another masculine accessory can help you to pass. Buy men’s sunglasses, wear men’s jewelry (if you like jewelry), and adopt a men’s cologne as your signature scent.
- Avoid extra-large watches if you have small wrists since this can make your wrists look even smaller.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Adopting Masculine Behaviors

1
Take up space rather than trying to be unobtrusive. Women tend to make themselves look smaller, such as by crossing their legs, slouching, or keeping their arms tucked in. Do the opposite of these things to appear more masculine. Sit with your legs spread apart, sit or stand up straight and tall, and take up space with your arms.
- For example, if you’re standing, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, stand up straight, and let your arms hang down at your sides.
- If you’re sitting, place your feet flat on the ground with your knees about 12 in (30 cm) apart, and lean back with 1 or both arms resting on the back of neighboring chairs.
2
Practice giving a firm, confident handshake when you meet people. A firm handshake is an important sign of masculinity. When you shake someone’s hand, stand up or lean down so you are at their eye level. Then, look them in the eye, grip their hand firmly, and shake their hand up and down 2 to 3 times. After that, release their hand and return to a relaxed standing or seated position.
- Avoid holding onto their hand for more than 5 seconds. Any longer and it might get awkward.
Tip: Men tend to smile less often than women as well. It’s fine to smile when you meet someone, but don’t overdo it or laugh nervously. Try to remain calm and smile in a natural, friendly way.
3
Train your voice to be deeper. Many transgender men get frustrated that they pass up until the moment that they open their mouths. To combat this, try vocal exercises to deepen your voice and make it sound more masculine without needing to take testosterone.
4
Maintain a monotone voice as much as possible. Women tend to change pitch when they’re speaking, so this can be a giveaway. Practice speaking in a monotone voice to seem more masculine. Don’t worry about the tone of your voice as much as the steadiness of it. Men have varying tones of voice, so having a higher pitched voice is not necessarily a giveaway.
- Listen to how men speak in movies, podcasts, and TV shows and try to emulate their voices.
5
Try using a stand-to-pee device if you dislike sitting down. It’s totally fine to pee sitting down in a men’s restroom. There are even some men who do this out of personal preference or necessity. However, if you want to stand to pee, there are ways you can do this. The best option is to use a stand-to-pee (StP) device. You can make one yourself or purchase one to use.
- Practice using the device at home until you have mastered it. You can practice in the shower at first and then use the device whenever you use the bathroom. Once you feel comfortable, start taking the device with you.
- StP devices are usually quite small, so you can easily fit one in your pocket.

Community Q&A

Question

I am 12. Most of my friends say I am too young and refuse to call me by the correct pronouns. What do I do?

Community Answer

Tell your current friends how you feel. Tell them that you feel very disrespected when they misgender you, and that if they continue to do so, you will be ending the friendship(s). Find new friends who accept you for who you are.
Question

How do I tell my parents that I'm trans? When I was around 13 I tried to tell my mom, but she brushed it off as just a phase. Now I'm 17 and I still feel like this, what should I do?

Owl511

Community Answer

Try telling her again very simply and in slow language. Be casual enough so it's not tense, but not too casual so that she thinks you're joking. She'll more likely believe you if you are 17, because you are almost 18 and ready to make your own choices. For additional tips, check the wikiHow article on how to Come Out to Your Parents.
Question

How do I come out as trans to my parents?

Community Answer

This depends on your comfort level. You could walk in and sit them down and say "Mom, Dad Im trans". Be sure to have an FTM guide with you for them to look up their questions (for example, ftmguide.org). Or, explain it in a note and hand it to them. You can either choose to stay in the room with them as they read it or run away to your room once you do that and wait.

Warnings

Listen to your body if you wear a binder. Some soreness or slight pain in the breast itself is normal, but if you have rib cage pain, trouble breathing, or any type of cold or respiratory illness (even ones unrelated to binding), remove the binder and don't bind until you feel 100% again.

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